The Japanese video game magazine Famitsu reviews video games by having four critics each assign the game a score from 0 to 10, with 10 being the highest score. The scores of are then added together for a maximum possible score of 40. As of 2024 [update] , thirty games have received perfect scores from Famitsu.
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 additionally 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 scoring games include The Legend of Zelda with five, Metal Gear with three, and both Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy 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 .
As of January 2024 [update] , thirty games have received perfect scores from Famitsu.
As of 2023 [update] , fifty-three games have received a near-perfect score of 39.
Title | Year | System | Publisher | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past | 1991 | Super Famicom | Nintendo | [28] | |
Virtua Fighter 2 | 1995 | Sega Saturn | Sega | [28] | |
Ridge Racer Revolution | 1995 | PlayStation | Namco | [28] | |
Super Mario 64 | 1996 | Nintendo 64 | Nintendo | [28] | |
Tekken 3 | 1998 | PlayStation | Namco | [28] | |
Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram | 1999 | Dreamcast | Sega | [28] | |
Final Fantasy X | 2001 | PlayStation 2 | Square | [28] | |
Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec | 2001 | PlayStation 2 | Sony Computer Entertainment | [28] | |
Resident Evil | 2002 | GameCube | Capcom | [28] | |
Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King | 2004 | PlayStation 2 | Square Enix | [29] | |
Gran Turismo 4 | 2004 | PlayStation 2 | Sony Computer Entertainment | [28] | |
Kingdom Hearts II | 2005 | PlayStation 2 | Square Enix | [30] | |
Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence | 2005 | PlayStation 2 | Konami | [28] | |
Dead or Alive 4 | 2005 | Xbox 360 | Tecmo | [31] | |
Ōkami | 2006 | PlayStation 2 | Capcom | [32] | |
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass | 2007 | Nintendo DS | Nintendo | [33] | |
Grand Theft Auto IV | 2008 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Rockstar Games | [34] | |
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | 2009 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Activision | [35] | |
Final Fantasy XIII | 2009 | PlayStation 3 | Square Enix | [36] | |
Red Dead Redemption | 2010 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Rockstar Games | [37] | |
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 | 2010 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Namco Bandai Games | [38] | |
Call of Duty: Black Ops | 2010 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Activision | [39] | |
Monster Hunter Portable 3rd | 2010 | PlayStation Portable | Capcom | [40] | |
L.A. Noire | 2011 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Rockstar Games | [41] | |
Tales of Xillia | 2011 | PlayStation 3 | Namco Bandai Games | [42] | |
Gears of War 3 | 2011 | Xbox 360 | Xbox Game Studios | [43] | |
FIFA 12 | 2011 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Electronic Arts | [44] | |
Final Fantasy Type-0 | 2011 | PlayStation Portable | Square Enix | [45] | |
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker - HD Edition | 2011 | PlayStation 3 | Konami | [46] | |
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 | 2011 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Activision | [47] | |
Resident Evil: Revelations | 2012 | Nintendo 3DS | Capcom | [48] | |
Tekken Tag Tournament 2 | 2012 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Namco Bandai Games | [49] | |
Resident Evil 6 | 2012 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Capcom | [50] | |
Animal Crossing: New Leaf | 2012 | Nintendo 3DS | Nintendo | [51] | |
Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance | 2013 | PlayStation 3 | Konami | [28] | |
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 | 2013 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Namco Bandai Games | [52] | |
The Wonderful 101 | 2013 | Wii U | Nintendo | [18] | |
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn | 2013 | PlayStation 3 | Square Enix | [53] | |
Pokémon X and Y | 2013 | Nintendo 3DS | Nintendo | [54] | |
Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin! | 2014 | PlayStation 4 | Sega | [55] | |
Dragon Quest Heroes II: The Twin Kings and the Prophecy's End | 2016 | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita | Square Enix | [56] | |
Uncharted 4: A Thief's End | 2016 | PlayStation 4 | Sony Interactive Entertainment | [57] | |
Persona 5 | 2016 | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4 | Atlus | [58] | |
Yakuza 6: The Song of Life | 2016 | PlayStation 4 | Sega | [59] | |
Nier: Automata | 2017 | PlayStation 4 | Square Enix | [60] | |
Super Mario Odyssey | 2017 | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo | [61] | |
Monster Hunter: World | 2018 | PlayStation 4 | Capcom | [62] | |
Red Dead Redemption 2 | 2018 | PlayStation 4 | Rockstar Games | [63] | |
Kingdom Hearts III | 2019 | PlayStation 4 | Square Enix | [64] | |
Final Fantasy VII Remake | 2020 | PlayStation 4 | Square Enix | [65] | |
The Last of Us Part II | 2020 | PlayStation 4 | Sony Interactive Entertainment | [66] | |
Elden Ring | 2022 | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | FromSoftware | [67] | |
Splatoon 3 | 2022 | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo | [68] | |
Final Fantasy XVI | 2023 | PlayStation 5 | Square Enix | [69] | |
As of 2024 [update] , 95 games have scored 38 points.
