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Developers
Riot
Developer
Also Publisher

Riot

An internal development division of the Japanese video game publisher Telenet Japan active during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Action
Role-playing (RPG)
Founded
2006
HQ
Los Angeles, United States
Known for
MOBA / First-Person Shooter / Card
19
Games
1986–1994
Years
6
Platforms
$92.06
Ø CIB
+15.1%
24M change

About

Riot developed and ported several prominent titles for Telenet Japan, including the action-RPG Exile and the sci-fi fighting game Beast Wrestler. The studio was heavily involved in the Valis series, working on Mugen Senshi Valis, and developed the PC Engine CD-ROM ports of Nihon Falcom's Ys III: Wanderers from Ys. They also created the RPG Tenshi no Uta.
Operating during the transition to 16-bit consoles and CD-ROM technology, the studio functioned as a key production division within Telenet Japan. This positioning allowed the team to specialize in high-fidelity audio and cinematic cutscenes, which became defining features of their software library. For the 1991 Genesis remake of Mugen Senshi Valis, the team overhauled the 1986 original Valis with improved graphics, refined gameplay mechanics, and a restructured narrative to appeal to console audiences.
In localizing and porting external properties, the developers frequently adapted complex computer games for home consoles. Their rendition of Ys III: Wanderers from Ys utilized the PC Engine's CD-ROM format to introduce fully voiced dialogue and an arranged redbook audio soundtrack that garnered critical acclaim. Meanwhile, the Genesis release of Beast Wrestler showcased the studio's experimentation with non-traditional sports simulation, utilizing a dark, biological aesthetic. The narrative depth of Tenshi no Uta and the controversial thematic elements of Exile—which underwent significant censorship during its Western localization—demonstrated the studio's willingness to explore mature storytelling. Following a period of intense output in 1991, the development team was eventually absorbed back into Telenet's core operations.

Key People

Brandon Beck
Co-Founder
Marc Merrill
Co-Founder
Nicolo Laurent
CEO

Connections

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Games featuring Riot (19)