WayForward

WayForward at a Glance

WayForward is a United States based company founded in 1990 that has grown into one of the larger independent developers and publishers. They are located in Valencia, California, and have released 50 games listed on PlayPile, acting as a developer on 47 of them and a publisher on 16. Their work spans from the year 2000 through 2025, with their output increasing over time. They released only nine games in the 2000s but moved to 23 titles in the 2010s and 17 more in the 2020s. The company focuses heavily on Adventure and Platform genres, which account for 34 and 27 of their titles respectively. They also produce Indie games, Hack and slash or Beat 'em up games, Arcade games, Puzzle games, Fighting games, Shooters, Strategy games, and Role-playing games. Their platform reach is broad, with 31 games available on PC, 29 on Nintendo Switch, and strong presence on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PlayStation 5. They have also released titles for iOS, Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 3, and Android. Quality trends show a mix of results across their catalog. The average rating across 36 rated titles is 67.8 out of 100. There are eight great games with scores above 80, such as Mighty Switch Force! Collection from 2019 which holds an 88.5 score. Other high-rated entries include Shantae: Half-Genie Hero - Ultimate Edition, Lunark, Vitamin Connection, and Dawn of the Monsters. The majority of their work falls into the good range with 20 titles scoring between 60 and 79. However, there are six mixed titles and two poor releases that score below 40. Recent output shows this variance continues with Shantae Advance: Risky Revolution earning an 81 score in August 2025, while Yars Rising received a 59.8 score in September 2024. They are known for rebooting classic series like Contra and Clock Tower alongside original franchises like Shantae.

Release Timeline

Rating Distribution