Title | Year | System | Developer | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dragon Quest II | 1987 | Famicom | Enix | [28] | |
Dragon Quest III | 1988 | Famicom | Enix | [28] | |
Tekken | 1995 | PlayStation | Namco | [28] | |
Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer | 1995 | Super Famicom | Chunsoft | [28] | |
Resident Evil | 1996 | PlayStation | Capcom | [28] | |
Tekken 2 | 1996 | PlayStation | Namco | [28] | |
Final Fantasy VII | 1997 | PlayStation | Square | [28] | |
Sonic Adventure | 1998 | Dreamcast | SEGA | [28] | |
Tekken Tag Tournament | 2000 | PlayStation 2 | Namco | [28] | |
Final Fantasy IX | 2000 | PlayStation | Square | [28] | |
Dragon Quest VII | 2000 | PlayStation | Enix | [28] | |
Shiren the Wanderer GB2: Magic Castle of the Desert | 2001 | GameBoy Color | Chunsoft | [28] | |
Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty | 2001 | PlayStation 2 | Konami | [28] | |
Final Fantasy XI | 2001 | PlayStation 2 | Square | [28] | |
Resident Evil 0 | 2002 | GameCube | Capcom | [28] | |
Resident Evil 4 | 2005 | GameCube, PlayStation 2 | Capcom | Separate scores for the NGC and PS2 versions | [28] |
Meteos | 2005 | Nintendo DS | Bandai | [28] | |
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | 2006 | GameCube, Wii | Nintendo | [28] | |
Yakuza 2 | 2006 | PlayStation 2 | SEGA | [28] | |
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas | 2007 | PlayStation 2 | Rockstar Games | [28] | |
Super Mario Galaxy | 2007 | Wii | Nintendo | [28] | |
The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion | 2007 | Xbox 360 | Bethesda | [28] | |
Fallout 3 | 2008 | Xbox 360 | Activision | [28] | |
LittleBigPlanet | 2008 | PlayStation 3 | SCE | [28] | |
The Last Remnant | 2008 | Xbox 360 | SquareEnix | [28] | |
Yakuza 3 | 2009 | PlayStation 3 | SEGA | [28] | |
Resident Evil 5 | 2009 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Capcom | [28] | |
Gears of War 2 | 2009 | Xbox 360 | Epic Games | [28] | |
Bayonetta | 2009 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | SEGA | [28] | |
Yakuza 4 | 2010 | PlayStation 3 | SEGA | [28] | |
God of War III | 2010 | PlayStation 3 | SCE | [28] | |
実況パワフルプロ野球2010 | 2010 | PlayStation 3 | Konami | [28] | |
Ni no Kuni: Dominion of the Dark Djinn | 2010 | Nintendo DS | Level-5 | [28] | |
The Last Story | 2011 | Wii | MISTWALKER | [28] | |
LittleBigPlanet 2 | 2011 | PlayStation 3 | SCE | [28] | |
Nintendogs + Cats | 2011 | Nintendo 3DS | Nintendo | [28] | |
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy | 2011 | PlayStation Portable | Square Enix | [28] | |
Forza Motorsport 4 | 2011 | Xbox 360 | Microsoft | [28] | |
Super Mario 3D Land | 2011 | Nintendo 3DS | Nintendo | [28] | |
Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme Vs. | 2011 | PlayStation 3 | NBGI | [28] | |
Monster Hunter 3G | 2011 | Nintendo 3DS | Capcom | [28] | |
Gravity Daze | 2012 | PlayStation Vita | SCE | [28] | |
New love plus | 2012 | Nintendo 3DS | Konami | [28] | |
Asura's Wrath | 2012 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Capcom | [28] | |
Kurohyou 2: Ryu ga Gotoku Ashura Hen | 2012 | PlayStation Portable | SEGA | [28] | |
Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance | 2012 | Nintendo 3DS | Square Enix | [28] | |
Style Savvy: Trendsetters | 2012 | Nintendo 3DS | Nintendo | [28] | |
Bravely Default Flying Fairy | 2012 | Nintendo 3DS | Square Enix | [28] | |
Assassin's Creed III | 2012 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Ubisoft | [28] | |
Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Gates to Infinity | 2012 | Nintendo 3DS | Nintendo | [28] | |
Tomb Raider | 2013 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | Square Enix | [28] | |
The Last of Us | 2013 | PlayStation 3 | SCE | [28] | |
Mario & Luigi: Dream Team | 2013 | Nintendo 3DS | Nintendo | [28] | |
Monster Hunter 4 | 2013 | Nintendo 3DS | Capcom | [28] | |
Beyond:Two Souls | 2013 | PlayStation 3 | SCE | [28] | |
大合奏!バンドブラザーズP | 2013 | Nintendo 3DS | Nintendo | [28] | |
God Eater 2 | 2013 | PlayStation Vita | NBGI | [28] | |
Super Mario 3D World | 2013 | WiiU | Nintendo | [28] | |
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds | 2013 | Nintendo 3DS | Nintendo | [28] | |
