When you close your eyes and think of Capcom, odds are you’re picturing a fighting game, a retro platformer, or a PS2 action title. However, in the publisher’s decade-long history, they’ve produced hit after hit across so many genres, making it hard for fans to keep track. Mega Man, Street Fighter, Monster Hunter, and Resident Evil have become iconic, but there are many lesser-known games that have flown under the mainstream radar.

Many of these games, which are no longer discussed, were released during Capcom’s mid-point as a company. In an era where many games were being released, it was easy to get passed by. These unique projects deserve to be remembered just as much as the modern successes.

Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure Was A Gem

Still One Of The Best Wii Games

Capcom isn’t known for producing numerous new IPs in any given year and can often rest on its laurels with its tried-and-true properties. But Zack & Wiki, an eccentric puzzle game, managed to capture the hearts of many Wii owners, including myself.

Released just a year away from the launch of the Wii, Zack & Wiki got lost in the fray, as hundreds of publishers rushed to the goldmine that was that platform. Although it may be gone and only available in a legacy format, it’s not forgotten.

Sort Those License Issues Out

Tatsunoko vs. Capcom is one of Capcom’s best crossover fighters to date (along with Capcom vs. SNK 2), and sadly, it’s only available on the Wii if you’re looking to play it on a home console. Featuring crossovers with classic anime characters like Tekkaman and Joe the Condor, these Tatsunoko fighters clashed with Capcom brawlers like Ryu and Dead Rising’s Frank West.

While it was pretty much universally beloved, the odds of actually seeing it re-released are slim. The rights to the crossover have expired, and the game is no longer available on digital storefronts.

Strider (2014) Was A Great Revival

Double Helix Deserved More Time In The Spotlight

I grew up on the Strider games, and played as the man himself in the first Marvel vs. Capcom. I had given up hope that he’d ever star in his own action romp again, until Double Helix gave us a new action platformer in 2014.

Strider is a sleek platformer that’s easy to pick up, and reminds us that Capcom arguably has a bigger stable of characters to draw from than any other publisher out there. Sadly, Double Helix Games was merged into Amazon Games that same year, and was never heard from again.

Onimusha 3 Solidified The Series’ Legacy

Now We Need A Remaster

As my favorite game in the original trilogy, Onimusha 3 has a special place in my heart. While the series always embraced camp, the third game brought the demonic invasion to Paris, France, complete with a character who uses the likeness of the famed French actor Jean Reno.

It wasn’t just a big swing; it was a fantastic action game, and it is forgotten due to a lack of modern platform support. Hopefully, Capcom will get around to remastering it next.

Lost Planet 2 Had Fun Co-op

This One Is Stuck In PC Error Limbo

Although I bounced off the snow-covered hills of the original* Lost Planet* at first, the sequel grabbed me immediately. The enhanced focus on co-op in Lost Planet 2 made it instantly more enjoyable, and the variety of different locales and battlegrounds helped keep the campaign fresh.

As is a running fate for many games on this list, Lost Planet 2 is currently stuck in a weird limbo state on at least one platform. On PC, the game was removed due to issues with “Games For Windows Live” in late 2021. Those issues have seemingly not been resolved, and the game is no longer available digitally.

Demon’s Crest Could Have Been A Platforming Pillar

Another One Ripe For Revival

When I first played* Demon’s Crest* on a whim, I was captivated and didn’t stop until I had beaten it. As a sort of mix between a traditional platformer and a Metroidvania game, Demon’s Crest was a true adventure in every sense of the word. It’s also unique in that it’s a double-spinoff of sorts, drawn from both the Ghosts ’n Goblins and Gargoyle’s Quest series.

It was a blast to fly around as newcomer Firebrand, explore the world, and go back to existing areas with powerful new abilities. The platforming was tight as well, a testament to the overall sleekness of the Super Nintendo console.

Maximo Is A Fun Ghosts ‘n Goblins Spinoff

There Was A Time When That Series Hosted Multiple Side Projects

Maximo: Ghosts to Glory was an easy sell based solely on the cover. The cartoony flair counted for a lot, and the fact that it was also based on the Ghosts ’n Goblins series was a huge plus.

While* Maximo* was popular enough to warrant a sequel, both of them are still stuck on the PlayStation 2. A remaster of both of them would make a fantastic future preservation project.

A New Rival Schools Could Be An EVO Contender

Bring This Personality-Driven Fighter Back

Every few years, Capcom mentions the Rival School franchise, and fighting game fans get excited at the prospect of a revival. However, this stellar fighting game series isn’t super well-known outside the fighting game community, so the wait continues.

While it may seem like just another Capcom fighter on paper, Rival Schools made a splash with a massive and memorable roster, set under the guise of schools battling it out to be the best. It was a fun and quirky setup, and I still think of it fondly.

Dark Void Was The 3D Rocketeer Game We Never Got

There’s Also A Better 2D Platformer

Dark Void could have used more time in the oven to sort out its technical issues, but as it stands, it’s basically as close as we’re going to get when it comes to a 3D Rocketeer game. The fact that Bear McCreary worked on the soundtrack is also the cherry on top.

There was a time when Capcom could have potentially turned this into a franchise. **We also got **the 2D platformer Dark Void Zero, a demake of sorts that many fans preferred over the original release.

God Hand Should Be A Household Name

Test

As one of my favorite games of all time, it’s hard to think of a better Capcom release than God Hand. The perfect marriage of hardcore action and personality, God Hand is an unpredictable game that’s fun to play in any context.

Using a unique form of difficulty that makes the game harder in real-time, the better you do, the easier it is to get wrapped up in a session and forget what time it is. I also promise you, sight unseen, you cannot predict where this game will go next. That uncertainty, combined with a precision-based combo system that allows you to tweak your every move, is a winning combination.

God Hand is one of the best games Capcom has ever released, as it was a bold summation of their in-house talent, as well as a reflection of who they are as a company.

Date Founded January 1, 1979

CEO Kenzo Tsujimoto

Subsidiaries Capcom Taiwan, Capcom Singapore, CE Europe, Capcom U.S.A., Capcom Maintenance Service Co., Ltd., Enterrise Co., Ltd., K2 Co., Ltd., Swordcanes Studio Co., Ltd.

Services CAPCOM ID