Ariolasoft UK

A British video game publisher active in the 1980s, known for distributing titles like Lode Runner and Choplifter in Europe.

Action

Simulation

Racing

Sports

Puzzle

Founded

1982

HQ

London, United Kingdom

Parent

Ariolasoft GmbH

Known for

Action / Adventure / Puzzle

19

Games

1983–1987

Years

1

Platforms

$45.37

Ø CIB

+0.9%

24M change

About

Ariolasoft UK was the British publishing arm of the German Ariolasoft label, active during the 1980s home computer era. The company was instrumental in bringing major North American titles to the European market, publishing Broderbund classics like Lode Runner and Choplifter. They also distributed early Electronic Arts releases in the region, including Seven Cities of Gold, Murder on the Zinderneuf, and Realm of Impossibility.

Operating from offices in London, the publisher adapted these imported American hits for European microcomputers such as the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and Amstrad CPC. Within the Lode Runner franchise, the company secured the distribution rights that allowed British gamers localized access to the platforming action of the original 1983 Lode Runner and its sequels. Similarly, Ariolasoft UK handled the regional release of early strategic and role-playing titles, establishing a foothold for franchises like The Bard's Tale.

The publisher's catalog also featured distinct early releases such as the science-fiction shooter IO (1982), the mystery game Murder (1983), and the role-playing adventure The Standing Stones (1983). By licensing these diverse titles alongside Choplifter (1983), Murder on the Zinderneuf (1983), Realm of Impossibility (1984), and Seven Cities of Gold (1984), the company bridged the gap between American software design and the thriving British home computer market. These releases helped define the early software library of the Commodore 64 in the United Kingdom before the parent company transitioned its focus and eventually phased out the UK publishing brand in the late 1980s.