Popular Games by Rising Star Games
Rising Star Games / Marvelous Entertainment
- 17th Mar 2005 (JPN)
- 12th Sep 2006 (NA)
- 13th Apr 2007 (UK/EU)
Around the World with Hello Kitty and Friends 3DS
Rising Star Games / LightWeight
- 26th Sep 2013 (UK/EU)
Rising Star Games / Office Create
- 16th May 2017 (NA)
- 26th May 2017 (UK/EU)
- 25th Aug 2005 (JPN)
- 27th Sep 2005 (NA)
- 17th Feb 2006 (UK/EU)
Harvest Moon DS: Sunshine Islands DS
Rising Star Games / Marvelous Interactive
- 21st Feb 2008 (JPN)
- 21st Feb 2008 (NA)
- 26th Nov 2010 (UK/EU)
Rune Factory: A Fantasy Harvest Moon DS
- 24th Aug 2006 (JPN)
- 14th Aug 2007 (NA)
- 13th Feb 2009 (UK/EU)
Rising Star Games / Matrix Software
- 1st Nov 2008 (JPN)
- 10th Mar 2009 (NA)
- 12th Mar 2010 (UK/EU)
- 27th Nov 2008 (JPN)
- 17th Mar 2009 (NA)
- 1st Apr 2010 (UK/EU)
Rune Factory 2: A Fantasy Harvest Moon DS
- 3rd Jan 2008 (JPN)
- 18th Nov 2008 (NA)
- 8th Oct 2010 (UK/EU)
Fragile Dreams: Farewell Ruins of the Moon Wii
Rising Star Games / tri-Crescendo
- 22nd Jan 2009 (JPN)
- 16th Mar 2010 (NA)
- 19th Mar 2010 (UK/EU)
Reviews of Rising Star Games Games
Review Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing In Disguise (Switch) - A Fun Game, In Disguise
That game you like is going to come back in style
Let’s get the bad (though perhaps unsurprising) news out of the way first: from a pure technical perspective, Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise is a train wreck. Anyone who can't handle unstable frame rates, crude character animation, moiré-like patterns and other visual artifacts, or...
Review Decay Of Logos (Switch) - An Epic Mess Of A Game, Despite The Lengthy Delay On Switch
Soulless
Originally planned for release back in August on Switch, Decay of Logos was delayed by its developers in order to fix some issues with the game on Nintendo's platform. We played this original version back at the time and found it seriously lacking, suffering from a crushing number of gameplay bugs, some terribly muddy graphics and a dire...
Review Hello Kitty Kruisers (Switch) - If Your Age Is In The Double Digits, This Is Best Avoided
So easy an actual cat could play it
It’s odd what passes for rare these days. Take Hello KItty Kruisers, for example; released physically on the Wii U in limited numbers, it can be bought on the Wii U eShop for a mere ten bucks and yet the boxed version regularly sells to collectors for upwards of $60 online. Thankfully, the game has now...
Review Giga Wrecker Alt. (Switch) - A Puzzle-Solving Mega Man-alike From Pokémon Masters Game Freak
She's gonna wreck it!
Despite the fact it's often working on the next entry in the eternal cultural phenomenon that is Pokémon, Game Freak every so often takes the time to cleanse its creative palette with something that doesn't involve pocket-based monsters. The most recent of its side forays was Giga Wrecker, which smashed its way onto PC two...
Review RICO (Switch) - A Great Tactical Shooter That Truly Comes Alive In Co-Op
Breach and cheer
‘Kick doors, kill men.’ These four seemingly simple words, which appear on-screen while you patiently wait for one of RICO’s procedurally generated levels to load, might seem like a throwaway line – and yet they perfectly sum up its bombastic simplicity. For all the extra objectives and features, everything boils down to...
Review Red's Kingdom (Switch eShop)
A tough nut to crack
Red’s Kingdom is one of those games that, despite being released on iOS devices originally, really does lend itself to the Switch’s slightly beefier portable setup. Almost everything about this puzzle adventure appears to have been designed for portable play, but the package is strong and well polished enough to make the...
