Famitsu scores


The Japanese video game magazine Famitsu reviews video games by having four critics each assign a score from 0 to 10, with 10 being the highest. The scores are added for a maximum possible score of 40., thirty games have received perfect scores.
Famitsu was first published in 1986, and gave its first perfect score in 1998 to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, released by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64. Nintendo is the publisher with the highest number of perfect scoring games with ten total, followed by Square Enix with five, Sega with four and Konami with three. Nintendo is also the developer with the highest number of perfect scoring games with eight total, followed by Kojima Productions and Square Enix with four each.
The console with the highest number of perfect-scoring games is the PlayStation 3, with seven total. Four of the perfect-scoring games on PlayStation 3 were also released on the Xbox 360, which is tied with the Wii for the second-highest number of perfect scores, at five total. Video game franchises with multiple perfect scores include The Legend of Zelda with five, Metal Gear with three, and Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy and Like a Dragon with two. Of the games to receive perfect scores, only three were either published and/or developed by a non-Japanese company: The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Grand Theft Auto V and Ghost of Tsushima.

Reviews

Perfect scores

, thirty games have received perfect scores from Famitsu.
TitleYearSystemDeveloperPublisherNotes
1998Nintendo 64NintendoNintendo
Soulcalibur1999DreamcastProject SoulNamco
Vagrant Story2000PlayStationSquareSquare
2003GameCubeNintendoNintendo
Nintendogs2005Nintendo DSNintendoNintendo
Final Fantasy XII2006PlayStation 2Square EnixSquare Enix
Super Smash Bros. Brawl2008WiiSora Ltd., NintendoNintendo
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots2008PlayStation 3Kojima ProductionsKonami
428: Shibuya Scramble2008WiiChunsoftSegaFirst and only visual novel to receive a perfect score.
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies2009Nintendo DSLevel-5, Square EnixSquare Enix
Monster Hunter Tri2009WiiCapcomCapcom
Bayonetta2009Xbox 360PlatinumGamesSega
New Super Mario Bros. Wii2009WiiNintendoNintendo
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker2010PlayStation PortableKojima ProductionsKonami
Pokémon Black and White2010Nintendo DSGame FreakNintendo, The Pokémon Company
2011WiiNintendoNintendo
2011Xbox 360, PlayStation 3BethesdaBethesdaFirst non-Japanese game to receive a perfect score
Final Fantasy XIII-22011Xbox 360, PlayStation 3Square EnixSquare Enix
Kid Icarus: Uprising2012Nintendo 3DSSora Ltd., Project SoraNintendo
Yakuza 52012PlayStation 3Ryu Ga Gotoku StudioSega
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure: All Star Battle2013PlayStation 3CyberConnect2Bandai [Namco Entertainment|Namco Bandai]
Grand Theft Auto V2013Xbox 360, PlayStation 3RockstarRockstarSecond non-Japanese game to receive a perfect score
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain2015Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox OneKojima ProductionsKonami
2017Wii U, Nintendo SwitchNintendoNintendo
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age2017Nintendo 3DS, PlayStation 4Square EnixSquare Enix
Death Stranding2019PlayStation 4Kojima ProductionsSony Interactive Entertainment
Ghost of Tsushima2020PlayStation 4Sucker PunchSony Interactive EntertainmentThird non-Japanese game to receive a perfect score
2023Nintendo SwitchNintendoNintendo
Street Fighter 62023PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/SCapcomCapcom
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth2024PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/SRyu Ga Gotoku StudioSega

