Not Your Run-of-the-Mill Video Game Quiz

Answer: Nintendo

"Super Mario Odyssey" is a 3D platform/action-adventure game released in 2017. In it, Mario teams up with a hat named Cappy, and together they try to stop Bowser's plan to forcibly marry Princess Peach. Aboard the airship Odyssey, they trek across numerous kingdoms to complete their quest.

The game won several major awards including 'Best Family Game' from The Game Awards (2017), as well multiple BAFTA and industry awards. It has sold over 30 million copies; the game introduced the 'capture' mechanism, which allows Mario to possess enemies and objects.

Answer: Nintendo

"Animal Crossing: New Horizons" is a life simulation game released in 2020 by Nintendo. In it, players head to a deserted island after purchasing Tom Nook's getaway package. After choosing their hemisphere and map layout, they donate bugs and other yummy goodies to Tom Nook with the aim of building a thriving community. Along the way, they interact with Tom Nook, Isabelle, Timmy and Tommy, and a multitude of animal villagers. Once the level of the player's island has three stars, K.K. Slider will perform a concert, and the player receives the ability to customise elements of the island.

In 2020, "Animal Crossing: New Horizons" won the Best Family Game and became something of a global phenomenon during COVID-19 lockdowns. It is one of the best-selling Nintendo Switch games ever.

Answer: Nintendo

Released in 2017, "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" comes under the heading of 'Open-World Action-Adventure' games, and is notable for a significant development in open-world game design. In the game, Link, who has enjoyed a 100-year slumber, awakens to save Hyrule, rescue Princess Zelda, and defeat Calamity Ganon. Good thing he was rested up!

It won numerous Game of the Year awards, including, in 2017, the D.I.C.E. (Design Innovate Communicate Entertain) Game of the Year.

Answer: Nintendo

"Super Smash Bros. Ultimate" combines iconic characters including Mario, Link, Pikachu, Kirby, Sonic, Cloud, Sephiroth, and many others....there are 80 in all! It was released in 2018 and won Best Fighting Game at The Game Awards in 2019.

Answer: Ubisoft

A tactical first-person shooter game, and inspired by the book 'Rainbow Six' by author Tom Clancy, Ubisoft's "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege" was first released in 2015. In the game, heroes from global special forces units combine to participate in elite counter-terrorist campaigns. Though the game had a less-than-promising launch, it soon grew into one of the world's biggest-selling esports games.

Answer: Ubisoft

In this action-adventure platformer game, the wicked Vizier steals both the mystical hourglass of time and the dagger of time, and tricks the Prince into loosing the magical sand. The Prince must undo his mistake with the help of Princess Farah.

"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" was released in 2003 and won Console Game of the Year, Adventure Game of the Year, and numerous D.I.C.E. awards. It inspired later Ubisoft franchises, including "Assassin's Creed".

Answer: Ubisoft

Ubisoft's action RPG "Assassin's Creed Valhalla" was released in 2020 and mixes Viking history with Norse mythology. Players control the Viking warrior Eivor, who establishes a settlement in England while becoming involved in the Assassin-Templar conflict. Sigurd, Basim and Layla Hassan join Eivor in his quests.

The game was awarded the Canadian Game Awards 'Game of the Year' and 'Best Narrative', and is one of Ubisoft's most successful "Assassin's Creed" releases.

Answer: Ubisoft

Winning the BAFTA Best Action Game and Canadian Videogame Awards Game of the Year, "Far Cry 3" is an open-world first-person shooter game released by Ubisoft in 2012. In it, Jason Brody rescues his friends from pirates and survives the dangerous Rook Islands. Vaas Montenegro, considered one of gaming's greatest villains, is a volatile pirate leader; Citra Talugmai is a tribal high priestess; and Hoyt Volker operates as a ruthless international crime lord.

Answer: FromSoftware

An undead hero journeys through Lordran to uncover the fate of the undead, and decide the future of the First Flame in the 2011 release of FromSoftware's action RPG, "Dark Souls".

Noted for its interconnected world design and challenging combat, it was the first of the modern 'Soulslike' genre. It includes such characters as The Chosen Undead, Solaire, Gwyn and Siegmeyer and is often listed among the greatest video games ever made.

Answer: FromSoftware

The 2015 game, "Bloodborne", was heavily inspired by the modern horror themes pioneered by American author H.P. Lovecraft in the early 1900s.

In it, The Hunter (the player's character) spends his time searching for the source of a plague in Yharnam. With Gehrman, who guides and traps hunters, Lady Maria (who has a dark and painful historical secret), and the Moon Presence, who manipulates the dream the characters find themsleves in, The Hunter uncovers cosmic secrets and must fight horrific beasts to survive.

Answer: FromSoftware

In common with most FromSoftware games, "Elden Ring" is a challenging action role-playing game, released in 2022. The Tarnished, Queen Marika, Ranni, Melina and Radagon participate in the maze-like play, in which a Tarnished warrior explores the Lands Between to restore the Elden Ring and become Elden Lord.

It features contributions from writer George R. R. Martin, and became FromSoftware's biggest commercial success, winning Game of the Year (The Game Awards 2022).

Answer: FromSoftware

In another of FromSoftware's dark historical fantasies, the Shinobi warrior Wolf fights to rescue his young lord Kuro, and seek revenge on enemies who destroyed his clan. In an imaginary version of 1500s Sengoku Japan in which there was a long period of social unrest, Isshin Ashina helps to protect Kuro, while Genichiro Ashina wants Kuro's spiritual power. Wolf (the player) uses sword play and strategy to achieve the goals and defeat the antagonists.

This 2019 Game of the Year and Best Action/Adventure Game award recipient is widely regarded as one of the most difficult mainstream action games.