Latest Rising Star Games News
Wednesday25th Dec 2024
Soapbox Vanillaware's Most Underrated Game Is More Than Just A Pretty Picture
Deserving of a Rebirth
Soapbox features enable our individual writers and contributors to voice their opinions on hot topics and random stuff they've been chewing over. Today, Alana is talking about a Vanillaware oldie — Muramasa: The Demon Blade, a Wii title that is celebrating its 15th anniversary. And, in the wake of 13 Sentinels and Unicorn...
Monday1st Jan 2024
Memory Pak Making Contact With The "Ungoogleable" Game I Couldn't Quite Remember
What's that one with the plumber and the mushrooms again?
Welcome to the latest instalment in our nostalgia-inducing column, Memory Pak, where we deep-dive into some of the most memorable moments in gaming – good and bad. Today, Jim is reflecting on a years-long dilemma he faced over an oft-forgotten DS game, and wonders how we deal with "video...
Sunday19th Nov 2023
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Contact
No, it's not Mother 3
It's time for another clash of the covers as we dive into the latest edition of Box Art Brawl! Last week, we matched up a duo of box art from the 3DS' Hey! Pikmin and, let us tell you, it wasn't even close. The friendlier European cover walked away with a whopping 73% of the vote, leaving North America and Japan in the...
Wednesday8th Mar 2023
News Thunderful Games' 3DS And Wii U eShop Sale Is Now Live
Update: Now open for NA too
Update [Wed 8th Mar, 2023 14:45 GMT]: Thunderful Games' final 3DS and Wii U eShop sale is now available in North America too, offering 80% off a series of titles from both Thunderful and Rising Star Games. It looks like the list of discounted games is slightly different on the North American eShop to those on offer in...
Friday8th Jan 2021
News Get A Peek At A New Harvest Moon: One World Bachelor And His... Camel?
Rural romance
Every month or so, the Harvest Moon: One World website gives us a look at one of the eligible bachelors and bachelorettes that will be available to woo in the game. With the advent of a new year, that means a new boy or girl ready for us to feast our eyes upon, and decide whether or not they will make the cut. Harvest Moon is a...
Tuesday14th Jul 2020
Video Digital Foundry's Technical Analysis Of Deadly Premonition 2 On Switch
"You have to see this to believe it"
As you've probably heard by now, there are some technical issues with the latest Nintendo Switch release, Deadly Premonition 2: A Blessing in Disguise. The game's director has already said he intends to get the awful frame rate sorted out, and publisher Rising Star has confirmed the development team
News Game Director Swery Will Rewrite At Least One Scene In Deadly Premonition 2
"I am really sorry"
Update: Version 1.0.2 is now available. Original Article: Deadly Premonition 2 was released on the Switch last week, and as you might have heard, the frame rate isn't the best. Now, along with this, the director and writer Hidetaka 'Swery' Suehiro has taken to Twitter to apologise for his
Monday26th Aug 2019
Video Exclusive 'Making Of' Decay Of Logos - Amplify On Avoiding Zelda And Dark Souls Labels
"We strive to be unique and create something different"
Releasing later this week on 29th August across multiple platforms, on the face of it, Decay of Logos draws plenty of parallels with something like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. According to Amplify Creations, though, you'll discover a focus on narrative and a darkness that you might...
Sunday11th Aug 2019
News Cooking Mama For Switch Will Feature A Vegetarian Mode And Blockchain Tech
Mama knows best
It turns out Cooking Mama has been actually been preparing her next game for quite a while now. After Australian and German classifications were thought to have lifted the lid on the new Switch game, Cooking Mana: Cookstar, it's now been discovered this same title was originally announced way back in February. In a press release...
Wednesday10th Apr 2019
News Giga Wrecker Alt. Is Receiving A Limited Run Physical Release
Pre-orders open later this week
Limited Run has announced it will be handling the physical release of Game Freak's Giga Wrecker Alt. for the Nintendo Switch. Pre-orders go live on 12th of April (aka. this Friday). Below is the official announcement tweet along with a few extra details: The 2D action side-scroller first arrived on the Steam...
