Midway Games

Midway Games at a Glance

Midway Games was an American publisher and developer active from 1984 through 2021. The company released 92 titles in total across its history. Most of these games appeared during the 2000s with 61 releases, while the 1990s saw 27 games. The 1980s and 2020s each contributed only one title to their catalog. This uneven output suggests a company that operated at full speed for two decades before fading out quickly in later years. Their portfolio focused heavily on specific genres. Racing games and sports titles tied for the top spot with 26 releases each. Shooters followed with 17 entries, and fighting games accounted for 14. The platform data shows they targeted major consoles of their era. The PlayStation 2 hosted 39 of their games, and Xbox platforms held 33. They also had a strong presence in arcades with 24 titles. Quality control varied significantly across their library. The average rating sits at 64.2 out of 100 based on 70 rated titles. While they produced four great games rated above 80, they also released five poor titles scoring below 40. Nearly half of their rated games fell into the good range between 60 and 79. The remaining 15 titles received mixed reviews. High-rated examples include Mechanic Master from 2008 with a score of 90, and Rollcage Stage II from 2000 at 85.6. Their famous fighting franchise Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe scored only 69.3 in 2008. Midway Games built its reputation on franchises like NFL Blitz, NBA Jam, and Mortal Kombat. They also acquired rights to classic arcade games such as Defender and Joust. The company struggled to maintain high ratings over time. Recent releases in the late 2000s show a decline in quality with scores like 58.5 for Touchmaster 2. Wheelman from March 2009 received a 63.6 rating. By December 2021, they had only released one game titled Three Pigeons in a Trench Coat, marking the end of an era that once dominated arcades and home consoles.

Release Timeline

Rating Distribution