Intelligent Systems

Independent Japanese game developer founded 1986, based in Kyoto adjacent to Nintendo HQ. Developer of Fire Emblem, Paper Mario, Advance Wars, WarioWare series. Historically Nintendo's closest second-party partner, but remains independent (privately held).

• Type: Developer · Buyer
• Headquarters: Japan
• Data updated: 5 Nov 2026

Key facts

• According to Games Atlas analysis of shipped-game credits, Intelligent Systems published or developed 12 games released 2017–2026.
• Games Atlas data shows 6 of 12 Intelligent Systems titles with known production credits (50%) used external service partners.
• The most frequent external partner on Intelligent Systems titles is Nintendo of America (9 shared credits, 2017–2024).

What Intelligent Systems outsources and how open it is to new partners

The verdict rates how hard it is for a new vendor to win work in each discipline, from how much work goes outside, how concentrated it is among incumbents, and how often new partners entered in the last three years.

• Lead & co-development: Not enough data: fewer than 5 outsourced games. 3 of 11 credited titles used external partners (27%); 3 external partners, largest Nintendo Software Technology (33% of outsourced volume); 0 outsourced and 0 new partners since 2023. Confidence: low.
• QA and testing services: Moderate barrier: open to newcomers, few slots. 5 of 5 credited titles used external partners (100%); 7 external partners, largest Digital Hearts (27% of outsourced volume); 1 outsourced and 1 new partners since 2023. Confidence: low.
• Audio design and production services: Not enough data: fewer than 5 outsourced games. 4 of 4 credited titles used external partners (100%); 16 external partners, largest Cup of Tea Productions (19% of outsourced volume); 1 outsourced and 0 new partners since 2023. Confidence: low.

External partners proven by shipped credits

• Nintendo of America — Publishing, QA and testing services, 9 shared credits, 2017–2024
• Nintendo — Lead & co-development, Publishing, 6 shared credits, 2019–2026
• Digital Hearts — Localisation services, QA and testing services, 4 shared credits, 2019–2022
• Cup of Tea Productions — Audio design and production services, Casting services, 4 shared credits, 2019–2023
• Mario Club — QA and testing services, 4 shared credits, 2019–2023
• Koei Tecmo Games — Lead & co-development, Publishing, 3 shared credits, 2017–2022
• Keywords Studios México — Audio design and production services, 2 shared credits, 2021–2023
• Safari Games — Additional development & engineering, 2 shared credits, 2021–2023
• Nisshinken — Additional development & engineering, 2 shared credits, 2021–2023
• Side UK — Audio design and production services, 2 shared credits, 2021–2023
• Digital Hearts Shanghai — Localisation services, QA and testing services, 2 shared credits, 2019–2022
• T's Music — Audio design and production services, 2 shared credits, 2019–2023
• TWOFIVE — Audio design and production services, Casting services, 2 shared credits, 2019–2023
• Tose — Additional development & engineering, 2 shared credits, 2021–2023
• 8-4 — Localisation services, 1 shared credits, 2022–2022
• Pluq Studio — Audio design and production services, 1 shared credits, 2021–2021
• GOOFEES — Additional development & engineering, 1 shared credits, 2021–2021
• Studios VOA — Audio design and production services, 1 shared credits, 2021–2021
• Nintendo SPD — Lead & co-development, 1 shared credits, 2021–2021
• D.A.G — Additional development & engineering, 1 shared credits, 2021–2021
• Himawari Studio — Trailers, cinematics and cut-scenes Production services, 1 shared credits, 2020–2020
• aex — Trailers, cinematics and cut-scenes Production services, 1 shared credits, 2020–2020
• Aoshashin — Art, assets and fonts production services, 1 shared credits, 2019–2019
• AIQVE ONE — QA and testing services, 1 shared credits, 2023–2023
• uzupiyo graphics — Art, assets and fonts production services, 1 shared credits, 2019–2019
• Procen Studio — Audio design and production services, 1 shared credits, 2022–2022
• Avaco Studio — Audio design and production services, 1 shared credits, 2022–2022
• Omnibus Japan — Audio design and production services, 1 shared credits, 2022–2022
• Sound Inn Studios — Audio design and production services, 1 shared credits, 2022–2022
• STUDIO T&T — Audio design and production services, 1 shared credits, 2022–2022

Methodology

Source: Games Atlas (gamesatlas.app), based on MobyGames production credits for games released from 2015 onwards and Games Atlas analysis. One game counts once regardless of platforms or editions. Games Atlas does not estimate revenue or report the performance of individual games. Profile: https://gamesatlas.app/companies/intelligent-systems