
LEVEL-5 Inc is a video game studio founded in October 1998 partly by Sony to develop games for the PS2, their first game was "Dark Cloud". The president of the company is Akihiro Hino. They are known for creating popular video game series like Professor Layton, Yo-kai Watch, Inazuma Eleven and Ni No Kuni.
LEVEL-5 has been a steady presence in the Japanese gaming industry since its founding in 1998. The company released its first title, Dark Cloud, in 2000 to support the PlayStation 2. Over more than two decades of operation, their output volume shifted significantly. They published only 14 games during the entire 2000s decade. That number jumped to 81 releases in the 2010s before dropping back down to 14 games in the current decade through 2026. This pattern suggests a period of intense production followed by a more selective approach in recent years. Their portfolio spans many genres, but Role-playing games are their clear focus with 80 titles. They also have a strong history with Adventure games totaling 47 entries. Their work is not limited to one screen, as they target a wide range of platforms. The Nintendo 3DS hosts the largest share of their catalog with 46 games. Mobile devices remain important to them as well, with 24 titles on iOS and 23 on Android. They also support modern consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Switch alongside older systems like the PSP and DS. Quality control appears consistent for LEVEL-5. Their average rating sits at 75.9 out of 100 across 51 reviewed games. The majority of their rated output falls into the good range with 27 titles, while 22 reached great status. They have very few failures, with only two mixed-rated games and no poor entries in their tracked history. Fans of their work often cite Ni no Kuni: Dominion of the Dark Djinn as a high point with a score of 89.2. The Remastered version of Wrath of the White Witch also scored highly at 88.4. Professor Layton and the Unwound Future from 2008 remains one of their best-reviewed puzzle games. Looking ahead, the company has several releases scheduled for late 2025 and 2026. These include new entries in the Inazuma Eleven franchise and the next Professor Layton title. DecaPolice is also listed for release in December 2026. The current slate shows they continue to rely on their established franchises rather than launching many new intellectual properties. President Akihiro Hino leads a studio that has maintained a specific niche in the market for over twenty years.















