Near-perfect scores

, fifty-seven games have received a near-perfect score of 39.
TitleYearSystemPublisherNotes
1991Super FamicomNintendo
Virtua Fighter 21995Sega SaturnSega
Ridge Racer Revolution1995PlayStationNamco
Super Mario 641996Nintendo 64Nintendo
Tekken 31998PlayStationNamco
Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram1999DreamcastSega
Final Fantasy X2001PlayStation 2Square
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec2001PlayStation 2Sony Computer Entertainment
Resident Evil2002GameCubeCapcom
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King2004PlayStation 2Square Enix
Gran Turismo 42004PlayStation 2Sony Computer Entertainment
Kingdom Hearts II2005PlayStation 2Square Enix
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence2005PlayStation 2Konami
Dead or Alive 42005Xbox 360Tecmo
Ōkami2006PlayStation 2Capcom
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass2007Nintendo DSNintendo
Grand Theft Auto IV2008PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Rockstar Games
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 22009PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Activision
Final Fantasy XIII2009PlayStation 3Square Enix
Red Dead Redemption2010PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Rockstar Games
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 22010PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Namco Bandai Games
Call of Duty: Black Ops2010PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Activision
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd2010PlayStation PortableCapcom
L.A. Noire2011PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Rockstar Games
Tales of Xillia2011PlayStation 3Namco Bandai Games
Gears of War 32011Xbox 360Xbox Game Studios
FIFA 122011PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Electronic Arts
Final Fantasy Type-02011PlayStation PortableSquare Enix
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker - HD Edition2011PlayStation 3Konami
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 32011PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Activision
Resident Evil: Revelations2012Nintendo 3DSCapcom
Tekken Tag Tournament 22012PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Namco Bandai Games
Resident Evil 62012PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Capcom
Animal Crossing: New Leaf2012Nintendo 3DSNintendo
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance2013PlayStation 3Konami
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 32013PlayStation 3, Xbox 360Namco Bandai Games
2013Wii UNintendo
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn2013PlayStation 3Square Enix
Pokémon X and Y2013Nintendo 3DSNintendo
Like a Dragon: Ishin!2014PlayStation 4Sega
Dragon Quest Heroes II: The Twin Kings and the Prophecy's End2016PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation VitaSquare Enix
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End2016PlayStation 4Sony Interactive Entertainment
Persona 52016PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4Atlus
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life2016PlayStation 4Sega
Nier: Automata2017PlayStation 4Square Enix
Super Mario Odyssey2017Nintendo SwitchNintendo
Monster Hunter: World2018PlayStation 4Capcom
Red Dead Redemption 22018PlayStation 4Rockstar Games
Kingdom Hearts III2019PlayStation 4Square Enix
Final Fantasy VII Remake2020PlayStation 4Square Enix
The Last of Us Part II2020PlayStation 4Sony Interactive Entertainment
Elden Ring2022PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/SFromSoftware
Splatoon 32022Nintendo SwitchNintendo
Final Fantasy XVI2023PlayStation 5Square Enix
Monster Hunter Wilds2025PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/SCapcom
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach2025PlayStation 5Sony Interactive Entertainment
Ghost of Yōtei2025PlayStation 5Sony Interactive Entertainment

Lowest scores

The lowest score ever given out by Famitsu is 12 points out of 40. Only three games have received this score: Shura no Mon, Pachinko CR Daiku no Minamoto-San GB, and Pro Golfer Saru. Additionally, few games have received under 15 points; among the more recent of these are Ookuki receiving 13, and Appleseed EX, Beijing 2008, and Galaxy Blaster receiving 14.

Awards and accolades

''Famitsu'' Awards

Famitsu administers the Famitsu awards. Video games receive a number of different awards in categories like Innovation, Biggest Hit, Rookie Award, Highest Quality, etc. One or two "Game of the Year" awards are granted as the top prize. Top prize winners are determined by a combination of critical and fan review scores as well as sales figures. They also give an "Excellence Prize" to other games that don't receive the top prize.
Prior to the formal establishment of the Famitsu Awards ceremony, Famitsu had been publishing annual lists of "Best Hit Game Awards" since early 1987. The following titles were "Game of the Year" winners in the "Best Hit Game Awards" and the Famitsu Awards.
NumberYearGame of the YearPlatformGenre
1st1986Dragon QuestFamicomRole-playing game
2nd1987Dragon Quest IIFamicomRole-playing game
3rd1988Dragon Quest IIIFamicomRole-playing game
4th1989Final Fantasy IIFamicomRole-playing game
5th1990Dragon Quest IVFamicomRole-playing game
6th1991Final Fantasy IVSuper FamicomRole-playing game
2004Monster HunterPS2Action role-playing game

