Idea Factory

Idea Factory at a Glance

Idea Factory stands as a major force in the Japanese video game industry, having operated from 1996 through at least 2025. Founded in 1994 by former Data East employees Koichi Ota and Shingo Kuwana, the company has built a massive catalog of 278 titles on PlayPile. They act primarily as a publisher with 258 credits in that role, while developing only 49 games themselves. Their output has grown significantly over time, starting with just nine games in the 1990s and expanding to 69 releases in the 2000s. The company peaked in volume during the 2010s with 152 games before releasing 45 titles so far in the 2020s. The company focuses heavily on visual novels, which account for 209 of their releases. They also have a strong presence in adventure games with 86 titles and role-playing games with 44. Their platform reach is broad but leans toward handheld consoles. The Nintendo Switch and PlayStation Portable each host 71 of their games, followed closely by the PlayStation Vita at 67. They also have a significant footprint on the PlayStation 2 with 52 games. While they have released titles for PC, Android, and modern home consoles like the PlayStation 4 and 3, these platforms represent a smaller portion of their total library compared to their handheld focus. Quality varies across their extensive portfolio. The average IGDB rating sits at 66.4 out of 100 based on 39 rated titles. This score reflects a mix of high praise and mediocrity. Only five games achieved a great rating above 80, while the majority of the 27 good-rated titles fall in the 60 to 79 range. There are also five mixed and two poor-rated games in their history. Their top-performing works include Mary Skelter Finale with an 87 score and Variable Barricade at 85. Collar x Malice, Code: Realize - Future Blessings, and Hakuoki: Edo Blossoms all scored around 80. The company continues to release new content regularly, with several upcoming titles scheduled for release between April and September 2025.

Release Timeline

Rating Distribution