Taito

Taito at a Glance

If you browse PlayPile looking for a publisher with deep roots in the Japanese industry, Taito stands out as a company that has been active since 1973. Founded in 1953 by Michael Kogan to import vodka and vending machines, the firm shifted to video game production two decades later. Today it remains a subsidiary of Square Enix but maintains its own identity with over 400 titles listed on our platform. Their catalog spans arcade cabinets, home consoles, and mobile devices, though their output has shrunk significantly in recent years. Taito dominated the 1980s and 1990s when they released 119 and 133 games respectively. The numbers dropped to 99 in the 2000s and fell further to just 32 in the 2010s. By the 2020s, the company has only released 17 games as of now. This decline is evident when you look at their platform distribution. Arcade remains their primary focus with 257 titles, while home consoles like PlayStation and PC have far fewer entries. Their genre list shows a heavy reliance on arcade shooters and puzzle games. They published 102 shooters and 55 puzzle games, compared to only 23 role-playing games and 26 fighting games. The quality of their work varies across the decades. The average rating for their 100 rated titles sits at 67.7 out of 100. While they have 17 great titles with scores above 80, the majority of their library falls into the good range between 60 and 79. There are also 16 mixed games and 3 poor ones below a 40 score. Some of their highest-rated works include Arkanoid vs. Space Invaders from 2017 and Puzzle Bobble VR: Vacation Odyssey from 2021, both scoring 90. Older hits like Arkanoid Returns from 1997 also scored very well at 88.7. Recent releases show a trend of remasters alongside new entries in their classic franchises. Time Gal HD Remaster and Revenge of the Ninja HD Remaster appeared in late 2023, while Bubble Bobble: Sugar Dungeons received a score of 72 in November 2025. Newer titles like QQQbeats!!! have scored higher at 83, but others like Groove Coaster: Future Performers sit at 70. The company continues to operate arcade centers and sell toys, but their video game output is now a fraction of what it was during the golden age of arcade gaming. Their legacy remains tied to Space Invaders and Bubble Bobble, yet their current volume suggests a shift away from mass production toward specific niche projects.

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