Nippon Ichi Software logo

Nippon Ichi Software

Japan Founded 1991 Website

Nippon Ichi Software (日本一ソフトウェア) is a Japanese video game developer and publisher. Nippon Ichi, meaning "Japan's Best" or "Japan #1," is often abbreviated as "N1". More recently, particularly through their North American branch, NIS America, they have also published anime titles. In 2012 Nippon Ichi Software entered the Guinness World Records Book awarded for being the company that released the most strategy RPGs.

Nippon Ichi Software at a Glance

If you are browsing PlayPile to find a developer with a long history in Japan, Nippon Ichi Software is a major name you should know. Founded in 1991 and active since 1995, this company has released 162 games on our platform. They have worked as both a publisher and a developer on the majority of these titles. Their output has grown significantly over time. They released only 11 games in the 1990s and 27 in the 2000s. The 2010s saw a jump to 70 games, and they continue to be active with 52 titles in the 2020s alone. The company is heavily focused on role-playing games, with 89 entries in that genre. They also make adventure games, strategy titles, visual novels, and tactical games. Their catalog spans many platforms, but they are most present on Nintendo Switch with 68 games and PlayStation 4 with 62 games. You can also find their work on older systems like the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita, as well as on PC and newer consoles like the PlayStation 5. Quality across their library is generally solid. The average rating for their 58 rated titles sits at 74.7 out of 100. Their catalog includes 21 great games rated 80 or higher and 34 good games in the 60 to 79 range. There are only three mixed-rated titles and no poor ones in the data set. The Disgaea series stands out as their most successful franchise, with entries like Mad Rat Dead from 2020 earning a perfect 90/100 score. Other highly rated games include Disgaea: Hour of Darkness and Disgaea 5 Complete, both scoring 87.4. Nippon Ichi Software is known for strategy RPGs so much that they hold a Guinness World Record for releasing the most in this category as of 2012. Their recent releases include Project: Gobble and Project: Curse scheduled for late 2026. They also have Shinigami Hime to Ishokan no Kaibutsu coming in April 2026. The company continues to produce content well into the future with a steady stream of new projects.

162
Total Games
74.7
Avg Rating
1995
First Release
2026
Latest Release

Genre Breakdown

Role-playing (RPG)
27%
Adventure
17%
Strategy
16%
Visual Novel
10%
Tactical
6%

Platform Spread

Nintendo Switch
68
PlayStation 4
62
PlayStation Portable
34
PC (Microsoft Windows)
30
PlayStation Vita
29

Release Timeline

1990s
11
2000s
27
2010s
70
2020s
52

Rating Distribution

21
80-100
34
60-79
3
40-59
0
0-39
Yoru, Tomosu game cover

Yoru, Tomosu

2020·PS4, Switch
Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance - Limited Edition game cover

Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance - Limited Edition

2020·PS4
Bokuhime Project game cover

Bokuhime Project

2020·PS4, PC, Switch
Void Terrarium game cover
Rating 7.5

Void Terrarium

2020·PS4, Switch
To All of Mankind game cover

To All of Mankind

2019·PS4, Switch
Lapis x Labyrinth: Limited Edition game cover

Lapis x Labyrinth: Limited Edition

2019·PS4, Switch
Murder Detective: Jack the Ripper game cover

Murder Detective: Jack the Ripper

2019·PS4, Switch
Disgaea RPG game cover

Disgaea RPG

2019·PC, Android, iOS
Destiny Connect: Tick-Tock Travelers game cover
Rating 6.4

Destiny Connect: Tick-Tock Travelers

2019·PS4, Switch
Lapis x Labyrinth game cover
Rating 7.9

Lapis x Labyrinth

2018·PS4, Switch
Disgaea 1 Complete game cover
Rating 8.0

Disgaea 1 Complete

2018·PS4, Switch, Android +1
Closed Nightmare game cover

Closed Nightmare

2018·PS4, Switch
The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince game cover
Rating 6.7