Diablo III | 2014 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | SCE | [28] | |
Like a Dragon: Ishin! | 2014 | PlayStation 3 | SEGA | [28] | |
Battlefield 4 | 2014 | PlayStation 4 | EA | [28] | |
Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes | 2014 | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4,Xbox 360 | Konami | [28] | |
Bayonetta 2 | 2014 | WiiU | Platinum Games | [28] | |
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare | 2014 | PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One | Activision | [28] | |
Halo 5: Guardians | 2015 | Xbox One | Microsoft | [28] | |
Fallout 4 | 2015 | PlayStation 4, Xbox One | Bethesda | [28] | |
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 | 2016 | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch | BNEI | [28] | |
Dark Souls III | 2016 | PlayStation 4, Xbox One | FromSoftware | [28] | |
Pokémon Sun & Moon | 2016 | Nintendo 3DS | Game Freak | [28] | |
Final Fantasy XV | 2016 | PlayStation 4, Xbox One | Square Enix | [28] | |
The Last Guardian | 2016 | PlayStation 4 | SCE | [28] | |
Gravity Rush 2 | 2017 | PlayStation 4 | SCE | [28] | |
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom | 2018 | PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch | LEVEL-5 | [28] | |
God of War | 2018 | PlayStation 4 | SIE | [28] | |
実況パワフルプロ野球2018 | 2018 | PlayStation 4 | BNEI | [28] | |
Detroit: Become Human | 2018 | PlayStation 4 | Quantic Dream | [28] | |
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | 2018 | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo | [28] | |
Pokémon Sword and Shield | 2019 | Nintendo Switch | Game Freak | [28] | |
13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim | 2019 | PlayStation 4 | Vanillaware | [28] | |
Yakuza 7 | 2020 | PlayStation 4 | SEGA | [28] | |
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | 2018 | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo | [28] | |
Animal Crossing: New Horizons | 2020 | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo | [28] | |
Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales | 2020 | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 | Insomniac Games | [28] | |
Hades | 2021 | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch | Supergiant Games | [28] | |
Monster Hunter Rise | 2021 | Nintendo Switch | Capcom | [28] | |
Resident Evil: Village | 2021 | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | Capcom | [28] | |
Deathloop | 2021 | PlayStation 5 | Arkane Studios | [28] | |
Lost Judgment | 2021 | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | SEGA | [28] | |
Pokémon Legends Arceus | 2022 | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo | [28] | |
Gran Turismo 7 | 2022 | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 | SCE | [28] | |
Soul Hackers 2 | 2022 | PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S | Atlus | [28] | |
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet | 2022 | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo | [28] | |
Marvel's Spider-Man 2 | 2023 | PlayStation 5 | Insomniac Games | [28] | |
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island | 2024 | Nintendo Switch | Spike Chunsoft | [28] | |
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth | 2024 | PlayStation 5 | Square Enix | [28] | |
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 (for games released in 1986). The following titles were "Game of the Year" winners in the "Best Hit Game Awards" (between 1986 and 2004) and the Famitsu Awards (from 2005 onwards).
Number | Year | Game of the Year | Platform | Genre | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | 1986 | Dragon Quest | Famicom | Role-playing game | [70] |
2nd | 1987 | Dragon Quest II | Famicom | Role-playing game | [71] |
3rd | 1988 | Dragon Quest III | Famicom | Role-playing game | [72] |
4th | 1989 | Final Fantasy II | Famicom | Role-playing game | [73] |
5th | 1990 | Dragon Quest IV | Famicom | Role-playing game | [74] |
6th | 1991 | Final Fantasy IV | Super Famicom | Role-playing game | [75] |
— | 2004 | Monster Hunter | PS2 | Action role-playing game | [ citation needed ] |
In March 2006, Famitsu readers voted for their 100 all-time favorite games. [93]
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