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.

163
Total Games
74.7
Avg Rating
1995
First Release
2026
Latest Release

Genre Breakdown

Role-playing (RPG)
27%
Adventure
18%
Strategy
16%
Visual Novel
10%
Tactical
6%

Platform Spread

Nintendo Switch
68
PlayStation 4
62
PlayStation Portable
34
PC (Microsoft Windows)
31
PlayStation Vita
29

Release Timeline

1990s
11
2000s
27
2010s
70
2020s
53

Rating Distribution

21
80-100
34
60-79
3
40-59
0
0-39
Kamigami no Asobi: Ludere Deorum game cover

Kamigami no Asobi: Ludere Deorum

2013·PSP
Dragon's Crown game cover
Rating 8.0

Dragon's Crown

2013·PS3, Wii, Vita +1
The Witch and the Hundred Knight game cover
Rating 7.1

The Witch and the Hundred Knight

2013·PS3
Zillions of Enemy X: Zetsukai no Crusade game cover

Zillions of Enemy X: Zetsukai no Crusade

2013·PS3
Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness game cover
Rating 7.6

Disgaea D2: A Brighter Darkness

2013·PS3
Uta no Prince-sama: All Star game cover

Uta no Prince-sama: All Star

2013·PSP
The Guided Fate Paradox game cover
Rating 7.8

The Guided Fate Paradox

2013·PS3
Missing Parts: The Tantei Stories Complete game cover

Missing Parts: The Tantei Stories Complete

2012·PSP
Tokushu Houdoubu game cover

Tokushu Houdoubu

2012·Vita
Uta no Prince-sama: Debut game cover

Uta no Prince-sama: Debut

2012·PSP
Legasista game cover
Rating 7.5

Legasista

2012·PS3
Phantom Kingdom: Portable game cover

Phantom Kingdom: Portable

2011·PSP
Uta no Prince-sama: Repeat game cover

Uta no Prince-sama: Repeat

2011·PSP
Bikkuriman Kanjuku Haou Sanmi Douran Sensouki game cover

Bikkuriman Kanjuku Haou Sanmi Douran Sensouki

2011·3DS
Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten game cover
Rating 8.1

Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgotten

2011·PS3, Vita
Uta no Prince-sama: Sweet Serenade game cover

Uta no Prince-sama: Sweet Serenade

2011·PSP
Cladun: This is an RPG game cover
Rating 78

Cladun: This is an RPG

2010·PSP
Uta no Prince-sama: Amazing Aria game cover

Uta no Prince-sama: Amazing Aria

2010·PSP
Criminal Girls game cover

Criminal Girls

2010·PSP
Phantom Brave: The Hermuda Triangle game cover

Phantom Brave: The Hermuda Triangle

2010·PSP
Blue Roses: Yousei to Aoi Hitomi no Senshi-tachi game cover

Blue Roses: Yousei to Aoi Hitomi no Senshi-tachi

2010·PSP
Second Novel: Kanojo no Natsu, 15fun no Kioku game cover

Second Novel: Kanojo no Natsu, 15fun no Kioku

2010·PSP
Uta no Prince-sama game cover

Uta no Prince-sama

2010·PSP
Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood! game cover

Prinny 2: Dawn of Operation Panties, Dood!

2010·Switch, PSP
Z.H.P. Unlosing Ranger vs. Darkdeath Evilman game cover
Rating 81

Z.H.P. Unlosing Ranger vs. Darkdeath Evilman

2010·PC, Switch, PSP
Koori no Haka Ichiyanagi Nagomu, Sandome no Junan game cover

Koori no Haka Ichiyanagi Nagomu, Sandome no Junan

2010·PSP
Last Rebellion game cover
Rating 4.8

Last Rebellion

2010·PS3
Disgaea Infinite game cover
Rating 6.0

Disgaea Infinite

2009·Vita, PSP
Antiphona no Seikahime: Tenshi no Score Op.A game cover

Antiphona no Seikahime: Tenshi no Score Op.A

2009·PSP
Hayarigami 3: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File game cover

Hayarigami 3: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File

2009·PSP
Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days game cover
Rating 82

Disgaea 2: Dark Hero Days

2009·PSP
The Conveni DS: Otona no Keiei Ryoku Training game cover

The Conveni DS: Otona no Keiei Ryoku Training

2008·NDS
Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero? game cover
Rating 7.2

Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?

2008·Switch, PSP
Infinite Loop: Kojou ga Miseta Yume game cover

Infinite Loop: Kojou ga Miseta Yume

2008·PSP
Jigsaw World: Daigekitou! Jig-Battle Heroes game cover

Jigsaw World: Daigekitou! Jig-Battle Heroes

2008·NDS
Naraku no Shiro Ichiyanagi Nagomu, Nidome no Junan game cover

Naraku no Shiro Ichiyanagi Nagomu, Nidome no Junan

2008·PS2
Tori no Hoshi: Aerial Planet game cover

Tori no Hoshi: Aerial Planet

2008·PS2
Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice game cover
Rating 7.7

Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice

2008·PS3
Hayarigami 2: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File game cover

Hayarigami 2: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File

2007·PS2
GrimGrimoire game cover
Rating 8.3

GrimGrimoire

2007·PS3, PS2
Amagoushi no Yakata game cover

Amagoushi no Yakata

2007·PS2
Soul Nomad & the World Eaters game cover
Rating 3.0

Soul Nomad & the World Eaters

2007·PS3, PC, Switch +1
Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness game cover
Rating 8.5

Disgaea: Afternoon of Darkness

2006·PSP
Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories game cover
Rating 8.5

Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories

2006·PS3, PS2
Aoi Umi no Tristia game cover

Aoi Umi no Tristia

2005·PS2
Makai Kingdom: Chronicles of the Sacred Tome game cover
Rating 8.3

Makai Kingdom: Chronicles of the Sacred Tome

2005·PS2
Hayarigami: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File game cover

Hayarigami: Keishichou Kaii Jiken File

2004·PS2
Phantom Brave game cover
Rating 6.8

Phantom Brave

2004·PC, PS2, Wii +1