Compile Heart

Compile Heart is a Japanese video game developer and publisher founded in 2006 and based in Tokyo. The studio specialises primarily in Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) and is known for its distinctive anime-style art, turn-based combat, expansive storylines and a host of memorable characters.

Compile Heart is part of the Idea Factory group and works closely with Idea Factory on many of its best-known games. Its titles are primarily released on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch consoles, but also on PC and other platforms.

The studio’s best-known franchise is the Hyperdimension Neptunia series, now commonly referred to simply as Neptunia. The series began with the game Hyperdimension Neptunia for PlayStation 3 and has gradually expanded to include numerous sequels, remakes and spin-offs.

The world of Neptunia is a humorous parody of the video game industry and the console wars. The main heroines are personifications of individual game consoles and companies. Neptune represents the fictional Sega Neptune, Noire resembles the PlayStation, Vert the Xbox and Blanc the Nintendo consoles. The games combine JRPG mechanics with humour and numerous references to the real history of video games.

The series includes, for example, Hyperdimension Neptunia, Hyperdimension Neptunia mk2, Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory, Megadimension Neptunia VII and a number of other spin-offs and remakes.

Another significant franchise is Fairy Fencer F, a fantasy JRPG set in a world where, in the past, the Goddess and the Evil God fought against one another. Players control the young Fang, who acquires the magical weapon Fury and gradually becomes embroiled in a vast conflict. The expanded version Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force introduced additional story paths, characters and a revamped combat system.

Compile Heart is also behind the Mary Skelter series, which combines classic dungeon RPGs with dark fantasy and horror elements. Players explore vast dungeons, engage in turn-based battles and develop a group of heroines inspired by well-known fairy-tale characters.

Other projects associated with Compile Heart include, for example, Death end re;Quest, Mugen Souls, Omega Quintet, Dark Rose Valkyrie and the Genkai Tokki series. The studio’s portfolio thus consists primarily of games aimed at fans of traditional Japanese RPGs and anime aesthetics.

Compile Heart is also notable for its links to the historic Japanese company Compile, known, for example, for the Puyo Puyo series. Although the names sound similar, Compile Heart is not simply the original Compile under a new name. It is a separate company which, upon its establishment, was granted the right to use certain brands and creators associated with the original Compile.

Thanks to the Neptunia, Fairy Fencer F and Mary Skelter series, as well as the Death end re;Quest games, Compile Heart ranks among the well-known Japanese developers specialising in JRPGs with a distinctive anime style.