# Vigil Games

> American game development company

**Wikidata**: [Q2663520](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2663520)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigil_Games)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/vigil-games

## Summary
Vigil Games was an American video game development company founded in 2005, best known for creating the critically acclaimed action-adventure game *Darksiders*. A subsidiary of publisher THQ, the studio operated until its closure in 2013.

## Key Facts
- **Founded**: 2005
- **Founders**: Joe Madureira and David L. Adams
- **Parent Company**: THQ (1990–2013)
- **Headquarters**: Austin, Texas, U.S.
- **Notable Work**: *Darksiders* (2010)
- **Closure**: 2013 (following THQ's bankruptcy)
- **Legal Form**: Subsidiary company

## FAQs
### Q: What is Vigil Games best known for?
A: Vigil Games is best known for developing *Darksiders*, a critically praised action-adventure game released in 2010.

### Q: Why did Vigil Games close?
A: The studio closed in 2013 after its parent company, THQ, filed for bankruptcy and underwent liquidation.

### Q: Who founded Vigil Games?
A: The company was co-founded by comic book artist Joe Madureira and game designer David L. Adams.

## Why It Matters
Vigil Games played a notable role in the action-adventure genre with *Darksiders*, which blended elements of *Zelda* and *God of War* to create a unique gaming experience. Despite the studio's short lifespan, its work left a lasting impact on the industry, with *Darksiders* spawning sequels and spin-offs under different developers. The closure of Vigil Games highlighted the challenges faced by mid-sized studios in a volatile market, particularly those reliant on larger publishers like THQ. Its legacy endures through the *Darksiders* franchise, which remains popular among fans of narrative-driven action games.

## Notable For
- **Signature Title**: *Darksiders* (2010), praised for its art style and gameplay.
- **Founders' Backgrounds**: Co-founded by renowned comic artist Joe Madureira (*Battle Chasers*).
- **THQ Subsidiary**: Operated under THQ during the publisher's peak in the 2000s–2010s.
- **Critical Acclaim**: *Darksiders* received positive reviews for its storytelling and world design.

## Body
### Founding and History
Vigil Games was established in 2005 in Austin, Texas, by Joe Madureira and David L. Adams. The studio was acquired by THQ, a major video game publisher, and operated as a subsidiary until 2013.

### Notable Works
- **Darksiders** (2010): A action-adventure game inspired by the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, noted for its comic book-inspired visuals and expansive world.
- **Darksiders II** (2012): A sequel developed by Vigil Games, released shortly before the studio's closure.

### Closure
Vigil Games shut down in 2013 after THQ filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The studio's assets were not acquired during THQ's liquidation process, leading to its dissolution.

### Legacy
The *Darksiders* franchise continued under Nordic Games (later THQ Nordic), which acquired the rights post-THQ's bankruptcy. Vigil Games' work remains influential in the action-adventure genre.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Organization",
  "name": "Vigil Games",
  "description": "American video game development company, best known for Darksiders.",
  "url": "http://www.vigilgames.com",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4019398",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigil_Games"
  ],
  "foundingDate": "2005",
  "dissolutionDate": "2013",
  "founders": [
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "name": "Joe Madureira"
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "name": "David L. Adams"
    }
  ],
  "parentOrganization": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "THQ"
  },
  "headquarters": {
    "@type": "Place",
    "address": {
      "@type": "PostalAddress",
      "addressLocality": "Austin",
      "addressRegion": "Texas",
      "addressCountry": "United States"
    }
  }
}

## References

1. LastDodo
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
4. Quora
5. VideoGameGeek