Lucasfilm Games

Lucasfilm Games at a Glance

Lucasfilm Games operated from 1985 to 1992 before becoming LucasArts in 1990. George Lucas founded the group in May 1982 as part of his film company, and he initially served as chairman. The studio released 24 games during this active period, with 16 titles appearing in the 1980s and 8 more in the 1990s. Their work spanned multiple decades but concentrated heavily on specific platforms from that era. They released 16 games for DOS, 12 for Commodore C64/128/MAX, and 9 each for the Amiga and Atari ST/STE. Apple II saw 8 releases, while PC, Mac, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, and FM Towns received fewer titles. The company focused primarily on simulator games with 13 releases in that category. Adventure was their second largest genre with 10 games, followed by point-and-click adventures at 6. They also published puzzle, strategy, shooter, and role-playing games, along with single entries for racing, sport, and platform genres. Their output quality varied significantly over time. The average rating across 10 rated titles sits at 69.4 out of 100. This score includes two great titles rated above 80, four good titles between 60 and 79, and four mixed titles scoring between 40 and 59. There were no poor titles below 40 in the sample set. Their highest-rated games appeared during their peak years. Maniac Mansion launched in 1987 with an 87.1 rating. The Secret of Monkey Island followed in 1990 at 83.3, while Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure scored 79.3 in 1989. Loom received a 78.5 rating in 1990, and Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders held a 72.7 score from 1988. The quality trend shifted downward in their final years. Recent releases like Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in March 1992 dropped to a 60 rating. Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe from August 1991 scored only 56. Other late titles such as Do 335 Pfeil Tour of Duty and He-162 Volksjäger: Tour of Duty both appeared in January 1992 without high scores listed. This suggests a decline in critical reception as the studio moved toward military simulator genres before reorganization.

Release Timeline

Rating Distribution