Sierra On-Line

USA publisher and developerfounded in 1979 closed in 2008 status: dead

707
games
19.4
per year
36
years active

aka(s): Sierra Entertainment, Sierra, Sierra Online, Sierra Studios, On-Line Systems

Founded in 1979 in California as On-Line Systems.
Renamed Sierra On-Line in 1982.
Changed name to Sierra Entertainment on February 19, 2002.
In 2008, ownership of Sierra was transferred to Activision and later closed down.

Notable collaborators: Al Lowe, Roberta Williams, Mark Crowe, Mark Seibert and Jane Jensen

It is known for Aces, City Building Series, Crash Bandicoot, Diablo, Dragon Slayer, Earthsiege, Empire Earth, F.E.A.R., Frogger series, Gabriel Knight, Geometry Wars, Gobliiins, Ground Control, Half-Life, Homeworld, King's Quest, Leisure Suit Larry, Lode Runner, Lords of the Realm, Manhunter, No One Lives Forever, Police Quest, Quest for Glory, Silpheed, Sorcerian, Spacequest, Spyro, Spyro the Dragon, SWAT, The Legend of Spyro, Thexder, Tribes, Ultima, Ultima: The Age of Darkness, You Don't Know Jack, Yserbius

Releases per year

1980 6
1981 21
1982 26
1983 40
1984 35
1985 13
1986 14
1987 39
1988 35
1989 21
1990 34
1991 30
1992 44
1993 32
1994 28
1995 38
1996 31
1997 21
1998 20
1999 17
2000 19
2001 6
2002 15
2003 15
2004 8
2005 4
2006 20
2007 23
2008 27
2014 6
2015 9

697 video games with valid date were considered (98.5%)

Overall rankings

21
203
94
10
2
3.7
average

Common gametypes

adventure32%action/reflex12%shooter9%strategy5%edutainment5%other34%

Top platforms

  MS-DOS 132
  Windows 119
  Mac OS Classic 69
  Apple II E 64
  Amiga 50
  Win3.1 35
  Atari ST 27
  C64 25
  Atari 400/800 25
  X360 21
  Tandy Coco 17
  PS2 16
  Apple IIGS 14
  Nintendo DS 9
  Wii 9
Half-Life image #0 Half-Life
Half-Life
Windows 1998-07-25
Ground Control II: Operation Exodus image #1 Ground Control II: Operation Exodus
Ground Control II: Operation Exodus
Windows 2004-06-18
Half-Life 2: Episode Two image #2 Half-Life 2: Episode Two
Half-Life 2: Episode Two
Windows 2007-10-10
Half-Life 2: Episode One image #3 Half-Life 2: Episode One
Half-Life 2: Episode One
Windows 2006-06-01
Hellfire image #4 Hellfire
Hellfire
Windows 1997-11-24
Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis image #5 Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis
Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis
Windows 2003-03-10
Lode Runner: The Legend Returns image #6 Lode Runner: The Legend Returns
Lode Runner: The Legend Returns
Win3.1 1994
King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder! image #7 King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder!
King's Quest V: Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder!
MS-DOS 1990-11-09
Half-Life: Opposing Force image #8 Half-Life: Opposing Force
Half-Life: Opposing Force
Windows 1999-11-18
King's Quest: Quest for the Crown image #9 King's Quest: Quest for the Crown
King's Quest: Quest for the Crown
MS-DOS 1984-05-10
Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood image #10 Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood
Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood
MS-DOS 1991-12
Leisure Suit Larry 3: Passionate Patty in Pursuit of the Pulsating Pectorals! image #11 Leisure Suit Larry 3: Passionate Patty in Pursuit of the Pulsating Pectorals!
Leisure Suit Larry 3: Passionate Patty in Pursuit of the Pulsating Pectorals!
MS-DOS 1989

Sierra On-Line best rated games

BC's Quest for Tires 1983 col
The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery 1995 win
Betrayal at Krondor 1993 dos
Homeworld 2 2003 win
Crossfire 1981 IIE
Quest for Glory I: So You Want To Be A Hero - VGA Remake 1992 dos
Half-Life 1998 win
Half-Life 2: Episode Two 2007 win
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers 1993 dos
Space Quest II: Vohaul's Revenge 1987 st

Sierra On-Line worst games

Ultima: Escape from Mount Drash 1983 vic
Battlestar Galactica 2007 win
Hi-Res Adventure #2: The Wizard and the Princess 1985 c64
The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night 2007 ps2
Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers 1992 ocs

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