The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince

2018·PS4, PC, Switch +1
The Princess Guide game cover
Rating 5.5

The Princess Guide

2018·PS4, Switch, Vita
Makai Wars game cover

Makai Wars

2018·Android, iOS
A Rose in the Twilight: Digital Bloodlust Edition game cover

A Rose in the Twilight: Digital Bloodlust Edition

2017·PC
Yomawari: Midnight Shadows game cover
Rating 7.7

Yomawari: Midnight Shadows

2017·PS4, PC, Vita
Hakoniwa Company Works game cover

Hakoniwa Company Works

2017·PS4
God Wars: Future Past game cover
Rating 7.4

God Wars: Future Past

2017·PS4, Vita
A Rose in the Twilight: Limited Edition game cover

A Rose in the Twilight: Limited Edition

2017·PC, Vita
Tsuihou Senkyo game cover

Tsuihou Senkyo

2017·PS4, Vita
Disgaea 5 Complete game cover
Rating 8.7

Disgaea 5 Complete

2017·PC, Switch
The Witch and the Hundred Knight 2 game cover
Rating 6.3

The Witch and the Hundred Knight 2

2017·PS4
Uta no Prince-sama: Repeat Love game cover

Uta no Prince-sama: Repeat Love

2017·Switch, Vita
Penny-Punching Princess game cover
Rating 7.2

Penny-Punching Princess

2016·Switch, Vita
The Longest Five Minutes game cover
Rating 7.7

The Longest Five Minutes

2016·PC, Switch, Vita
Shin Hayarigami 2 game cover

Shin Hayarigami 2

2016·PS3, PS4, Vita
Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk game cover
Rating 8.5

Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk

2016·PS4, PC, Switch +1
Cladun Returns: This is Sengoku! game cover
Rating 6.4

Cladun Returns: This is Sengoku!

2016·PS4, PC, Vita
A Rose in the Twilight game cover
Rating 75

A Rose in the Twilight

2016·PC, Vita
Kamigami no Asobi InFinite game cover

Kamigami no Asobi InFinite

2016·Vita, PSP
Hero Must Die game cover

Hero Must Die

2016·Vita
Uta no Prince-sama: Music 3 game cover

Uta no Prince-sama: Music 3

2016·Vita
Emily Wants to Play game cover
Rating 7.9

Emily Wants to Play

2015·PS4, PC, XONE +3
Criminal Girls 2 game cover

Criminal Girls 2

2015·Vita
Yomawari: Night Alone game cover
Rating 6.7

Yomawari: Night Alone

2015·PC, Vita
Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance game cover
Rating 80

Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance

2015·PS4
Uta no Prince-sama: All Star After Secret game cover

Uta no Prince-sama: All Star After Secret

2015·PSP
htoL#NiQ: The Firefly Diary - Limited Edition game cover

htoL#NiQ: The Firefly Diary - Limited Edition

2015·Vita
Fuuraiki 3 game cover

Fuuraiki 3

2015·Vita
Ooedo Blacksmith game cover

Ooedo Blacksmith

2014·Vita
The Awakened Fate: Ultimatum game cover
Rating 7.0

The Awakened Fate: Ultimatum

2014·PS3
Shin Hayarigami game cover

Shin Hayarigami

2014·PS3, Vita
htoL#NiQ: The Firefly Diary game cover
Rating 5.6

htoL#NiQ: The Firefly Diary

2014·PC, Vita
Harem Tengoku da to Omottara Yandere Jigoku Datta game cover

Harem Tengoku da to Omottara Yandere Jigoku Datta

2014·PS3
Criminal Girls: Invite Only game cover
Rating 6.0

Criminal Girls: Invite Only

2013·PC, Vita
Battle Princess of Arcadias game cover
Rating 7.0

Battle Princess of Arcadias

2013·PS3
Kamigami no Asobi: Ludere Deorum game cover

Kamigami no Asobi: Ludere Deorum

2013·PSP