Tecmo

Tecmo at a Glance

Tecmo is a Japanese company founded in 1967 that produced 119 games listed on PlayPile between 1986 and 2012. The studio operated as an independent entity until it merged with Koei in 2009 to form Tecmo Koei Holdings. This subsidiary structure lasted only briefly before the company dissolved in early 2010, with its franchises eventually moving to Koei Tecmo Games. Their output shows a clear pattern of growth followed by decline. They released 14 games during the 1980s, which jumped to 51 titles in the 1990s and 42 in the 2000s. Activity dropped significantly in the final years with only six releases in the 2010s before operations ceased. The company focused heavily on sports games, releasing 48 titles in that genre. They also produced a large number of simulators and arcade games. Their platform reach was broad, with 31 games for arcade machines and strong support for Sony consoles including the PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and PlayStation 3. They also released games for the Family Computer and Nintendo Entertainment System during the earlier era. Quality varied across their catalog. The average rating for 48 of their titled works is 69 out of 100. Most titles fall into the good or great categories with 10 games rated above 80 and 28 between 60 and 79. There are nine mixed ratings and one poor score below 40. Their highest-rated work is Captain Tsubasa Vol. II: Super Striker from 1990, which holds a score of 96.6. Ninja Gaiden Black from 2005 follows closely with 90.8. Other notable high performers include the original Ninja Gaiden from 2004 and Fatal Frame II: Crimson Butterfly from 2003. Later releases did not always match this standard. Quantum Theory from September 2010 received a low score of 53.2. Monster Rancher DS from August 2010 performed better with a 79, but the overall trend suggests their later years saw a drop in critical acclaim compared to their peak in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Release Timeline

Rating Distribution