Who Were Rainbow Arts?
Founded in 1984 in Gütersloh, Germany, Rainbow Arts became one of Europe’s most technically accomplished game studios of the 8-bit and 16-bit era.
German Precision, International Impact
Rainbow Arts was founded in 1984 by Armin Gessert and Thomas Hertzler in Gütersloh, Germany. From their first releases on the Commodore 64 through to the Amiga golden age, they built a reputation for technical excellence matched by very few studios anywhere in the world.
Their catalogue spans shooter classics, platform games of landmark ambition, and puzzle titles — always executed with a rigour and polish that set them apart from competitors. The studio’s peak coincided with the hiring of programmer Manfred Trenz and composer Chris Hülsbeck, whose work on Katakis, Turrican, and Turrican II remains some of the most celebrated software of the entire 8-bit and 16-bit era.
After a period of consolidation, talent exodus, and acquisition — first by Funsoft, then absorbed into the THQ chain by 1999 — the Rainbow Arts name faded. But its games endure: Turrican lives on through official collections, Evercade cartridges, and a passionate global community.
Turrican (1990)
Manfred Trenz’s masterpiece. Run-and-gun platformer that redefined what C64 and Amiga software could achieve.
The Great Giana Sisters (1987)
Rainbow Arts’s first international sensation — withdrawn after Nintendo pressure, but never forgotten.
Katakis (1988)
Manfred Trenz’s debut as lead programmer. Horizontal shoot-’em-up of extraordinary technical quality.
Turrican II (1991)
Widely considered the definitive entry. Larger, more ambitious, with Hülsbeck’s finest score.
X-Out (1990)
Vertical shoot-’em-up with Matt Furniss’s memorable score. Underrated gem of the Rainbow Arts catalogue.
The Music
Chris Hülsbeck’s SID and Amiga OCS compositions remain among the finest in game music history.
Full History
Founding 1984 through Rushware, peak years, talent exodus, and Ziggurat catalogue acquisition.
Catalogue
Complete title reference with year, platform badges, programmer and composer credits.
People
Manfred Trenz, Chris Hülsbeck, Armin Gessert, Thomas Hertzler, and the Rainbow Arts team.
Modern Legacy
Turrican Flashback, Evercade collection, Rendering Ranger R², and Ziggurat availability.