Nicalis, Inc. is an American video game developer and publisher based in Santa Ana, California. The company focuses primarily on indie games and has developed and published both original games as well as ports of existing games. Nicalis was founded in 2007 by Tyrone Rodriguez, a game designer and former game journalist. In 2017, Nicalis announced that it had acquired SuperVillain Studios and Cowboy Color.
Games Since its founding, the company has developed and published various indie games, beginning with Dance Dance Revolution: Mobius in 2008 and Cave Story in 2010. In October 2011, Nicalis announced that it would publish a port of VVVVVV for the Nintendo 3DS via the Nintendo eShop. In December 2011, Nicalis offered both NightSky and Cave Story+ for sale as part of Humble Indie Bundle 4. In April 2012, Nicalis announced that its plans to publish the WiiWare port of La-Mulana in the US and EU had been cancelled, citing a steep decline in the WiiWare userbase. In January 2017, it was silently announced that Nicalis would release several of its games on the Nintendo Switch.
Games developed and published Release yearTitlePlatform(s)Co-developer(s)Notes2010Cave StoryNintendo 3DS, DSiWare, WiiWareStudio PixelPorts2011VVVVVVNintendo 3DSTerry CavanaghPortNightSkyMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Nintendo 3DS, iOSNifflasCave Story 3DNintendo 3DSStudio Pixel3D remakeCave Story+Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, LinuxStudio PixelEnhanced port20141001 SpikesMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Xbox One8-bit FanaticsGrinsiaNintendo 3DS, Microsoft Windows, Mac OS XThe Binding of Isaac: RebirthMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, Xbox One, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, Nintendo Switch Designed by Edmund McMillen Remake of The Binding of Isaac2015Castle in the DarknessMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS XMatt KapVVVVVVPlayStation 4, PS VitaTerry CavanaghPort2016The Binding of Isaac: AfterbirthMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One First paid expansion to The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth2017Cave Story+Nintendo SwitchStudio PixelKnight TerrorsMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS X, Nintendo SwitchFreakZone GamesTiny Barbarian DXMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Nintendo SwitchStarQuail GamesVVVVVVNintendo SwitchTerry CavanaghPortThe Binding of Isaac: Afterbirth+Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One Paid expansion to The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth Physical release for Nintendo Switch Afterbirth is required to use the content in Afterbirth+2019Crystal CrisisNintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft WindowsCrossover puzzle game 2021The Binding of Isaac: RepentanceMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series XS Paid expansion to The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth Physical release for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch Expansions Afterbirth, and Afterbirth+ are required to use the content in Repentance.2022Cramped Room of DeathMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo SwitchHafiz Mohd RozlanReleased on the Epic Games Store, Steam, and GOG.comTBA'90s Super GPPlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft WindowsPelikan13Retro-styled racing game based on titles like Daytona USA. Considered to be in development hell, though not officially cancelled.
Games published
ReleaseTitlePlatform(s)Developer(s)Co-publisher(s)Notes2006ToribashMicrosoft Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, WiiWareNabi Studios2013IkachanNintendo 3DSStudio PixelStudio PixelPort2016Dimensional IntersectionMicrosoft WindowsDNVCreepy CastleMicrosoft WindowsDopterra2017Wonder Boy: The Dragon's TrapPlayStation 4, Nintendo SwitchLizardcubeDotEmu Remake to Wonder Boy III: The Dragon's Trap Port Physical releaseIttle Dew 2+Nintendo SwitchLudosity Sequel to Ittle Dew Enhanced port to Ittle Dew 2 Physical releaseThe End Is NighNintendo Switch, PlayStation 4Edmund McMillen, Tyler GlaielPorts2018Runner3Nintendo SwitchChoice ProvisionsChoice ProvisionsPhysical releaseIkarugaNintendo SwitchTreasure Port Physical releaseCode of Princess EXNintendo SwitchStudio Saizensen Enhanced port Physical releaseBlade StrangersPlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Microsoft WindowsStudio SaizensenCrossover fighting game Save Me Mr TakoNintendo SwitchDeneos GamesPublishing agreement with developer ended in November 20202019RemiLoreMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox OnePixellore Inc., REMIMORYRedoutNintendo Switch34BigThings34BigThingsPort2020Monkey BarrelsNintendo SwitchGood-FeelPhysical Switch release in North America only2021Spectacular SparkyMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo SwitchFreakZone Games CritadelMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo SwitchPixelian Studio2022The Legend of Bum-boMicrosoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series SEdmund McMillen, James Interactive Port Released on the Epic Games Store and GOG.com Prequel to The Binding of Isaac2026MewgenicsNintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series SEdmund McMillen, Tyler Glaiel Port
Awards Cave Story was nominated for Game of the Year at the 2010 Nintendo Power Awards, as well as WiiWare Game of the Year. The 3DS version of Cave Story was nominated for Best Adventure Game at the 2011 Nintendo Power Awards. At the 2011 Independent Games Festival, Cave Story was a finalist in the category of "Excellence In Visual Art" and both Cave Story and NightSky received honorable mentions in the category of "Excellence In Audio."
Controversy over management In September 2019, Kotaku editor Jason Schreier posted a lengthy article compiled from interviews with anonymous internal employees of Nicalis and external developers that have used the company related to the management of the company, particularly to its CEO Tyrone Rodriguez. The investigation was spurred by observations from players of brief conflicts between Nicalis and its developers across social media in the years prior. The report asserted that Rodriguez was controlling and exploitative of his employees and encouraged a racist atmosphere within the company. External developers also stated that they felt Nicalis engaged in ghosting; they had signed deals for Nicalis to help publish their games, but later could not get any response from Nicalis, causing them to lose time and potential sales, and forcing them to turn to other publishers. In response to the report, Nicalis issued a statement stating "We do not condone abusive workplace environments or discrimination and have people from all walks of life." Rodriguez apologized on Twitter that his comments to his employees reported in the article were "indefensible and unacceptable".
On hearing of these accusations, Edmund McMillen, who had developed several games through Nicalis, stated that he would no longer be working with the company on any future games, though The Binding of Isaac: Repentance would still be releasing as originally planned due to contractual obligation.
References
External links Official website