I'Max

A Japanese video game publisher active in the 1990s, known for publishing board, puzzle, and role-playing games.

Strategy

Role-playing (RPG)

Sports

Tactics



Website

Founded

1990

HQ

Tokyo, Japan

Known for

Action / Puzzle / Platformer

28

Games

1991–1998

Years

6

Platforms

$30.85

Ø CIB

+4.9%

24M change

About

I'Max was a Japanese publisher active during the Famicom and Super Famicom eras. The company specialized in traditional board game adaptations, publishing titles like Famicom Shogi: Ryuousen, Famicom Igo Nyumon, Super Shougi, and Super Mahjong. They also published the puzzle game Super Shanghai, the strategy game Navy Blue, the shoot 'em up Bouken Danshaku Don: The Lost Sunheart, and the role-playing game Dual Orb.

The early 1990s marked the peak of the publisher's output on Nintendo platforms. Famicom Shogi: Ryuousen (1991) and Famicom Igo Nyumon (1991) established a strong foothold in the Japanese domestic market by targeting players of traditional board games. These 8-bit releases paved the way for 16-bit sequels and adaptations on the Super Famicom, including Super Shougi (1992) and Super Mahjong (1992), which utilized the upgraded hardware to deliver more sophisticated artificial intelligence and clearer tile graphics.

Simultaneously, the company diversified into other popular genres. Super Shanghai (1992) provided a console adaptation of the classic tile-matching puzzle formula, while Navy Blue (1992) offered tactical naval warfare simulation. The publisher also supported alternative platforms, releasing the eccentric side-scrolling shooter Bouken Danshaku Don: The Lost Sunheart (1992) for the PC Engine. In 1993, the release of Dual Orb marked a significant shift toward narrative-driven software, establishing a traditional turn-based role-playing intellectual property that would define the company's mid-90s legacy.