Wednesday3rd Apr 2019
News Giga Wrecker Alt.'s Japanese Delay Won't Impact The Western Launch
Still coming to the west on May 2nd
After the Taiwan Digital Game Rating Committee revealed Giga Wrecker Alt. would be released on the Switch, it was then confirmed the Game Freak developed title would be arriving on Nintendo's hybrid platform on 2nd May 2019. Unfortunately, "due to various circumstances" the publisher Rising Star Games has now...
Saturday12th Jan 2019
News Management-Sim Holy Potatoes! We’re In Space?! Arrives On Switch eShop Next Week
Starch Wars
Last year in July, potato lovers worldwide rejoiced when Daylight Studios and Rising Star Games released Holy Potatoes! A Weapon Shop?! on the Switch eShop. In this wacky potato-themed game, you had to grow a weapon shop while expanding your business across the universe. Now, the second entry in the trilogy series will arrive on the...
Thursday10th Jan 2019
News Game Freak Registers Trademarks For Giga Wrecker And Giga Wrecker Alt.
Now make it official
Yesterday, the Taiwan Digital Game Rating Committee lifted the lid on Giga Wrecker Alt. Originally arriving on Valve’s Steam platform in 2016 as Giga Wrecker, the game is now seemingly headed to multiple platforms, including the Nintendo Switch. If the game rating alone wasn’t convincing enough, Game Freak has now...
Wednesday9th Jan 2019
News Game Freak's Giga Wrecker Alt. Has Been Rated For The Switch In Taiwan
Published by Rising Star Games
Game Freak's lesser-known 2D action-adventure puzzle sidescroller Giga Wrecker Alt. appears to be making its way across to the Nintendo Switch and multiple other consoles in the near future, after being rated by the Taiwan Digital Game Rating Committee. Giga Wrecker was first revealed in 2016 and debuted on Valve's...
Friday2nd Nov 2018
News Co-Op Arcade Racer Trailblazers Screeches Onto Switch On 15th November
Start your rocket engines!
Great news for speed demons! Rising Star Games, in partnership with UK-based independent game developer Supergonk, are bringing the co-op arcade racer Trailblazers to the Switch eShop on 15th November after a short delay. The game features an innovative on-track game mechanic. Racing in teams of up to three-versus-three,...
Friday19th Oct 2018
News Rising Star Brings Platform Puzzler Storm In A Teacup To Switch eShop Next Week
Enter a dream-like world
If you're in need of a platform puzzle fix, Cobra Mobile and the publisher Rising Star Games are bringing the magical title Storm in a Teacup to the Switch eShop next week, on 25th October for $2.99. Here's the full description below: Storm in a Teacup takes place in a dream-like world that Cloud, the brother to main...
Thursday6th Sep 2018
Feature Harvest Moon Creator Yasuhiro Wada Serves Up Details On Little Dragons Café
Recipe calls for two twins, one dragon egg
If you’re a millennial – and had an enjoyable childhood whatsoever – you're surely familiar with the Harvest Moon games. Yasuhiro Wada, the original mastermind behind this series, has dabbled in many areas throughout his career – specifically focusing on simulation games. However, his most recent...
Tuesday29th May 2018
News Physical Release Of SteamWorld Dig 2 Gets Delayed In North America
The wait continues
One of the best indies available on the Nintendo Switch eShop right now is SteamWorld Dig 2, the seminal follow up to Image & Form’s popular 3DS Metroidvania. A couple months ago, Rising Star Games revealed that it had partnered with Image & Form to bring SteamWorld Dig 2 to retail, releasing it on 27th April in Europe...
Thursday26th Apr 2018
Video Use Colour And Co-Ordination To Win In The Wacky Races Of Trailblazers
A lick of paint
Trailblazers is shaping up to be one of the most exciting and - more importantly - unique racers on Nintendo Switch. And the latest gameplay trailer sells its co-operative concept to a tee, showcasing how using paint fired from the front of your floating vehicle can either be used to create a trail your racing partner can boost on...
