Video game developer · Japan · Active
LEVEL-5
Founded in October 28, 1998
- 94
- games developed
- 16
- games published
- 6
- in development
History of LEVEL-5
LEVEL-5 is a Japanese developer and publisher based in Fukuoka. Akihiro Hino founded it in October 1998, when he left Riverhillsoft with his team after finishing OverBlood 2. Hino did not think the team could go it alone, so he partnered with Sony Computer Entertainment, which let him develop for the upcoming PlayStation 2 on condition that he set up his own company. The name comes from Japanese school report cards, where a 5 is the top mark.
Its first full-scale project was Dark Cloud, an action role-playing game made under contract for Sony. Planned for the Japanese launch of PlayStation 2, it slipped and came out there in December 2000 and worldwide in 2001. It was followed by Dark Chronicle, released in North America as Dark Cloud 2. The studio also developed Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King, which reached America in 2005, and worked with Microsoft on True Fantasy Live Online, an Xbox MMORPG cancelled in 2004.
Professor Layton and the Curious Village (2007) for Nintendo DS was its first game for a non-Sony console. From then on it funded and published its own titles in Japan and struck deals with Nintendo subsidiaries to release them abroad. That approach produced series such as Inazuma Eleven, Yo-kai Watch, Ni no Kuni and Snack World, several of them with anime series and films. By the early 2010s it was one of the ten largest video game companies in Japan.
Hino still runs the company as its president. In 2015 LEVEL-5 set up a Santa Monica spin-off with Dentsu, Level-5 Abby, and in 2020 it launched Manga 5, a manga publishing platform. In September 2026 it showed its upcoming games in an online showcase; when fans criticised what they saw as the use of generative AI, the company said that titles such as Yo-kai Watch 2: Haunted Domain and Professor Layton and the New World of Steam had not used it.
Milestones
1998
Akihiro Hino founds LEVEL-5 in Fukuoka.
2000
Dark Cloud comes out in Japan for PlayStation 2.
2005
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King reaches America.
2007
Professor Layton and the Curious Village, its first Nintendo game.
2008
The Inazuma Eleven anime series premieres.
2009
Launch of Roid, its mobile game service in Japan.
2014
The Yo-kai Watch anime series premieres.
2015
Level-5 Abby opens in Santa Monica.
2020
Launch of the Manga 5 platform.
In development
Announced games with a future release date.
Snack World: Reloaded
Switch 2 · PC · PS5
Planned for 2027
Professor Layton and the New World of Steam
Switch 2 · PC · PS5
Planned for 2026
Holy Horror Mansion
Switch 2 · PC · PS5
Planned for 2027
DecaPolice
Switch 2 · PC · PS5
Planned for 2027
Inazuma Eleven Re
Switch 2 · PC · PS5
Planned for 2026
Professor Layton and the Curious Village Remake
Switch 2 · PC · PS5
Planned for 2027
Its best-known games
Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
2011 · PS3
Professor Layton and the Curious Village
2007 · Android · iOS · NDS
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
2018 · PS4 · PC · XONE
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
2004 · PS2
Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box
2007 · NDS · Mobile
Professor Layton and the Unwound Future
2008 · NDS
Dark Cloud
2000 · PS4 · PS2
Professor Layton and the Last Specter
2009 · NDS
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
2009 · NDS
Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
2012 · 3DS
Inazuma Eleven
2008 · 3DS · NDS
Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask
2011 · 3DS
Every game it has developed (94)
2025
- Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road Series X|S, PS4, Switch 2, Android
- Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time Series X|S, PS4, Switch 2, Android
2024
- Jeanne d'Arc PS4, PS5
- Megaton Musashi W: Wired PS4, PC, PS5, Switch
2022
- Megaton Musashi: Cross PS4, PS5, Switch
2021
- Megaton Musashi PS4, 3DS, Switch
- Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy - Deluxe Edition Plus Switch
- Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds Android, PC, iOS
2020
- Y School Heroes: Bustlin' School Life PS4, Switch
- Professor Layton and the Unwound Future HD for Mobile Android, iOS
