Game Arts

Game Arts is a Japanese video game developer founded in 1985, known for role-playing and shoot 'em up games.

Action

Role-playing (RPG)

Add-on

Adventure

DLC

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Website

Founded

1985

Acquired

2005

HQ

Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan

Parent

GungHo Online Entertainment

Known for

Role-playing / Action / Strategy

40

Games

1988–2021

Years

23

Platforms

$27.05

Ø CIB

-12.7%

24M change

About

Established in Tokyo, Japan, Game Arts is highly regarded for creating influential series such as Lunar and Grandia, as well as the action game Alisia Dragoon and the Silpheed series. They have also developed several mahjong games, including the Gambler Jiko Chuushinha series, and ported Western titles like Rise of the Dragon to Japanese consoles.

Founded in March 1985 by brothers Yoichi and Hiroshi Miyaji, the company initially gained prominence on Japanese home computers. Their debut title, the 1985 sci-fi action game Thexder, became a major hit on the PC-8801 and was subsequently ported to numerous international platforms, establishing the developer's technical reputation.

Throughout the 1990s, the studio collaborated closely with hardware manufacturers, particularly Sega, to push the boundaries of CD-ROM technology. This partnership resulted in critically acclaimed role-playing games co-developed alongside Studio Alex. In 2005, the publisher GungHo Online Entertainment acquired a majority stake in the company, shifting its focus toward online and handheld gaming. Under this new ownership, the studio contributed to major external projects, including development support for Nintendo's Super Smash Bros. Brawl in 2008, and created titles like Dokuro and Ragnarok Odyssey for PlayStation platforms.