Arc System Works
Arc System Works is a Japanese video game developer and publisher located in Yokohama, Japan. They are best known for their 2D fighting franchises Guilty Gear and BlazBlue as well as their licensed-based fighting games for Dragon Ball and Persona 4.
Founded on May 12, 1988 by Minoru Kidooka as Arc Co. Ltd, the company initially consisted of eight developers, most of whom had previously worked at Sega. During the company’s early years, the majority of their games were ports of popular titles for various home consoles such as Double Dragon, Vigilante, Ghouls’n Ghosts and Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker for the Sega Master System.
Renamed to Arc System Works in 1991 the company began working on a multitude of titles for Sega, Sammy and Banpresto. In 1995 Arc System Works decided to enter into the world of publishing when they published their own original titles starting with Exector and Wizard’s Harmony. In 1998, they developed and published the fighting game Guilty Gear, establishing both a long-running fighting game franchise and becoming a key developer in the 2D fighting genre. They are one of the few companies that are still producing 2D fighting titles for modern video game consoles.
Looking to expand their brand and game catalog the company decided to acquire all Technōs Japan’s intellectual properties from Million Co. Ltd on June 11, 2015. The acquisition included such franchises as Double Dragon and Kunio-Kun which includes games Renegade, Super Dodge Ball and River City Ransom. Continuing with their vision to expand they acquired the rights to the Jake Hunter, Theresia, Nazo no Jikenbo, and Koneko no le series from publisher WorkJam on February 6, 2017.

Type | Privately Owned |
Affiliated Companies | APLUS Co., Ltd. Aksys Games |
Location | Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture Japan |
Developer | Arc System Works |
Founded | May 12, 1988 |
Number of Employees | Approximately 164 |
Founder | Minoru Kidooka |
Acquisitions | Technōs Japan (2015) WorkJam (2017) |
Website | arcsystemworks.jp |
Known For:
Arc System Works Development Structure and Process Overview
- Developed By Arc System Works
- Published By Arc System Works
- Arc System Works Staff
Year | Box | Title | Platform | Publisher | Genre |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1988 | ![]() | Final Lap | Famicom | Namco | Racing |
1988 | ![]() | Double Dragon | Sega Master System | Sega | Beat 'em up |
1988 | ![]() | Vigilante | Sega Master System | Sega | Beat 'em up |
1989 | ![]() | Scramble Spirits | Sega Master System | Sega | Vertical Scrolling Shooter |
1989 | ![]() | Rolling Thunder | Famicom | Namco | Run and gun |
1990 | ![]() | Ghouls 'n Ghosts | Sega Master System | Sega | Platformer |
1990 | ![]() | Michael Jackson’s Moonwalker | Sega Master System | Sega | Beat 'em up Platformer |
1990 | ![]() | Code Name: Viper | Nintendo Entertainment System | Capcom | Action Shooter |
1990 | ![]() | Chiyonofuji no Ōichō | Famicom | Face | Wrestling |
1990 | ![]() | Operation Wolf | PC Engine | NEC Avenue | Shoot 'em up |
1990 | ![]() | Pengo | Game Gear | Sega | Maze |
1990 | ![]() | Super Monaco GP | Game Gear Sega Master System | Sega | Racing |
1991 | ![]() | Battle Commander: Hachibushu Shura no Heihou | Super Famicom | Banpresto | Strategy |
1992 | ![]() | Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger | Famicom | Bandai | Action |
1992 | ![]() | Great Battle Cyber | Famicom | Banpresto | Action Beat 'em up |
1992 | ![]() | Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon | Game Boy | Angel | Beat 'em up |
1992 | ![]() | Cyber Spin | Super Nintendo | Takara | Racing |
1992 | ![]() | Ayrton Senna's Super Monaco GP II | Game Gear Sega Master System | Sega | Racing |
1993 | ![]() | Battletoads | Mega Drive Genesis Game Gear | Sega | Beat 'em up Platformer |
1993 | ![]() | Suzuka 8 Hours | Super Nintendo | Namco | Racing |
1994 | ![]() | Gaia Saver | Super Famicom | Banpresto | RPG |
1994 | ![]() | Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon S: Jougai Rantou!? Shuyaku Soudatsusen | Super Famicom | Angel | Fighter |
1994 | ![]() | Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon | Mega Drive | Bandai | Beat 'em up |
1994 | ![]() | Sonic Drift | Game Gear | Sega | Racing Kart Racer |
1995 | ![]() | Sonic Drift 2 | Game Gear | Sega | Racing Kart Racer |
