is a Japanese video game developer and publisher based in Fukuoka. The company was founded in October 1998 by Akihiro Hino after he departed from Riverhillsoft. Level-5 is known for its Professor Layton, Inazuma Eleven, Ni no Kuni, Yo-kai Watch, Snack World, and Megaton Musashi franchises.
History Level-5 was established in October 1998 by Akihiro Hino and his development team at Riverhillsoft, following the release of OverBlood 2. Since Hino did not originally believe that his team could become an independent developer, he formed a partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment, who would allow him to develop for its upcoming PlayStation 2 under the condition that he set up his own company. The name, "Level-5", was a reference to Japanese school report cards, where "Level-5" is the highest possible mark. Soon after being created, the company had eleven employees.
Level-5's first full-scale production was the action role-playing game Dark Cloud, developed under contract by Sony Computer Entertainment. Intended to be a launch game for the Japanese release of the PlayStation 2, it was delayed before the console's launch in March 2000 to allow further development, eventually being released in Japan in December 2000, and worldwide in 2001. Work immediately began on a sequel titled Dark Chronicle, released as Dark Cloud 2 in North America. The company was working with Microsoft Game Studios on an MMORPG for the Xbox, True Fantasy Live Online, before it was cancelled in 2004.
Yasumi Matsuno, director of Vagrant Story, Final Fantasy Tactics, and the Ogre Battle series, briefly joined Level-5 in June 2011, and left the company after completing work on Crimson Shroud for the Nintendo 3DS. By the early 2010s, Level-5 was one of the ten largest video game companies in Japan, holding a market share of 3.2%. In October 2015, Level-5 founded a spin-off company in Santa Monica, in cooperation with Dentsu, called Level-5 Abby. In October 2020, it was reported that the company's North American operations, including Level-5 Abby, were shutting down due to low sales. The same month, Level 5 launched a manga publishing platform called "Manga 5".
Roid service In 2009, Level-5 launched its Roid (Revolutionary Original Ideas Discovery) service, a mobile phone application that serves as a content delivery platform for mobile games. It is only compatible with NTT DoCoMo's i-mode mobile internet service in Japan. Users pay a monthly fee for access to exclusive games and social game functions. The platform debuted with six games: Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's Mystery Story, Professor Layton and the Mansion of the Mirror of Death Remix, Chara Jo P, Yuuenchi wo Tsukurō Revolution, Treasure Island, and Elf the Dragon. The first three were developed by Level-5, while the last three were developed by outside companies.
Use of generative AI In December 2023, Level-5 revealed that they used generative AI programs such as Stable Diffusion to develop their concept art. In December 2025, CEO Akihiro Hino defended the use of AI in response to the use of generative AI in Kepler Interactive's Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
In September 2026, after Level-5's online showcase for their upcoming games, fans criticized the company's alleged use of generative AI, especially in the different art style in the trailer for Yo-kai Watch 2: Haunted Domain between their direct and the previous day's Nintendo Direct. In response, Level-5 claimed that several of their games, such as Yo-kai Watch 2: Haunted Domain and Professor Layton and The New World of Steam, did not use any generative AI.