Thursday15th Mar 2018
News Co-Op Shooter RICO Is Bringing Door-Busting And Bullet Time To Switch This Year
"An arcade-paced, action-movie inspired, sensory onslaught"
Rising Star Games is bringing Ground Shatter's RICO to Switch later this year. The title - which stands for the “Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations” Act, an actual US federal law relating to criminal organisations - sees you kicking down doors in a host of procedurally...
Thursday8th Mar 2018
News The Holy Potatoes Trilogy Is Coming To Nintendo Switch
Weapons, space and hell?!
We love a good spud-themed game here at Nintendo Life, so we were delighted to hear that publisher and developer have mashed together to digitally publish the first three titles in the fan-favourite Holy Potatoes! series, which will wing their way onto Nintendo Switch later this year. Yes that's right, Rising Star...
Wednesday27th Sep 2017
News Ninja Shodown Throws A Shuriken At Switch eShop Soon
Go Ninja, GO!
Who doesn't love a good old ninja game? Rising Star Games has confirmed that it will be bringing Ninja Shodown to the Switch in the not-too-distant future. To celebrate it has released a gloriously ’90s inspired live-action trailer for the game, which you can view above. Developed by UK-based studio Bitmap Bureau, the game...
Monday11th Sep 2017
News Conga Master Party is Dancing Its Way Onto Switch Very Soon
What could possibly go wrong?
The Switch eShop is gradually picking up more funny and intriguing games that have previously made their mark on other platforms - we can add Conga Master Party! to the list, due out this week. Developed by Undercoders and published by Rising Star Games, it's a Snake-like game where you try to dance around various...
Thursday7th Sep 2017
News Lumo is Bringing Isometric Platforming Fun To Switch Next Month
We're head over heels about this news
Do you have fond memories of isometric platformers such as Knight Lore, Head Over Heels, and Alien 8? If so, Lumo might just be the game for you. This love letter to the popular isometric platformers from the '80s has received acclaim from many sources for its intuitive and engrossing play mechanics,...
News Don't Fear, 88 Heroes: 98 Heroes Edition Is Coming To Save Your Switch Next Month
Rusty from SteamWorld is coming along for the ride, too
Rising Star Games is bringing Bitmap Bureau's 88 Heroes: 98 Heroes Edition to the Nintendo Switch eShop in October. The title will be the most complete version of 88 Heroes yet released, packing in the DLC expansions RSG Champions and H8 Made Activate. The former...
Thursday27th Jul 2017
News Acclaimed Isometric Adventure Lumo Is Coming To The Nintendo Switch
Basically the same as the PS4 version, says developer
Lumo creator Garth Noyce has revealed that his critically-acclaimed isometric adventure is coming to the Nintendo Switch. Inspired by the likes of Knightlore and Equinox, Lumo has already met with a rapturous reception on Steam, PlayStation 4, PS Vita and Xbox One, and will make another welcome...
Tuesday16th May 2017
News Harvest Moon: Light of Hope to Brighten Up the Nintendo Switch
Natsume promises 'depth' and a 'robust story'
The launch of the Nintendo Switch brought a bit of land management-sim gameplay to the eShop with New Frontier Days: Founding Pioneers, but fans of the genre will no doubt want more extensive retail options. Perhaps Natsume and Rising Star Games will deliver that, as they've released a joint press...
Wednesday10th May 2017
News Harvest Moon: Skytree Village Gets New Trailer Ahead of June EU Release
Summer lovin'
Sometimes localisation to Europe can drag out a little longer than we'd like, but Harvest Moon: Skytree Village has almost arrived. Released by Natsume in North America in 2016, this '20th Anniversary' entry in the series was picked up by Rising Star Games for the EU and has evidently almost crossed the line. Now given a firm release...
Tuesday7th Feb 2017
News Cooking Mama: Sweet Shop Will Be Open For Business On 3DS This April
Over 160 mini games, yum
Rising Star and Office Create have announced the next entry in the popular Cooking Mama series, Sweet Shop. The title is expected to launch on the 3DS eShop and at retail this April, and includes more than 160 different mini-games to master - with the focus this time around being sweets and puddings. Here's the official PR:...