1995 | ![]() | Virtual Open Tennis | Sega Saturn | Imagineer (JP) Acclaim (NA) | Sports Tennis |
1995 | ![]() | Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon: Another Story | Super Famicom | Angel | RPG |
1995 | ![]() | Exector | PlayStation | Arc System Works | Action |
1995 | ![]() | Wizard's Harmony | PlayStation Sega Saturn | Arc System Works | Simulation |
1997 | ![]() | Wizard's Harmony 2 | PlayStation Sega Saturn | Arc System Works | Simulation |
1998 | ![]() | Guilty Gear | PlayStation PSP PlayStation 3 PlayStation Vita PC PlayStation 4 | Arc System Works (JP) Atlus (NA) Studio 3 (EU) | Fighter |
1999 | ![]() | Prismaticallization | Dreamcast PlayStation | Arc System Works | Adventure |
1999 | ![]() | Tanaka Torahiko no Uru Toraryuu Shogi | Dreamcast | Arc System Works | Board Game |
2000 | ![]() | Guilty Gear X | Arcade Dreamcast PlayStation 2 Game Boy Advance PC | Sammy Studios | Fighter |
2000 | ![]() | Fighting Fury | PlayStation 2 | Tomy | Fighter |
2001 | ![]() | Guilty Gear X Plus | PlayStation 2 | Sammy Studios | Fighter |
2001 | ![]() | Digital Holmes | PlayStation 2 | Arc System Works | Adventure |
2003 | ![]() | Guilty Gear X Ver.1.5 | Arcade | Sammy Studios | Fighter |
2003 | ![]() | Guilty Gear X2 | Arcade PlayStation 2 | Sammy Studios | Fighter |
2003 | ![]() | Guilty Gear X2: The Midnight Carnival #Reload | Arcade PlayStation 2 Xbox PC PSP | Sammy Studios | Fighter |
2004 | ![]() | Guilty Gear Isuka | Arcade PlayStation 2 Xbox PC | Sammy Studios | Fighter |
2004 | ![]() | Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors | Game Boy Advance | Atari (NA) Banpresto (JP) Bandai (EU) | Fighter |
2005 | ![]() | Fist of the North Star | Arcade PlayStation 2 | Sega | Fighter |
2005 | ![]() | Dragon Ball Z: Supersonic Warriors 2 | Nintendo DS | Atari (NA) Banpresto (JP) Bandai (EU) | Fighter |
2005 | ![]() | Guilty Gear XX Slash | Arcade PlayStation 2 PSP | Sammy Studios | Fighter |
2006 | ![]() | Guilty Gear XX Accent Core | Arcade PlayStation 2 Wii | Sammy Studios | Fighter |
2007 | ![]() | Guilty Gear 2: Overture | Xbox 360 PC | Arc System Works (JP) Aksys Games (NA) 505 Games (EU) | Action-Adventure Real-Time Strategy |
2007 | ![]() | Battle Fantasia | Arcade PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 PC | Arc System Works (JP) Aksys Games (NA) 505 Games (EU) | Fighter |
2007 | ![]() | Hoshigami Remix | Nintendo DS | ASNetworks (JP) Aksys Games (NA) 505 Games (EU) | RPG |
2008 | ![]() | Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus | PlayStation 2 PSP Wii Xbox 360 PlayStation 3 | Sammy Studios Arc System Works (Wii) | Fighter |
2008 | ![]() | BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger | Arcade PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 PC PSP | Arc System Works (JP) Aksys Games (NA) PQube and Zen United (EU) | Fighter |
2008 | ![]() | Sengoku Basara X | Arcade PlayStation 2 | Capcom | Hack and Slash Action Fighter |
2008 | ![]() | Super Dodgeball Brawlers | Nintendo DS | Arc System Works (JP) Aksys Games (NA) | Sports Dodgeball |
2008 | ![]() | Tantei Jinguji Saburo DS | Nintendo DS | Arc System Works | Adventure |
2008 | ![]() | Petit Copter | Wii | Aqua System | Simulation |
2008 | ![]() | Family Table Tennis | Wii | Aksys Games | Sports Table Tennis |
2009 | ![]() | Family Glide Hockey | Wii | Aksys Games | Sports Hockey |
2009 | ![]() | Family Pirate Party | Wii | Aksys Games | Party |
2009 | ![]() | Family Mini Golf | Wii | Aksys Games | Sports Mini Golf |
2009 | ![]() | Family Slot Car Racing | Wii | Aksys Games | Racing |
2009 | ![]() | Family Card Games | Wii | Aksys Games | Card Game |
2009 | ![]() | Family Tennis | Wii | Aksys Games | Sports Tennis |
2009 | ![]() | BlazBlue: Continuum Shift | Arcade PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 | Arc System Works (JP, EU) Aksys Games (NA) | Fighter |
2009 | ![]() | Animal Puzzle Adventure | DSiWare | Aksys Games | Puzzle |
2009 | ![]() | Jazzy Billiards | DSiWare | Aksys Games | Sports Pool |
2009 | ![]() | Othello | PC Nintendo 3DS Nintendo DSi Nintendo Switch PSP PlayStation Vita Wii Wii U | Arc System Works | Board Game |
2010 | ![]() | BlazBlue: Continuum Shift II | Arcade PSP Nintendo 3DS | Arc System Works (JP, EU) Aksys Games (NA) | Fighter |
2010 | ![]() | BlayzBloo: Super Melee Brawlers Battle Royale | DSiWare | Arc System Works | Fighter |
2011 | ![]() | Hard Corps: Uprising | PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 | Konami | Run and gun |
