Design Factory Co. Ltd.

A Japanese video game developer known for creating visual novels and otome games, often in collaboration with Idea Factory.

Adventure

Otome visual novel

RPG

Visual novel

Otome adventure



Website

Founded

2001

HQ

Tokyo, Japan

Parent

Idea Factory

Known for

Visual Novel / Otome / Character Art

19

Games

2009–2024

Years

7

Platforms

$33.77

Ø CIB

-5%

24M change

About

Design Factory Co. Ltd. is a prominent developer in the otome visual novel genre, frequently collaborating with Idea Factory and its Otomate brand. The company developed the highly successful Hakuoki franchise, including Hakuoki: Demon of the Fleeting Blossom and Hakuoki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi, as well as other notable titles like Sweet Fuse: At Your Side and Shin Hisui no Shizuku: Hiiro no Kakera 2.

The developer's early portfolio includes the 2004 adventure game Lost Aya Sophia [Limited Edition], which helped establish its long-term publishing relationships. While heavily associated with female-oriented narratives, the studio also branched into diverse genres, as seen in the 2008 release Samurai and the 2010 virtual bride simulation Ore no Yome: Anata Dake no Hanayome.

The company's international profile expanded significantly with the English localization of its flagship historical fantasy works. The PlayStation Portable releases of Hakuoki: Demon Of The Fleeting Blossom (2012) and its [Limited Edition] (2012) introduced Western audiences to the franchise's signature blend of Shinsengumi history and supernatural romance. This success paved the way for the action-oriented spin-off Hakuoki: Warriors of the Shinsengumi (2013). Additionally, the developer refined its collaborative output through the supernatural romance Shin Hisui no Shizuku: Hiiro no Kakera 2 (2009) and the bomb-defusing adventure Sweet Fuse: At Your Side (2013), cementing its reputation for character-driven storytelling across various PlayStation platforms.