Monday3rd Oct 2016
News SteamWorld Collection Physical Retail Release Slips to Early November in North America
eShop version of Heist still targeting October arrival
SteamWorld Heist is out now as a download and retail release (as part of SteamWorld Collection in the latter case) in Europe, with the region's Nintendo subsidiary publishing the disc version. Those awaiting the HD version in North America are still waiting, however, and those planning to grab...
Monday13th Jun 2016
Video Take a Good Look at Harvest Moon: Skytree Village
Rising Star Games confirms European release in Spring 2017
We've known for some time that Natsume is showing off new 3DS title Harvest Moon: Skytree Village at E3, and now it's released an extended trailer. It helps to visualise a lot of the details that were recently confirmed, as this one clearly aims to get the series back on the front foot...
Tuesday23rd Feb 2016
Interview Sadame and Its Quest to Bring Exciting Action and Japanese History Together
"We wanted to give the game a unique look and feel"
When considering the broad range of gaming experiences to be found, a common topic can be Japanese releases full of potential and promise that never get localised. The costs and logistical challenges often require that Japanese and Western companies team up, especially in the case of download...
Friday12th Feb 2016
News Rising Star Games Is Bringing 3DS Action RPG Sadame To Europe And North America This Month
"Sadame's release is the perfect example of what we've always done well"
Rising Star Games has branched out in recent years to become a prolific publisher of indie titles, but it began life as a company which focused on bringing the best Japanese games to western players. It's going back to its roots with Mebius' action RPG Sadame, which it's...
Friday6th Nov 2015
News Get Ready to Shred Some Solos in Hello Kitty & Friends Rock 'n' World Tour
Rock on you crazy cats
Hello Kitty is a hugely successful brand - yes, it really is! So it's not surprising that there are numerous spin-off games and, due to the family focus of Nintendo hardware, they can often be found on Wii U and 3DS. This week Bergsala and Rising Star Games teamed up to release both Hello Kitty Kruisers and Hello Kitty and...
Thursday9th Jul 2015
News Poncho Will Bring Some Robotic Style to the Wii U eShop This September
Try to restore humanity - no pressure
Rising Star Games will be bringing another title to Nintendo hardware soon, confirmed that Poncho - developed by Delve Interactive - will head to the Wii U eShop and other platforms this September. This is a puzzle platformer in which you jump between layers of depth in order to find your maker and save...
Friday10th Oct 2014
News Rising Star Games' New Online Shop Now Open
No oddly numbered watches available at time of writing
As part of Rising Star Games' tenth anniversary celebration, the company's own online shop is now open, offering a selection of Rising Star's games and some new merchandise including company logo pins, T-shirts, and mugs. This current selection of products is available as a thank-you to early...
Thursday4th Sep 2014
Europe may have just won this round
To mark 10 years in the business, Hertfordshire-based game publisher Rising Star Games is celebrating with events and announcements every month until the end of 2014. On 11th September, “the home of Japanese games,” is holding a sale on the 3DS for select titles, and on this rare occasion Europe appears to be...
Friday22nd Aug 2014
News Win a Hometown Story T-Shirt Signed by Yasuhiro Wada
This is a story of the sprite Pochica
The ever-generous Rising Star Games is giving you the opportunity to win one of five Hometown Story T-shirts featuring a pattern of Hometown Story characters, Brady Bunch grid-style, set off in the center with the genuine by-hand signature of Yasuhiro Wada, the father of the Harvest Moon series: [tweet...
Monday21st Jul 2014
News Win a Hometown Story Blue Ember Plushie Signed by Yasuhiro Wada
They're leaving Hometown
Rising Star Games wants to add some adorable to the blue in your Monday by giving away three of Hometown Story's Blue Ember plushies, signed by Yasuhiro Wada. [tweet 491149147299262464] To try getting your hands on one of Hometown Story's cutest characters accessorised with the father of Harvest Moon's very own...
