Famitsu scores
The Japanese video game magazine Famitsu assigns scores to video games by having four reviewers each give a score from 0 to 10 (with ten indicating the best game). The scores of the four reviewers are then added up for a maximum possible score of 40. From the twenty seven games awarded with a perfect score as of 2021, three are for the Nintendo DS and five are for the Wii. The PlayStation 3 also has five games with a perfect score and the Xbox 360 has four, with both consoles having two titles in common. The others are for different platforms with only one title each. Franchises with multiple perfect score winners include The Legend of Zelda with four, Metal Gear with three, followed by Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy with two.
As of 2021, every game but three with a perfect score are either published and/or developed by a Japanese company, nine of them being by Nintendo, five by Square Enix, three by Sega, three by Konami, two by Namco, two by Sony Interactive Entertainment and one by Capcom. The only three completely foreign games to achieve a perfect score are The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim by Bethesda Softworks, Grand Theft Auto V from Rockstar Games and Ghost of Tsushima by Sucker Punch Productions. Other foreign games that have achieved near-perfect scores are Grand Theft Auto IV, Red Dead Redemption, L.A. Noire and Red Dead Redemption 2 – all four of which came from Rockstar Games; Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Call of Duty: Black Ops, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 – all from Activision, although published by Square Enix in Japan; Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and The Last of Us Part II, from Naughty Dog; and Gears of War 3 from Epic Games. (Kingdom Hearts II is a joint effort between Square Enix and the U.S.-based Buena Vista Games.)
Perfect review scores
As of 2021, twenty-seven games have received perfect scores from Famitsu.
Nearly perfect review scores
As of 2021, fifty games received a near-perfect score of 39 (in which one of four reviewers gives the game a "9" while the other three give "10s").
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991, Nintendo, for Super Famicom)[24]
- Virtua Fighter 2 (1995, Sega, for Sega Saturn)[24]
- Ridge Racer Revolution (1995, Namco, for PlayStation)[24]
- Super Mario 64 (1996, Nintendo, for Nintendo 64)[24]
- Tekken 3 (1998, Namco, for PlayStation)[24]
- Cyber Troopers Virtual-On Oratorio Tangram (1999, Sega, for Dreamcast)[24]
- Final Fantasy X (2001, Square Co., for PlayStation 2)[24]
- Gran Turismo 3: A-Spec (2001, Sony Computer Entertainment, for PlayStation 2)[24]
- Resident Evil (2002, Capcom, for Nintendo GameCube)[24]
- Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (2004, Square Enix, for PlayStation 2)[25]
- Gran Turismo 4 (2004, Sony Computer Entertainment, for PlayStation 2)[24]
- Kingdom Hearts II (2005, Square Enix, for PlayStation 2)[26]
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Subsistence (2005, Konami, for PlayStation 2)[24]
- Dead or Alive 4 (2005, Tecmo, for Xbox 360)[27]
- Ōkami (2006, Capcom, for PlayStation 2)[28]
- The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (2007, Nintendo, for Nintendo DS)[29]
- Grand Theft Auto IV (2008, Rockstar Games, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)[30]
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009, Activision, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)[31]
- Final Fantasy XIII (2009, Square Enix, for PlayStation 3)[32]
- Red Dead Redemption (2010, Rockstar Games, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)[33]
- Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 (2010, Namco Bandai Games, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)[34]
- Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010, Activision, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)[35]
- Monster Hunter Portable 3rd (2010, Capcom, for PlayStation Portable)[36]
- L.A. Noire (2011, Rockstar Games, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)[37]
- Tales of Xillia (2011, Namco Bandai Games, for PlayStation 3)[38]
- Gears of War 3 (2011, Epic Games, for Xbox 360)[39]
- FIFA 12 (2011, EA Canada, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)[40]
- Final Fantasy Type-0 (2011, Square Enix, for PlayStation Portable)[41]
- Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker - HD Edition (2011, Konami, for PlayStation 3)[42]
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011, Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)[43]
- Resident Evil Revelations (2012, Capcom, for Nintendo 3DS)[44]
- Tekken Tag Tournament 2 (2012, Namco Bandai Games, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)[45]
- Resident Evil 6 (2012, Capcom, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)[46]
- Animal Crossing: New Leaf (2012, Nintendo, for Nintendo 3DS) [47]
- Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance (2013, Konami, for PlayStation 3)[24]
- Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 (2013, Namco Bandai Games, for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)
- The Wonderful 101 (2013, Nintendo, PlatinumGames, for Wii U)[17]
- Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (2013, Square Enix, for PlayStation 3)[48]
- Pokémon X and Y (2013, Nintendo, for Nintendo 3DS)[49]
- Ryū ga Gotoku Ishin! (2014, Sega, for PlayStation 4)
- Dragon Quest Heroes II: The Twin Kings and the Prophecy’s End (2016, Square Enix, for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita)
- Uncharted 4: A Thief's End (2016, Naughty Dog, for PlayStation 4)[50]
- Persona 5 (2016, Atlus, for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4)[51]
- Yakuza 6 (2016, Sega, for PlayStation 4)[52]
- Nier: Automata (2017, Square Enix, for PlayStation 4)[53]
- Super Mario Odyssey (2017, Nintendo, for Nintendo Switch)[54]
- Monster Hunter: World (2018, Capcom, for PlayStation 4)[55]
- Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018, Rockstar Games, for PlayStation 4)[56]
- Kingdom Hearts III (2019, Square Enix, for PlayStation 4)[57]
- Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020, Square Enix, for PlayStation 4)[58]
- The Last of Us Part II (2020, Naughty Dog, for PlayStation 4)[59]
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.
Ceremony | Year | Title | Platform(s) | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
N/A | 1990 | Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen | Famicom | [60] |
2004 | Monster Hunter | PS2 | ||
1st | 2005 | Kingdom Hearts II | PS2 | [61] |
Resident Evil 4 | GCN / PS2 | |||
2nd | 2006 | Final Fantasy XII | PS2 | [62] |
Pokémon Diamond and Pearl | NDS | |||
3rd | 2007 | Monster Hunter Portable 2nd | PSP | [63] |
Super Mario Galaxy | Wii | |||
4th | 2008 | Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G | PSP | [64] |
5th | 2009 | Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies | NDS | [65] |
6th | 2010 | Monster Hunter Portable 3rd | PSP | [66] |
7th | 2011 | Monster Hunter 3G | 3DS | [67] |
8th | 2012 | Animal Crossing: New Leaf | 3DS | [68] |
9th | 2013 | Monster Hunter 4 | 3DS | [69] |
10th | 2014 | Yo-kai Watch 2 | 3DS | [70] |
12th | 2015 | Splatoon | Wii U | [71] |
13th | 2016 | Pokémon Sun and Moon | 3DS | |
14th | 2017 | The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild | Wii U / Switch | [72] |
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age | 3DS / PS4 | |||
15th | 2018 | Monster Hunter: World | PS4 / Xbox One / PC | [73] |
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate | Switch | |||