CeremonyYearGame of the YearPlatformGenre
2005Kingdom Hearts IIPS2Action RPG
2005Resident Evil 4GCN / PS2Survival horror
2006Final Fantasy XIIPS2RPG
2006Pokémon Diamond and PearlNDSRPG
2007Monster Hunter Portable 2ndPSPAction RPG
2007Super Mario GalaxyWiiPlatformer
2008Monster Hunter Portable 2nd GPSPAction RPG
2009Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry SkiesNDSRPG
2010Monster Hunter Portable 3rdPSPAction RPG
2011Monster Hunter 3G3DSAction RPG
2012Animal Crossing: New Leaf3DSLife simulation
2013Monster Hunter 43DSAction RPG
2014Yo-kai Watch 23DSRPG
2015SplatoonWii UThird-person shooter
2016Pokémon Sun and Moon3DSRPG
2017The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildWii U / SwitchAction-adventure
2017Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age3DS / PS4RPG
2018Monster Hunter: WorldPS4 / Xbox One / PCAction RPG
2018Super Smash Bros. UltimateSwitchFighting
2019Pokémon Sword and ShieldSwitchRPG
2020Animal Crossing: New HorizonsSwitchLife simulation
2021Monster Hunter RiseSwitch / PCAction RPG
2022Elden RingPS4 / PS5 / Xbox One / Xbox Series X/S / PCAction RPG
19th2023The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the KingdomSwitchAction-adventure
20th2024Final Fantasy VII RebirthPS5Action role-playing

2006 readers' poll

In March 2006, Famitsu readers voted for their 100 all-time favorite games.Super Mario Bros. Spartan X Gradius (video game) The Legend of Zelda Dragon Quest (video game) Pro Baseball: Family Stadium Final Fantasy Dragon Quest II Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord The Hokkaido Serial Murder Case: The Okhotsk Disappearance Pro Baseball Family Stadium '87 Super Mario Bros. 3 Final Fantasy II Dragon Quest III Best Play Pro Yakyū Tetris Mother Ys I & II Super Mario World F-Zero Final Fantasy Legend II Final Fantasy III Final Fight Super Monaco GP Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Sonic the Hedgehog SimCity Final Fantasy IV Tengai Makyō II: Manjimaru Romancing SaGa Shin Megami Tensei Puyo Puyo (video game) Super Mario Kart Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride Final Fantasy V Street Fighter II Ogre Battle Torneko's Great Adventure: Mystery Dungeon Street Fighter II Turbo Seiken Densetsu II Final Fantasy VI Virtua Fighter Mother 2 Tokimeki Memorial Fire Emblem: Mystery of the Emblem Kamaitachi no Yoru Virtua Fighter 2 Chrono Trigger Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation Tactics Ogre Tokimeki Memorial: Forever With You Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer Tokimeki Memorial: Forever With You Sakura Wars Resident Evil Pokémon Red and Green Final Fantasy Tactics Tales of Destiny Grandia Final Fantasy VII Metal Gear Solid Machi The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Sakura Wars 2 Resident Evil 2 Xenogears Final Fantasy VIII Valkyrie Profile Shiren the Wanderer 2: Shiren's Castle and the Oni Invasion Tales of Eternia Dragon Quest VII Super Robot Wars Alpha Final Fantasy IX Sakura Wars 3 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Dynasty Warriors 3 Final Fantasy X Kingdom Hearts Tales of Destiny 2 Sakura Wars 4 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker Final Fantasy X-2 Dynasty Warriors 4 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Gran Turismo 4 To Heart 2 Dragon Quest V Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King Tales of Rebirth Monster Hunter Resident Evil 4 Kingdom Hearts II Resident Evil 4 Animal Crossing: Wild World Tales of the Abyss Monster Hunter Portable