Key

Key at a Glance

Key operates out of Kita, Osaka and has been active since its formation in 1998 as a brand under Visual Arts. The studio released 33 games between 2000 and 2026, with their output growing from nine titles in the 2000s to eleven in the 2010s, and finally reaching thirteen releases in the 2020s. Their entire catalog focuses on the visual novel genre, though they also include elements of adventure, simulator, role-playing, and strategy in their work. You will find these games primarily on PC, with thirty versions available for Microsoft Windows. They have also expanded to newer hardware, releasing twelve titles for Nintendo Switch and several ports for Android and iOS devices. Older platforms like the PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation Vita each hold three or four of their releases, while a single title appeared on the PlayStation 3. The quality of their work shows a strong upward trend in critical reception. Out of eleven titles that have received ratings on IGDB, none fall into the mixed or poor categories. Four of these games earned great scores above 80, and seven more achieved good ratings between 60 and 79. Their average score sits at 76.9 out of 100. Tomoyo After: It's a Wonderful Life - Memorial Edition leads their library with a 95.5 rating, followed by Clannad at 90.7 and Rewrite at 89.9. Little Busters! also secured a solid 83.9 score in 2007. Even their lower-rated entries like Planetarian: The Reverie of a Little Planet from 2004 still managed a 72.8, indicating consistent competence across their decades of operation. Recent years show they are continuing to produce new content rather than resting on past successes. Their schedule includes Loopers Plus in late 2025, Kousai Toshi in November 2025, and Air arriving in March 2025. The studio also has Anemoi scheduled for April 2026. This steady stream of releases suggests Key remains a major force in the visual novel space for Japanese developers targeting PC gamers worldwide.

Release Timeline

Rating Distribution