Atlus

Founded in 1986-04-07 last activity in 2024
Status: active
Country: Japan

11.3

per year

aka(s): Atlus USA, Atlus Software

Atlus Co., Ltd. is a Japanese video game developer, publisher and distribution company based in Tokyo, and a subsidiary of Sega. It is best known for developing the Megami Tensei, Persona, Etrian Odyssey and Trauma Center series. Atlus began in April 7, 1986 as a video game developer of computer games for other companies. In January 1987, Atlus started selling amusement equipment. It expanded into the sale of karaoke equipment in March 1989. Atlus released the first
video game under its own name in 1989: Puzzle Boy for the Game Boy. Atlus started in the arcade industry in the 1990s by manufacturing its first arcade video game,
BlaZeon, in 1992. In 1995, Atlus launched Print Club Arcades in partnership with Sega. In its goal to further increase its presence in the amusement industry, Atlus acquired the manufacturer Apies from Yubis Corporation in 1999. Atlus suffered from deficit financial results in both 1999 and 2000. To address the issue, Atlus established a management reform plan in 2001. In its restructuring efforts, Atlus sold two subsidiaries (one of them being Apies) to their respective employees as part of a management buyout. On 30 August 2010, Index Holdings announced its merger with Atlus. Although fans were concerned about the company’s future, CEO Shinichi Suzuki said that Atlus would continue to provide the "finest quality game experiences possible" and the merger "further strengthens the foundation of Atlus, both in Japan and here in the United States." After the dissolution, the name Atlus continued as a brand used by Index Corporation for video game publishing until 2013. Atlus in its current incarnation was founded as Sega Dream Corporation in September 2013, a new shell corporation established by Sega.

It is known for Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Arcana Heart, Astonishia Story, Baroque, Bomberman, Bonk, Class of Heroes, Daiku no Gensan, Dept. Heaven, Devil Survivor, Digital Devil Saga, Disgaea, Dokapon, DonPachi, Double Dragon, Dungeon Travelers, Etrian Odyssey, Fire Emblem, Growlanser, Gunbird, Hamster Paradise, Hebereke, Hydlide, Kunio-kun, Lufia, Luminous Arc, Magna Carta, Majin Tensei, Megami Tensei, Metal Max, Metal Slug, Mysterious Dungeon, Nekketsu, Ogre Battle, Persona, Power Instinct, Puyo Puyo, R-Type, Robot Ponkotto, Shining, Shiren the Wanderer, Souls, Spectral Force, Summon Night, Super Robot Wars, Tactics Ogre, Tex Murphy, The King of Fighters, Touch! Generations, TrackMania, Trauma Center, Trine, Utawarerumono, Valis, Way of the Samurai, Wizardry, Zeno Clash

Releases per year

1986	1
1987	5
1988	4
1989	5
1990	7
1991	9
1992	12
1993	11
1994	10
1995	17
1996	17
1997	18
1998	22
1999	13
2000	15
2001	19
2002	18
2003	13
2004	19
2005	17
2006	13
2007	22
2008	15
2009	21
2010	8
2011	19
2012	13
2013	14
2014	18
2015	11
2016	11
2017	5
2018	2
2019	3
2020	1
2021	2
2022	6

2024	4

440 video games with valid date were considered (99.5%)

Overall rankings

	20
	127
	50
	13
	0

Common gametypes

Top platforms

PS		65
PS2		40
GBA		37
Nintendo DS		30
PSP		22
3DS		22
SNES		20
NES		19
Saturn		19
PS3		18
Arcade		17
Windows		16
X360		15
GB		13
GBC		12

Atlus best rated games

Persona 4	2008	ps2
Demon's Souls	2009	ps3
Persona 3	2006	ps2
Persona 4: Golden	2012	vita
Persona 3: FES	2007	ps2
Persona 4 Arena	2012	ps3
Odin Sphere Leifthrasir	2016	vita
Persona 5	2016	ps4
Persona 2: Eternal Punishment	2000	ps1
Brigandine: The Legend of Forsena	1998	ps1

Atlus worst games

Friday the 13th	1989	nes
Daylight	2014	ps4
BlaZeon	1992	snes
Armored Police Metal Jack	1992	snes
The Karate Kid	1987	nes