16th | 2019 | Pokémon Sword and Shield | Switch | [74] |
17th | 2020 | Ghost of Tsushima | PS4 | [75] |
Readers' 100 all-time favorite games
In March 2006, Famitsu readers voted for their 100 all-time favorite games.[76]
- Super Mario Bros. (1985, FC)
- Spartan X (1985, FC)
- Gradius (1986, FC)
- The Legend of Zelda (1986, FCD)
- Dragon Quest (1986, FC)
- Pro Yakyū Family Stadium (1986, FC)
- Final Fantasy (1987, FC)
- Dragon Quest II (1987, FC)
- Wizardry (1987, FC)
- Hokkaidō Rensa Satsujin: Okhotsk ni Kiyu (1987, FC)
- Pro Baseball Family Stadium '87 (1987, FC)
- Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988, FC)
- Final Fantasy II (1988, FC)
- Dragon Quest III (1988, FC)
- Best Play Pro Yakyū (1988, FC)
- Tetris (1989, GB)
- Mother (1989, FC)
- Ys I & II (1989, PCE)
- Super Mario World (1990, SFC)
- F-Zero (1990, SFC)
- Final Fantasy Legend II (1990, GB)
- Final Fantasy III (1990, FC)
- Final Fight (1990, SFC)
- Super Monaco GP (1990, MD)
- Digital Devil Story: Megami Tensei II (1990, FC)
- Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen (1990, FC)
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991, SFC)
- Sonic the Hedgehog (1991, MD)
- SimCity (1991, SFC)
- Final Fantasy IV (1991, SFC)
- Tengai Makyō II: Manjimaru (1992, PCE)
- Romancing SaGa (1992, SFC)
- Shin Megami Tensei (1992, SFC)
- Puyo Puyo (1992, MD)
- Super Mario Kart (1992, SFC)
- Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride (1992, SFC)
- Final Fantasy V (1992, SFC)
- Street Fighter II (1992, SFC)
- Ogre Battle (1993, SFC)
- Torneko's Great Adventure: Mystery Dungeon (1993, SFC)
- Street Fighter II Turbo (1993, SFC)
- Seiken Densetsu II (1993, SFC)
- Final Fantasy VI (1994, SFC)
- Virtua Fighter (1994, SAT)
- Mother 2 (1994, SFC)
- Tokimeki Memorial (1994, PCE)
- Fire Emblem: Monshō no Nazo (1994, SFC)
- Kamaitachi no Yoru (1994, SFC)
- Virtua Fighter 2 (1995, SAT)
- Chrono Trigger (1995, SFC)
- Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Revelation (1995, SFC)
- Tactics Ogre (1995, SFC)
- Tokimeki Memorial: Forever With You (1995, PS)
- Mystery Dungeon 2 (1995, SFC)
- Tokimeki Memorial: Forever With You (1996, SAT)
- Sakura Taisen (1996, SAT)
- Resident Evil (1996, PS)
- Pokémon Red and Green (1996, GB)
- Final Fantasy Tactics (1997, PS)
- Tales of Destiny (1997, PS)
- Grandia (1997, SAT)
- Final Fantasy VII (1997, PS)
- Metal Gear Solid (1998, PS)
- Machi (1998, SAT)
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998, N64)
- Sakura Taisen II (1998, SAT)
- Resident Evil 2 (1998, PS)
- Xenogears (1998, PS)
- Final Fantasy VIII (1999, PS)
- Valkyrie Profile (1999, PS)
- Fushigi no Dungeon: Fūrai no Shiren 2: Oni Shūrai! Shiren-jō! (2000, N64)
- Tales of Eternia (2000, PS)
- Dragon Quest VII (2000, PS)
- Super Robot Wars Alpha (2000, PS)
- Final Fantasy IX (2000, PS)
- Sakura Taisen III (2001, DC)
- Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001, PS2)
- Dynasty Warriors 3 (2001, PS2)
- Final Fantasy X (2001, PS2)
- Kingdom Hearts (2002, PS2)
- Tales of Destiny 2 (2002, PS2)
- Sakura Taisen IV (2002, DC)
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002, GCN)
- Final Fantasy X-2 (2003, PS2)
- Dynasty Warriors 4 (2003, PS2)
- Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2004, PS2)
- Gran Turismo 4 (2004, PS2)
- To Heart 2 (2004, PS2)
- Dragon Quest V (2004, PS2)
- Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004, PS2)
- Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (2004, PS2)
- Tales of Rebirth (2004, PS2)
- Monster Hunter (2004, PS2)
- Resident Evil 4 (2005, GCN)
- Kingdom Hearts II (2005, PS2)
- Resident Evil 4 (2005, PS2)
- Animal Crossing: Wild World (2005, NDS)
- Tales of the Abyss (2005, PS2)
- Monster Hunter Portable (2005, PSP)
- Monster Hunter G (2005, PS2)
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