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Irem Software Engineering, Inc.(JP)(CN) was a Japanese video game developer and publisher.
Company History[]
Founding and dissolution[]
The company was established in 1974 as IPM Co., Ltd.(JP) It changed its name to Irem Corporation(JP) in 1979. It has used its current name since April 15, 1997. Some of its assets were split into Apies Corporation Ltd.(JP)(CN)
The company dissolved its video game division in April 2011 and all its developers left. Several of them formed Granzella.
Association with Nintendo[]
Irem's association with Nintendo began when Nintendo developed a licensed Famicom port of Irem's arcade game Spartan X. It was released on June 21, 1985, nearly a month before Irem published its first Famicom title. Nintendo would later release Spartan X in North America the following October as Kung Fu.
List of Games[]
Developed/published[]
| Title | Platform(s) | Release date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zippy Race | Family Computer | July 18, 1985 | |
| 10-Yard Fight | Family Computer | August 30, 1985 | This version was published by Nintendo in North America. |
| Spelunker | Family Computer | December 6, 1985 | This version was co-developed by TOSE and published by Broderbund in North America. |
| Sqoon | Family Computer | June 26, 1986 | Developed by Home Data. |
| Kineko | Famicom Disk System | November 28, 1986 | Developed by Tamtex. |
| Mashou | Family Computer | December 15, 1986 | Developed by Lenar. Published in North America by Broderbund as Deadly Towers. |
| Super Lode Runner | Famicom Disk System | March 5, 1987 | |
| Kineko Vol. II | Famicom Disk System | May 1, 1987 | |
| R-Type | Arcade | October 1987 | This version was published by Nintendo in North America. |
| Game Boy | March 19, 1991 | This version was developed by Bits Studios. | |
| Mahjong Kazoku | Famicom Disk System | August 4, 1987 | |
| Super Lode Runner II | Famicom Disk System | August 25, 1987 | Developed by Tamtex. |
| Spelunker II: Yuusha he no Chousen | Family Computer | September 18, 1987 | Developed by Now Production. |
| Kaiketsu Yanchamaru | Family Computer | October 2, 1987 | Developed by TOSE. Published by Data East in North America as Kid Niki: Radical Ninja. |
| Youkai Yashiki | Famicom Disk System | October 23, 1987 | |
| Guardic Gaiden | Family Computer | February 5, 1988 | The game was developed by Compile as well as published by Broderbund in North America as The Guardian Legend. |
| Napoleon Senki | Family Computer | March 18, 1988 | The game was developed by Lenar. |
| Hototogisu | Family Computer | August 19, 1988 | The game was developed by Tamtex. |
| Nishimura Kyoutarou Mystery: Blue Train Satsujin Jiken | Family Computer | January 20, 1989 | The game was developed by TOSE. |
| Holy Diver | Family Computer | April 28, 1989 | |
| Major League | Family Computer | October 27, 1989 | The game was developed by Lenar. |
| Gekitotsu Yonku Battle | Family Computer | November 27, 1989 | The game was developed by Tamtex. |
| Shinsenden | Family Computer | December 15, 1989 | The game was developed by Tamtex. |
| Nishimura Kyoutarou Mystery: Super Express Satsujin Jiken | Family Computer | March 2, 1990 | The game was developed by TOSE. |
| Image Fight | Family Computer | March 16, 1990 | |
| Meikyuu Jima | Family Computer | June 29, 1990 | |
| Shisenshou: Match-Mania | Game Boy | July 13, 1990 | Developed by Tamtex. |
| Spartan X | Game Boy | December 11, 1990 | |
| Perman: Enban o Torikaese!! | Family Computer | December 14, 1990 | Developed by Tamtex. |