2019
- Yo-kai Watch 4++ PS4, Switch
- Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaires' Conspiracy - Deluxe Edition Switch
- Yo-Kai Watch 1 for Nintendo Switch Switch
- Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- Yo-kai Watch 4 Switch
- Dragon & Colonies Android, iOS
2018
- Otome Yusha Android, iOS
- Yo-kai Watch 3 3DS
- Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box HD for Mobile Android, iOS
- Fantasy Life Online Android, iOS
- Professor Layton and the Curious Village HD for Mobile Android, iOS
- Snack World: The Dungeon Crawl - Gold Switch
- Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom PS4, PC, XONE, Switch
- Yo-kai Sangokushi: Kunitori Wars Android, iOS
2017
- Yo-kai Watch Busters 2: Hihou Densetsu Bambalaya Sword 3DS
- The Snack World: TreJarers 3DS
- Layton's Mystery Journey: Katrielle and the Millionaire's Conspiracy 3DS, Android, iOS
2016
- Yo-kai Watch 3: Sukiyaki 3DS
- Yo-Kai Watch 3: Tempura 3DS
- Yo-Kai Watch 3: Sushi 3DS
- Yo-kai Watch Land Android, iOS
2015
- Yo-Kai Watch Busters: Iron Oni Army Arcade
- Yo-kai Watch Dance: Just Dance Special Edition WiiU
- Yo-Kai Watch Blasters: White Dog Squad 3DS
- Yo-kai Watch Blasters: Red Cat Corps 3DS
2014
- Yo-Kai Watch 2: Psychic Specters 3DS
- Yo-Kai Watch 2: Fleshy Souls 3DS
- Yo-Kai Watch 2: Bony Spirits 3DS
- Weapon Shop de Omasse 3DS
2013
- Inazuma Eleven Go: Galaxy Super Nova 3DS
- Inazuma Eleven Go Galaxy: Supernova 3DS
- Inazuma Eleven GO: Galaxy Big Bang 3DS
- Danball Senki Wars 3DS
- Danball Senki W Chou Custom 3DS
- Yo-kai Watch 3DS
- The Starship Damrey 3DS
- Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy 3DS
- Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask Plus 3DS
2012
- Fantasy Life 3DS
- Inazuma Eleven GO Strikers 2013 Wii
- Inazuma Eleven GO: Chrono Stones - Thunderflash 3DS
- Inazuma Eleven GO: Chrono Stones - Wildfire 3DS
- Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney 3DS
- Professor Layton and the Phantom Thieves Android, iOS
- Mobile Suit Gundam AGE: Cosmic Drive PSP
- Mobile Suit Gundam AGE: Universe Accel PSP
- Time Travelers 3DS, Vita, PSP
- LBX: Little Battlers eXperience 3DS
- Ni no Kuni: Daibouken Monsters Mobile
- Girls' RPG: Cinderella Life 3DS
2011
- Inazuma Eleven Strikers 2012 Xtreme Wii
- Inazuma Eleven Go: Light 3DS
- Inazuma Eleven GO: Shadow 3DS
- Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch PS3
- Professor Layton Royale Android, iOS
- Inazuma Eleven Strikers Wii
- Danball Senki PSP
- Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask 3DS
2010
- Inazuma Eleven 3: Team Ogre Attacks! 3DS, NDS
- Ni no Kuni: Hotroit Stories Mobile
- Ni no Kuni: Dominion of the Dark Djinn NDS
- White Knight Chronicles II PS3
- Inazuma Eleven 3: Lightning Bolt 3DS, NDS
- Inazuma Eleven 3: Bomb Blast 3DS, NDS
2009
- Professor Layton and the Last Specter NDS
- Tago Akira no Atama no Taisou Dai-3-Shuu: Fushigi no Kuni no Nazotoki Otogibanashi NDS
- Tago Akira no Atama no Taisou Dai-4-Shuu: Time Machine no Nazotoki Daibouken NDS
- Inazuma Eleven 2: Blizzard NDS
- Inazuma Eleven 2: Firestorm NDS
- Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies NDS
- Tago Akira no Atama no Taisou Dai-1-Shuu: Nazotoki Sekai Isshuu Ryokou NDS
- Tago Akira no Atama no Taisou Dai-2-Shuu: Ginga Oudan Nazotoki Adventure NDS
- Sloane and MacHale's Mysterious Stories NDS
2008
- White Knight Chronicles PS3
- Professor Layton and the Unwound Future NDS
- Professor Layton and the Mansion of the Deathly Mirror Mobile
- Inazuma Eleven 3DS, NDS
2007
- Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box NDS, Mobile
- Professor Layton and the Curious Village Android, iOS, NDS
2006
- Jeanne d'Arc PSP
2005
- Rogue Galaxy PS4, PS2
2002
- Dark Cloud 2 PS4, PS2
2000
- Dark Cloud PS4, PS2
Games it has published without developing them (16)
- Layton Brothers: Mystery Room 2012
- Danball Senki W 2012
- Liberation Maiden 2012
- Crimson Shroud 2012
- Aero Porter 2012
- Bugs vs. Tanks! 2013
- Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale 2013
- Wonder Flick 2013
- Yo-Kai Watch: Puni-Puni 2015
- Yo-Kai Watch Wibble Wobble 2015
- Yo-kai Sangokushi 2016
- Yo-kai Watch Busters 2: Hihou Densetsu Banbaraya Magnum 2017
- Yo-Kai Watch Gerapo Rhythm 2018
- Yo-kai Watch World 2018
- Yo-kai Watch: Medal Wars 2019
- Inazuma Eleven SD 2020