Level 5

During the Nintendo DS and Nintendo 3DS eras, the publisher established a dominant presence in the handheld market by blending role-playing mechanics with distinct transmedia appeal. The Inazuma Eleven franchise pioneered a unique genre of tactical soccer RPGs. This strategy was solidified with the dual-version releases of Inazuma Eleven 2: Kyoui no Shinryakusha - Fire and Inazuma Eleven 2: Kyoui No Shinryakusha - Blizzard in 2009, followed by the expansive trilogy-concluding titles Inazuma Eleven 3: Sekai e no Chosen!! Bomber, Inazuma Eleven 3: Sekai e no Chousen!! Spark, and Inazuma Eleven 3: Sekai e no Chousen!! The Ogre in 2010. These titles integrated anime tie-ins and collectible player mechanics, securing massive domestic success in Japan.

Simultaneously, the company expanded its artistic ambitions through high-profile collaborations. For Ni no Kuni: Shikkoku no Madoushi (2010), they partnered with Studio Ghibli to produce animated cutscenes and a sweeping orchestral score, establishing a signature visual style for the fantasy series. Meanwhile, the publisher maintained its puzzle-adventure portfolio on Nintendo platforms, transitioning the Professor Layton series to 3D with Layton Kyouju To Kiseki No Kamen (2011) and experimenting with logic-puzzle adaptations like Sloane To MacHale No Nazo No Story 2 (2009).