Lionhead Studios Limited is one of the British video games founded in July 1997 by Peter Molyneux, Mark Webley, Tim Rance, and Steve Jackson.
The company is best known for the Black & White and Fable series. Lionhead began as a spin-off from developer Bullfrog Productions, which was created by Molyneux as well.
Black & White was Lionhead’s debut game, a god game with elements of artificial life and strategy games. Electronic Arts released Black & White in 2001.
Lionhead Studios was primarily recognized as one of the most creative studios in the country for nearly two decades, if not the whole games industry.
The studio was bursting at the seams with some of the most innovative and talented digital craftspeople in the business. Responsible for titles like Black & White and The Movies.
1. Black and White
Platforms: macOS, Microsoft Windows
Black & White is one of the video games created by Lionhead Studios and released in 2001 for Microsoft Windows and 2002 for Mac OS by Feral Interactive.
Black & White is a strategy game that incorporates elements of artificial life. The player takes on the role of a god whose mission is to destroy Nemesis and another god bent on conquering the planet.
However, the concept of good and evil is a significant subject, with the atmosphere being influenced by the player’s moral decisions.
The player assumes the character of a god who rules over a group of islands inhabited by diverse tribes.
The player interacts with the world by throwing people and items and tapping buildings to wake their residents, casting miracles, and other activities using an animated on-screen hand.
Furthermore, according to video game review aggregate Metacritic, Black & White received “universal acclaim” from critics.
However, the aesthetics, gameplay, and artificial intelligence, in particular, earned a lot of positive feedback. By 2006, Black & White had sold over 2.5 million copies on the PC.
2. Fable
Platforms: Xbox, Microsoft window, Xbox 360, Mac OS
Fable is the first game in the Fable series, and it is a role-playing action game. Big Blue Box Studios, a subsidiary of Lionhead Studios, produced the game for the Xbox, Microsoft Windows, and Mac OS X platforms, and Microsoft Studios released it.
The Xbox version of the game was released in September 2004.
Furthermore, Fable, one of the lionhead studios video games, is a third-person role-playing video game where players control their characters.
Fable garnered good feedback from critics and audiences alike. The original Xbox version of the game has an aggregate critic score of 85 percent. The game received over fifty accolades and was the fastest-selling Xbox game at the time.
3. Black and White 2
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS
Black & White 2 is an October 2005 video game developed by Lionhead Studios and published by Electronic Arts.
It’s the sequel to Black & White, released in 2001. In January 2009, a Mac OS X port was removed. The player assumes the role of a deity who has been summoned from the void (nothingness) to assist the villagers who have invoked them.
In addition, the player must assist in developing their personality based on their good or evil inclinations. Furthermore, Black and white two are represented by an avatar-like creature that can be a sizeable anthropomorphic ape, lion, wolf, turtle, cow, or tiger.
The creature can grow to enormous proportions and take on a benign or evil demeanor depending on the player’s activities.
Also, according to Metacritic, a video game review aggregator, the game earned generally positive reviews.
4. The Movies
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS
The Movies is a business simulation game developed by Lionhead Studios for Microsoft Windows, which Feral Interactive later translated to Mac OS X.
The game allows players to run a Hollywood film company and produce films that may be exported. However, the movie received good reviews.
And won several accolades when it was released in November 2005, but it did not do well at the box office.
Furthermore, players can run their movie studio in The Movies, which includes creating the studio and controlling the careers of movie stars.
Also, the game begins at the dawn of cinema and continues today. Players can make their movies with in-game elements and upload them to the game’s website, The Movies Online, at any time.
In addition, based on 62 critic reviews, review aggregator Metacritic gave the PC version an 84 out of 100 (“Generally good reviews”) rating. GameSpy released the initial review, giving the game a 3.5 out of 5 ratings.
5. Fable II
Platforms: Xbox 360
Fable II is an Xbox 360 action role-playing game created by Lionhead Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios in 2008.
The game is the sequel to 2004’s Fable and the second edition in the Fable gaming series. Furthermore, this is one of the lionhead studios video games that its tale is set 500 years after the first game in the fictitious continent of Albion.
Players take on the role of a youthful hero tasked with stopping a former monarch who has gone insane from destroying the world. Several well-known actors, including Zoe Wanamaker and Stephen Fry, play essential characters.
Fable II earned rave reviews from critics and audiences alike.
6. Fable III
Platforms: Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows
Fable III is a 2010 action role-playing open-world video game for the Xbox 360 and Microsoft Windows, created by Lionhead Studios and published by Microsoft Game Studios.
The player character’s effort to topple the King of Albion. By forging alliances and rallying support for a revolution, the player character’s brother is the center of the third game in the Fable series.
Furthermore, Fable III is one of the lion head studios’ video games that garnered primarily positive reviews from critics. The Xbox 360 version received an 8.5/10 from IGN.
7. Fable Heroes
Platforms: Xbox 360
Fable Heroes is an Xbox 360 beat them up game developed by Lionhead Studios and released by Microsoft Studios.
It was first announced at the Xbox Spring Showcase in 2012, and it was published on May 2, 2012, as part of the Xbox Live Arcade Next Promotion.
Fable Heroes is an action-adventure game with a hack-and-slash element. The player takes on one of 12 characters from the four Fable games—furthermore, each is represented by a hero doll, a series staple.
However, the game includes online leaderboards and time trials for competitive play and up to four-player co-op through Xbox Live or local multiplayer. In conclusion, the game has a Metacritic score of 55 out of 100 as of July 2012.
8. Fable: The Journey
Platforms: Xbox 360
Fable: The Journey is one of the lionhead studios’ video games, an action role-playing video game in which players wield magic using the Kinect to combat foes.
Players can cast various spells by making specific gestures with their hands, ranging from electric bolts to magic shards. In addition, as enemies are defeated, experience is gained, which may improve the player’s health and spells.
Furthermore, Fable: The Journey has received a mixed response from critics. On Metacritic, it received an overall score of 61/100.
9. Fable Legends
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Xbox one
Fable Legends is a canceled cooperative action role-playing video game set to be released by Microsoft Studios for Microsoft Windows and Xbox One.
It was developed by Lionhead Studios and was set to be published by Microsoft Studios. On March 7, 2016, Microsoft announced that the game would be discontinued, and the servers were turned off on April 13.
Four Heroes and a Villain starred in Fable Legends. However, the entire story and quests of the game may have been playing solo, with AI heroes acting as sidekicks or enemies. It was possible to play as either a Hero or a Villain throughout the game’s content.
Furthermore, In Fable Legends, each Hero was supposed to be a one-of-a-kind character with talents, powers, and gameplay.
Sterling. In addition, a Prince Charming-like character with a dagger and intelligent jokes, Winter, who focuses on will-based skills and ice attacks.
Also, Rook focuses on ranged combat with a crossbow; and Inga, a paladin-like character with heavy armor and a sword and shield.
10. Black & White 2: Battle of the Gods
Platforms: Windows. macOS
For the first time since the original game, Black & White 2: Battle of the Gods is an expansion pack for Lionhead’s Black & White 2.
The player has faced with an enemy deity. Furthermore, the expansion adds a variety of new miracles to the game, such as the power to resurrect citizens and turn corpses into zombie troops.
In addition, two more species emerge, albeit neither is unique to the franchise: a tortoise from the original Black & White and a tiger from Black & White 2’s Collector’s Edition.
Furthermore, video game review aggregator Metacritic’s Battle of the Gods earned “average” reviews on May 4, 2018, with 69 from critics and 8.5 from users.