2011 | ![]() | Nurarihyon no Mago: Hyakki Ryouran Taisen | PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 | Konami | Adventure |
2012 | ![]() | BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma | Arcade PlayStation 3 PlayStation Vita | Arc System Works (JP, EU) Aksys Games (NA) | Fighter |
2012 | ![]() | Guilty Gear XX Accent Core Plus R | Arcade PlayStation Vita PC Nintendo Switch | Sammy Studios Arc System Works (PC) | Fighter |
2012 | ![]() | BlazBlue: Continuum Shift Extend | PlayStation Vita PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 PSP PC | Arc System Works (JP, EU) Aksys Games (NA) | Fighter |
2012 | ![]() | Persona 4 Arena | Arcade PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 | Atlus | Fighter |
2012 | ![]() | Kyūkōsha no Shōjo | Nintendo 3DS | Arc System Works | Adventure |
2012 | ![]() | Phi Brain: Kizuna no Puzzle | PSP | Arc System Works | Puzzle |
2013 | ![]() | Persona 4 Arena Ultimax | Arcade PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 | Atlus/Sega | Fighter |
2013 | ![]() | Xblaze Code: Embryo | PlayStation 3 PlayStation Vita PC | Arc System Works (JP) Aksys Games (NA) Funbox Media (EU) | Visual Novel |
2013 | ![]() | Magical Beat | PlayStation Vita | Arc System Works | Puzzle |
2014 | ![]() | Guilty Gear Xrd -SIGN- | Arcade PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 PC | Arc System Works (JP) Aksys Games (NA) | Fighter |
2014 | ![]() | BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma Extend | Arcade PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 Xbox One PlayStation Vita PC | Arc System Works (JP, EU) Aksys Games (NA) | Fighter |
2014 | ![]() | Fantasy Hero: Unsigned Legacy | PlayStation Vita | Arc System Works | RPG |
2014 | ![]() | River City Super Sports Challenge: ~All Stars Special~ | PlayStation 3 | Arc System Works | Beat 'em up |
2015 | ![]() | Family Tennis SP | Wii U | Aksys Games | Sports Tennis |
2015 | ![]() | BlazBlue: Central Fiction | Arcade PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 PC Nintendo Switch | Arc System Works (JP) Aksys Games (NA) Pqube (EU) | Fighter |
2015 | ![]() | Xblaze: Lost Memories | PlayStation 3 PlayStation Vita | Arc System Works (JP) Aksys Games (NA) | Visual Novel |
2015 | ![]() | Dragon Ball Z: Extreme Butōden | Nintendo 3DS | Bandai Namco Entertainment | Fighter |
2015 | ![]() | Guilty Gear Xrd -REVELATOR- | Arcade PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 PC | Arc System Works (JP) Aksys Games (NA) Sony Interactive Entertainment (EU) | Fighter |
2016 | ![]() | Chase: Cold Case Investigations - Distant Memories | Nintendo 3DS | Arc System Works (JP) Aksys Games (NA, EU) | Visual Novel Adventure |
2016 | ![]() | Inferno Climber | PlayStation 4 Nintendo Switch PC | Arc System Works | Action RPG |
2016 | ![]() | One Piece: Great Pirate Colosseum | Nintendo 3DS | Bandai Namco Entertainment | Action-Adventure Fighter RPG |
2017 | ![]() | Double Dragon IV | PlayStation 4 PC | Arc System Works | Beat 'em up |
2017 | ![]() | Simple Mahjong Online | Nintendo Switch | Arc System Works | Board Game |
2017 | ![]() | Happy Birthdays | PlayStation 4 PC Nintendo Switch | Nippon Ichi Software | Action-Adventure Sandbox |
2017 | ![]() | Jake Hunter Detective Story: Ghost of the Dusk | Nintendo 3DS | Aksys Games | Adventure |
2018 | ![]() | Dragon Ball FighterZ | PlayStation 4 Xbox One PC Nintendo Switch | Bandai Namco Entertainment | Fighter |
2018 | ![]() | BlazBlue: Cross Tag Battle | PlayStation 4 Nintendo Switch PC Arcade | Arc System Works | Fighter |
2019 | ![]() | River City Girls | PlayStation 4 Xbox One PC Nintendo Switch | Arc System Works | Beat 'em up |
2019 | ![]() | Wizard's Symphony | PlayStation 4 Nintendo Switch | Arc System Works | RPG |
2020 | ![]() | Code Shifter | PlayStation 4 Xbox One PC Nintendo Switch | Arc System Works | Action Platformer |
2020 | ![]() | Granblue Fantasy Versus | PlayStation 4 PC | Cygames (JP) Xseed Games (NA) Marvelous (EU) | Fighter RPG |
2021 | ![]() | Guilty Gear Strive | PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 PC Arcade | Arc System Works (JP, NA) Bandai Namco Entertainment (EU) | Fighter |
2022 | ![]() | River City Girls 2 | PlayStation 5 Xbox Series X/S PC Nintendo Switch | Arc System Works | Beat 'em up |
2022 | ![]() | RWBY: Arrowfell | PS4 / PS5 Xbox One / Series X/S PC Nintendo Switch | Wayforward | Action-Adventure |