Nippon Ichi Software
Nippon Ichi Software, Inc. is a Japanese video game developer and publisher. The company was founded in 1991 and has developed several role-playing video games, most notably the Disgaea and Marl Kingdom series. Its mascot is the penguin-like Disgaea character Prinny.
NIS America, a localization and global publishing branch of the company, was founded in 2003. It originally focused solely on the North American market until being expanded to include Europe and other regions in 2007 and has also published anime.
History
Nippon Ichi Software was founded in September 1991 in Gifu Prefecture, Japan, as an entertainment software company. It was relocated and reincorporated on July 12, 1993. The company has made several acquisitions, mergers, and forming new subsidiaries. In the early 2010s, the company formed Nippon Ichi Software Asia Pte. Ltd and Nippon Ichi Software Vietnam Co., Ltd. In 2016, NIS merged with System Prisma Corporation and acquired developer FOG Inc. In 2012, the company was awarded the Guinness World Record for being the company that released the most strategy RPGs. The company assisted Hamster Corporation on their release of the Arcade Archives series in 2014, eventually dropping out as the series gained financial success.The company has developed a number of traditional role-playing video games. Many characters from previous games make their way into later games as secret characters, even though their respective games may not be directly connected. Their flagship franchise, Disgaea, takes place in the same universe.
Games
Nippon Ichi Indie Spirits
Nippon Ichi Indie Spirits, a label under which the company localises non-Japanese indie games for the Japanese market, was formed on December 28, 2016. The label's first games, Nidhogg, Back to Bed, and Emily Wants to Play, were released in February 2017. All games that are published through this program are only released digitally.| Title | System | Release date | Developer | |
| Nidhogg | PlayStation 4 | Messhof | ||
| Nidhogg | PlayStation Vita | Messhof | ||
| Back to Bed | PlayStation 3 | Bedtime Digital Games | ||
| Back to Bed | PlayStation 4 | Bedtime Digital Games | ||
| Back to Bed | PlayStation Vita | Bedtime Digital Games | ||
| Emily Wants to Play | PlayStation 4 | Shawn Hitchcock | ||
| The Sexy Brutale | PlayStation 4 | Cavalier Game Studios, Tequila Works | ||
| So Many Me | PlayStation 4 | Extend Studio | ||
| Nidhogg 2 | PlayStation 4 | Messhof | ||
| Unepic | PlayStation 4 | Francisco Téllez de Meneses | ||
| The Sexy Brutale | Nintendo Switch | Cavalier Game Studios, Tequila Works | ||
| Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles | PlayStation 4 | Prideful Sloth | ||
| Yonder: The Cloud Catcher Chronicles | Nintendo Switch | Prideful Sloth | ||
| Rainbow Skies | PlayStation 4 | Eastasiasoft | ||
| Rainbow Skies | PlayStation Vita | Eastasiasoft |
NIS America
NIS America, a localization and global publishing branch of Nippon Ichi Software, was founded on December 24, 2003. Based in Santa Ana, California, it originally focused solely on the North American market until being expanded to include Europe and other regions in 2007. The branch was the result of the company's wish to focus on international publication of their works in the United States, given the increased popularity of their games outside of Japan. Prior to 2003, NIS games were released in English by contracted publishers. Some of the company's more well-known releases include entries in the Atelier, Ys, and Trails series, among others.Games
| Volume | System | Release date | Included games | |
| Volume 1 | Windows Nintendo Switch | August 31, 2021 | Phantom Brave: The Hermuda Triangle Remastered | |
| Volume 1 | Windows Nintendo Switch | August 31, 2021 | Soul Nomad & the World Eaters | |
| Volume 2 | Windows Nintendo Switch | May 10, 2022 | Makai Kingdom: Reclaimed and Rebound | |
| Volume 2 | Windows Nintendo Switch | May 10, 2022 | Z.H.P. Unlosing Ranger VS Darkdeath Evilman | |
| Volume 3 | Windows Nintendo Switch | August 30, 2022 | La Pucelle: Ragnarok | |
| Volume 3 | Windows Nintendo Switch | August 30, 2022 | Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure |
Anime
Personnel
Kenzo Saruhashi is the representative director and president of Nippon Ichi Software, having succeeded Tetsuhisa Seko who died in January 2025.Takehito Harada is the chief executive officer and video game artist of subsidiary Studio ToOefuf whose art has been featured in video games such as Disgaea, Phantom Brave, Makai Kingdom, and Fate/Grand Order.