Thursday10th Jul 2014
News Rising Star Games Is Now Ten Years Old
Celebrates with new brush logo and a promise
Hertfordshire-based game publisher Rising Star Games, the “home of Japanese games,” is celebrating its ten-year anniversary. The company’s announcement page features a splashy minute-long montage video and details how Rising Star is celebrating with events and announcements on the tenth of every...
Friday11th Apr 2014
News Rising Star Games Confirms Hometown Story European Release Date and Enhancements
Improvements detailed inside
Hometown Story, the charming 3DS title from Yasuhiro Wada — best known for the Harvest Moon series — and his team at Toybox arrived in North America last October, with Europe having to wait a little longer for its own localisation. Rising Star Games is handling the release in the latter territory, and after previous...
Tuesday11th Feb 2014
News Hometown Story Prepares to Open Its Doors In Europe This April
Yasuhiro Wada shares his hopes of bringing happiness
Hometown Story's pedigree is easy to identify — it's the creation of Yasuhiro Wada, the man who masterminded the Harvest Moon franchise before starting his own small company, Toybox. His studio's title arrived in North America last October, and a recent video interview confirms that publisher...
Saturday21st Sep 2013
News Hands-On: Why Beyblade Evolution Could Be The Best RPG You've Overlooked This Year
You spin me round
With the growing interest in games like Skylanders SWAP Force and Disney Infinity, core gamers have learned to look a little harder at cartoony offerings before writing them off. There are plenty of clangers to avoid, but discerning the chaff from the wheat is becoming somewhat harder. Beyblade Evolution on 3DS is coming this year...
Wednesday14th Aug 2013
Spinning onto 3DS
The Beyblade toy craze, where you can battle customisable spinning tops in an arena, has varied in popularity over the years and in different countries. Along with the TV show and toys there has been a range of video-games dating back to the GBA. With a new TV series and range of Beyblade “Shogun Steel” toys hitting the...
Tuesday30th Jul 2013
News Rising Star Games Is Bringing Hakuoki: Memories of the Shinsengumi To Europe
3DS romantic visual novel is the first of two new titles from the publisher
Rising Star Games has revealed that it will be publishing Hakuoki: Memories of the Shinsengumi in Europe, following news that Aksys would be bringing the title to North American shores. Developed by IDEA FACTORY, Hakuoki: Memories of the Shinsengumi is billed as a "romantic...
Friday26th Jul 2013
News Some Hometown Story Pre-Orders Coming with Plush Embers
Let them warm your heart
If you enjoy your games accompanied by soft, squishable companions, then Natsume has been quite the friend to you. Its pre-order deals in the past have included plush cows, yaks and a range of other critters and it looks set to continue that tradition with more plushie pals. For Hometown Story, the upcoming game from
Thursday25th Apr 2013
News Beyblade: Evolution Spinning Its Way Onto The 3DS This Year
Takes advantage of the 3DS' capabilities
Rising Star Games has announced Beyblade: Evolution, an all new exclusive game for the 3DS which is scheduled to spin across Europe and North America later this year. D3Publisher will distribute the game across the US. The title, an interesting take on the TV series Metal Saga, allows players to launch their...
Monday4th Mar 2013
News Project Happiness is Now HomeTown Story
Developer reveals more details on the game
During E3 last year, Natsume teased the world with its next game, known only as Project Happiness. The official name has now been revealed, it'll be known as HomeTown Story - though we're sure there's still a lot of happiness involved. Yasuhiro Wada, creator of the Harvest Moon series, is the man behind...
Monday12th Nov 2012
Nintendo Download 15th November 2012 (Europe)
Falling blox, hotshots, ninjas and a magical whip
It's Monday, but it's also time to turn that frown upside down. The European Nintendo Download update news is here, and it's full of handheld goodies for you to enjoy. Wii misses out, unfortunately, but we do have a highly anticipated sequel on the 3DS eShop, a teeth-grindingly difficult NES...
Friday10th Aug 2012
News Rising Star Games To Publish Zero Escape In PAL Regions
OFLC rating breaks cover
999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors sequel Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward is coming to PAL territories courtesy of Rising Star Games. The news has been confirmed by an OFLC rating, w
