Level-5 Inc. is an independent video game developer and publisher based in Fukuoka,
Japan. The company, which employs about 280 individuals, was founded in October 1998 by
Akihiro Hino after he departed from the now defunct Japanese developer Riverhillsoft.
Hino designs, plans or produces nearly all of Level-5’s games, and is also the President
and CEO of the company. Since its inception, Level-5 has enjoyed a
very close relationship with Sony Computer Entertainment, with many of its titles funded
by and produced in conjunction with the publisher. Since the release of Professor Layton and
the Curious Village for the Nintendo DS in early 2007, however, the company has begun
diversifying its product portfolio and focusing more on self-funding and self-publishing its
titles in Japan with Nintendo's overseas subsidiaries distributing Level-5's games on Nintendo systems.
Level-5 is one of the ten largest video game companies in Japan, where it held a 3.2% market
share in 2013.
History Level-5 was established in October 1998 by
Akihiro Hino and his development team. They had left Riverhillsoft following the release
of the PlayStation, so that they could focus on creating 3D software. Since Hino did not
originally believe that his team could become an independent developer, he formed a connection
with Sony Computer Entertainment, who would allow him to develop for their upcoming PlayStation
2 under the condition that he set up his own company. The name, "Level-5", was a reference
to Japanese school report cards, where "Level-5" is the highest possible mark. Soon after being
created, the company had eleven employees. Level-5's first full scale production was
the action RPG Dark Cloud, developed under contract by Sony Computer Entertainment, originally
for the Japanese launch of the PlayStation 2 in March 2000. However, it was delayed before
the console's launch to allow further development, and eventually released in Japan on December
14, 2000, and elsewhere in 2001. The game was an immediate success for the company,
selling just under a million units worldwide. Work immediately began on a pseudo-sequel
titled Dark Chronicle, that, while not as successful as the first, still gained critical
acclaim and sold over half a million units worldwide.
Midway through 2002, the company had a substantial boost in recognition as it began development
on three high profile titles: True Fantasy Live Online for Microsoft, an
MMORPG which was to become one of the premier titles for the Xbox and Xbox Live service
in Japan before it was abruptly canceled in 2004.
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King for Enix, who had handpicked Level-5 to develop
the title under the supervision of famed designer Yuji Horii and his team at Armor Project.
Rogue Galaxy, the studio’s third RPG for Sony Computer Entertainment, with a larger
budget and more creative freedom than its previous productions with the publisher.
In just four years, Level-5 went from small startup studio to one of the premier RPG developers
in Japan, and have since enjoyed immense critical and commercial success. In early 2007, the
company released its first fully self-funded and self-published title in Japan, Professor
Layton and the Curious Village, which has since enjoyed incredible commercial success,
shipping more than 840,000 copies to retail, and has officially transitioned Level-5 into
both a developer and publisher of interactive video game entertainment in Japan.
Yasumi Matsuno, director of Vagrant Story, Final Fantasy Tactics, and the Ogre Battle
series joined Level-5 in June 2011 who has since left the company as of November 2012
after completing work on Crimson Shroud for the 3DS.
ROID In 2009, Level-5 launched its ROID service,
a mobile phone application that serves as a content delivery platform for mobile games.
It is only compatible with NTT DoCoMo's i-mode mobile internet service in Japan. Users pay
a monthly fee for access to exclusive games and social game functions. The platform debuted
with six titles: Sloan and McHale's Mystery Story, Professor Layton and the Mansion of
the Mirror of Death Remix, Chara Jo P, Yuuenchi wo Tsukurō Revolution, Treasure Island, and
Elf the Dragon. The first three were developed by Level-5, while the last three were developed
by outside companies. Games
PlayStation 2 Dark Cloud series
Dark Cloud Dark Chronicle
Other games Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Rogue Galaxy Rogue Galaxy: Director's Cut
PlayStation Portable Little Battlers Experience series
Danball Senki Danball Senki Boost
Danball Senki W Other games
Jeanne d'Arc Time Travelers
Mobile Suit Gundam AGE: Cosmic Drive Mobile Suit Gundam AGE: Universe Accel
PlayStation 3 White Knight Chronicles series
White Knight Chronicles White Knight Chronicles EX Edition
White Knight Chronicles II Other games
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Wonder Flick
PlayStation Vita Time Travelers
Danball Senki W Wonder Flick