| Metal Storm | NES | February 28, 1991 | The game was developed by Tamtex. |
| Racing Damashii | Game Boy | February 28, 1991 | Developed by Tamtex. |
| Ganso!! Yanchamaru | Game Boy | July 11, 1991 | |
| Kaiketsu Yanchamaru 2: Karakuri Land | Family Computer | August 30, 1991 | |
| Spartan X 2 | Family Computer | September 27, 1991 | Developed by Tamtex. |
| Daiku no Gen-san | Family Computer | November 15, 1991 | |
| Taiyou no Yuusha Fighbird GB | Game Boy | December 20, 1991 | Developed by Biox. |
| Perman Part 2: Himitsu Kessha Madoodan wo Taose! | Family Computer | December 20, 1991 | Developed by Biox. |
| Taiyou no Yuusha Fighbird | Family Computer | January 11, 1992 | Developed by Tamtex. |
| DinoWars: Adventures in the Dinosaur Kingdom | Super Famicom | July 17, 1992 | The game was published in North America as DinoCity. |
| Daiku no Gen-San: Ghost Building Company | Game Boy | July 31, 1992 | Developed by Tamtex. |
| Major Title | Super Famicom | October 1992 | |
| GunForce | Super Famicom | November 27, 1992 | Developed by Bits Studios. |
| Noobow | Game Boy | December 11, 1992 | |
| R-Type II | Game Boy | December 11, 1992 | Developed by Bits Studios. |
| Kizuchida Quiz da Gen-san da! | Game Boy | December 18, 1992 | Developed by Tamtex. |
| Ai Sensei no Oshiete: Watashi no Hoshi | Family Computer | March 26, 1993 | |
| Kaiketsu Yanchamaru 3: Taiketsu! Zouringen | Family Computer | March 30, 1993 | Developed by Micronics. |
| Street Combat | SNES | April 1993 | Localization of NCS' Ranma 1/2: Chounai Gekitou Hen. |
| Shuyaku Sentai Irem Fighter | Game Boy | July 30, 1993 | |
| Nitro Punks: Might Heads | Super Famicom | July 30, 1993 | |
| Daiku no Gen-san 2: Akage no Dan no Gyakushuu | Family Computer | October 22, 1993 | Developed by Micronics. |
| R-Type III | Super Famicom | December 10, 1993 | This version was published by Jaleco in North America. |
| Undercover Cops Gaiden: Hakaishin Garumaa | Game Boy | December 10, 1993 | |
| Saigo no Nendou: Ninja Spirit | Game Boy | December 18, 1993 | |
| Ganbare! Daiku no Gen-san | Super Famicom | December 22, 1993 | |
| Daiku no Gen-san: Robot Teikoku no Yabou | Game Boy | March 25, 1994 | |
| Undercover Cops | Super Famicom | March 3, 1995 | Published by Varie. |
| Parlor! Pro 64 | Nintendo 64 | January 29, 1999 | Published by Telenet. |
| PachiPara 3D: Premium Umi Monogatari | Nintendo 3DS | November 24, 2011 | |
| PachiPara 3D: Ooumi Monogatari 2 | Nintendo 3DS | May 17, 2012 | |
| PachiPara 3D: Ooumi Monogatari 2 with Agnes Lum | Nintendo 3DS | September 6, 2012 | |
| PachiPara 3D: Deluxe Umi Monogatari | Nintendo 3DS | February 7, 2013 |
Virtual Console and Arcade Archives rereleases[]
- Vigilante (Virtual Console)
- Zippy Race
- Kaiketsu Yanchamaru
- Youjuden
- Moon Patrol
- 10-Yard Fight
- Image Fight
Irem Collection[]
In collaboration with Tozai Games and ININ Games, various games from Irem's library will compiled into 5 volumes of games with each volume containing 3 games. The first volume is releasing in November 2023 with the later volumes following up through 2024. At the end of 2024, the 5 collections will be released physically both in a bundle or in a collector's edition by Strictly Limited Games. Each volume's collector's edition featuring a manual, each game's soundtrack and various collectibles.
Involvement in other games[]
- Kung Fu (Nintendo developed a remake for the Famicom/NES)
- R-Type DX (Irem is credited and Nintendo released the game in North America and Europe)