List of games All games were developed and/or published by Level-5 unless otherwise noted Year Game Original platform(s) 2000 Dark Cloud PlayStation 2 2002 Dark Chronicle PlayStation 2 2004 Dragon Quest VIII PlayStation 2 2005 Rogue Galaxy PlayStation 2 2006 Jeanne d'Arc PlayStation Portable 2007 Professor Layton and the Curious Village Nintendo DS Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box Nintendo DS 2008 Inazuma Eleven Nintendo DS Professor Layton and the Unwound Future Nintendo DS White Knight Chronicles PlayStation 3 2009 Paul Sloane & Des MacHale's Intriguing Tales Nintendo DS Professor Tago's Mental Gymnastics #1 and #2 Nintendo DS Dragon Quest IX Nintendo DS Paul Sloane & Des MacHale's Intriguing Tales 2 Nintendo DS Inazuma Eleven 2 Nintendo DS Professor Tago's Mental Gymnastics #3 and #4 Nintendo DS Professor Layton and the Last Specter Nintendo DS 2010 Inazuma Eleven 3 Nintendo DS White Knight Chronicles II PlayStation 3 Ni no Kuni: Dominion of the Dark Djinn Nintendo DS Ni no Kuni: Hotroit Stories Mobile phone 2011 Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask Nintendo 3DS Danball Senki PlayStation Portable Inazuma Eleven Strikers Wii Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch PlayStation 3 Little Battlers eXperience Boost PlayStation Portable Inazuma Eleven GO Nintendo 3DS Inazuma Eleven Strikers 2012 Xtreme Wii 2012 Girls RPG: Cinderellife Nintendo 3DS Ni no Kuni: Daibouken Monsters Mobile phone Guild01 Nintendo 3DS Little Battlers eXperience Nintendo 3DS Time Travelers Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita Mobile Suit Gundam AGE Universe Accel/Cosmic Drive PlayStation Portable Layton Brothers: Mystery Room Android, iOS Little Battlers eXperience W PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita Professor Layton and the Phantom Thieves Android, iOS Professor Layton vs. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Nintendo 3DS Inazuma Eleven GO 2: Chrono Stone Nintendo 3DS Inazuma Eleven GO Strikers 2013 Wii Fantasy Life Nintendo 3DS 2013 Professor Layton and the Azran Legacy Nintendo 3DS Liberation Maiden iOS Guild02 Nintendo 3DS Earth Devastating B-Grade Girlfriend Z: Space War Android, iOS Yo-kai Watch Nintendo 3DS Little Battlers eXperience W: Super Custom Nintendo 3DS Fantasy Life Link! Nintendo 3DS Little Battlers eXperience: Wars Nintendo 3DS Inazuma Eleven GO 3: Galaxy Nintendo 3DS Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale Nintendo 3DS 2014 Weapon Shop de Omasse Nintendo 3DS Yo-kai Watch 2 Nintendo 3DS 2015 Yo-kai Watch Blasters Nintendo 3DS Yo-kai Watch: Wibble Wobble Android, iOS Yo-kai Watch Dance: Just Dance Special Version Wii U 2016 Yo-kai Sangokushi Nintendo 3DS Yo-kai Watch 3 Nintendo 3DS 2017 Inazuma Eleven: Everyday+ Android, iOS Layton's Mystery Journey Android, iOS, Nintendo 3DS Snack World: Trejarers Nintendo 3DS Otome Yusha Android, iOS Yo-kai Watch Busters 2 Nintendo 3DS 2018 Yo-kai Sangokushi: Kunitori Wars Android, iOS Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom Windows, PlayStation 4 Snack World: The Dungeon Crawl – Gold Nintendo Switch Yo-kai Watch: Gerapo Rhythm Android, iOS Yo-kai Watch World Android, iOS Fantasy Life Online Android, iOS 2019 Yo-kai Watch 1 Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS Yo-kai Watch 4 Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 2020 Yo-kai Watch Jam: Yo-kai Academy Y Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 2021Ni no Kuni: Cross Worlds Android, iOSMegaton Musashi Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 2022 Megaton Musashi Cross Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 2024 Megaton Musashi W: Wired Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows 2025Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals TimeNintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S, Android, iOSInazuma Eleven: Victory RoadNintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox Series X/S2026Inazuma Eleven Cross Android, iOS Professor Layton and the New World of Steam Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, WindowsInazuma Eleven RE Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, WindowsPufflings: Journey Through a Fantasy WorldAndroid, iOS2027DecaPoliceNintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, WindowsSnack World: ReloadedNintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, WindowsHoly Horror MansionNintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, WindowsProfessor Layton and the Curious Village RemakeNintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, WindowsTBAYo-Kai Watch 2: Haunted DomainNintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, WindowsInazuma Eleven: Bold RevolutionTBA
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