PlayStation 4 Wonder Flick
Nintendo DS Professor Layton series
Professor Layton and the Curious Village Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future Professor Layton and the Last Specter
Inazuma Eleven series Inazuma Eleven
Inazuma Eleven 2: Blizzard Inazuma Eleven 2: Firestorm
Inazuma Eleven 3: Challenge the World: Bomber Inazuma Eleven 3: Challenge the World: Spark
Inazuma Eleven 3: Challenge the World: The Ogre
Atamania series Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's Intriguing Tales
Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's Intriguing Tales 2
Professor Tago's Mental Gymnastics #1: A Puzzle-Solving Journey Around the World
Professor Tago's Mental Gymnastics #2: A Puzzle-Solving Adventure Across the Universe
Professor Tago's Mental Gymnastics #3: A Puzzle-Solving Fairytale in Wonderland
Professor Tago's Mental Gymnastics #4: A Puzzle-Solving Trip on a Time Machine
Other games Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
Ni no Kuni: Dominion of the Dark Djinn Wii
Inazuma Eleven Strikers Inazuma Eleven Strikers 2012 Xtreme
Inazuma Eleven GO Strikers 2013 Nintendo 3DS
Professor Layton series Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy
Inazuma Eleven series Inazuma Eleven GO Shine
Inazuma Eleven GO Dark Inazuma Eleven GO 2: Chrono Stone Neppuu
Inazuma Eleven GO 2: Chrono Stone Raimei Inazuma Eleven Everyday
Inazuma Eleven 1, 2, 3!! The Legend of Mamoru Endou
Inazuma Eleven 3: Bomb Blast Inazuma Eleven 3: Lightning Bolt
Inazuma Eleven GO 3: Galaxy: Big Bang Inazuma Eleven GO 3: Galaxy: Super Nova
Inazuma Eleven 3: Team Ogre Attacks Little Battlers Experience series
Danball Senki Baku Boost Danball Senki W Super Custom
Danball Senki Wars Yo-Kai Watch series
Yo-Kai Watch Yo-Kai Watch 2: Ganzo
Yo-Kai Watch 2: Honke Other games
Girls RPG: Cinderellife Guild01
Liberation Maiden Aero Porter
Crimson Shroud Weapon Shop de Omasse
Time Travelers Fantasy Life
Guild02 Attack of the Friday Monsters!
Bugs vs. Tanks The Starship Damrey
Fantasy Life: Link! Wii U
Wonder Flick Xbox One
Wonder Flick Arcade
Inazuma Eleven Strikers 2012 Xtreme Danball Senki Data Carddas
iOS Layton Brothers: Mystery Room
Layton Kyouju to Seiki no Nana Kaitou Liberation Maiden
Earth Devastating B-Rank Girlfriend Z: Great Space War
Devil Station Wonder Flick
LINE Puzzle de Inazuma Eleven Layton 7
Majin Station Android
Layton Kyouju to Seiki no Nana Kaitou Earth Devastating B-Rank Girlfriend Z: Great
Space War Devil Station
Wonder Flick LINE Puzzle de Inazuma Eleven
Layton 7 Majin Station
Microsoft Windows Inazuma Eleven Online
ROID Professor Layton and the Mansion of the Deathly
Mirror Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's Intriguing Tales
Caba-Jyo-P Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's Intriguing Tales
2 Yuuenchi wo Tsukurō Revolution
Treasure Island Elf the Dragon
Professor Layton's London Life Ni no Kuni Hotroit Stories
Inazuma Eleven Dash Danboard Senki
Cancelled games True Fantasy Live Online
Ushiro Inazuma Eleven Future
Films Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva
Inazuma Eleven: Saikyō Gundan Ōga Shūrai Inazuma Eleven GO: Kyūkyoku no Kizuna Gurifon
Inazuma Eleven GO vs. Danbōru Senki W Yo-kai Watch: Tanjō no Himitsu da Nyan!
See also Level-5 Stadium in Fukuoka city.
References A Japanese Kid's Dream Come True: Level-5
Shows off Ni no Kuni at Tokyo Press Conference ^ "Market Data". Capcom. September 30, 2013.
Retrieved August 28, 2014. ^ a b c Hino, Akihiro & Iwata, Satoru. "Iwata
Asks: Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracles, page 2". Iwata Asks. Nintendo of America Inc.
Retrieved 2011-12-08. ^ How Yasumi Matsuno Ended Up at Level-5
^ Yasumi Matsuno leaves Level 5 ^ a b Level-5's ROID Service Kicks Off Today
^ a b c d e f g h i j "Level-5 International America History & Products 2010". 2011. Retrieved
2011-07-27. ^ "TGS 2009: White Knight Chronicles 2 Revealed".
Kotaku. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Level-5 International
America History & Products 2009". 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
^ a b "In shops now: Inazuma Eleven 2: Firestorm and Inazuma Eleven 2: Blizzard". 2012. Retrieved
2012-05-10. ^ "今度の敵は未来から!? 『イナズマイレブン』感謝祭で映画版・Wii版・第4弾を発表
- 電撃オンライン". News.dengeki.com. 2010-06-27. Retrieved 2013-08-01.
^ a b GUEST. "Level-5 Vision 2010 Live Blog". Web.archive.org. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
^ Gantayat, Anoop. "First Professor Layton Crosses One Million". Adriasang. Archived
from the original on 2011-04-08. Retrieved 2011-07-27.
^ a b 3DS Inazuma Eleven Due This Winter ^ Level-5 Bringing Mobile Hostess Sim to 3DS
^ "Girl's RPG Cinderelife - In Development". Retrieved 2011-07-27.
^ "Level-5 International America History and Products - 2008". Retrieved 2011-07-25.
External links Official website
Official website Level-5 profile on GameSpot
Level-5 profile on MobyGames Level-5 profile on IGN
Level-5 profile on Giant Bomb