Warashi

Warashi Inc. was a Japanese video game developer whose output covered arcade games, home-console software, handheld titles, and mobile-oriented development. The company was particularly associated with two genres: vertically scrolling and arcade-style shoot 'em ups, and mahjong games. Its best-known properties include the Shienryu series and Triggerheart Exelica, while its broader catalog also included shogi, quiz, puzzle, and licensed or budget-oriented software. Warashi's games appeared across a wide range of Japanese platforms. Its arcade work used systems including Sega's ST-V and NAOMI hardware and Kaneko's Super Nova System. The company also developed or released software for the Sega Saturn, Dreamcast, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Game Boy Color, Nintendo DS, and mobile platforms. This multi-platform approach reflected the structure of Japan's game market during the 1990s and 2000s, when developers commonly adapted arcade properties for home systems and produced lower-priced games for publishers' budget series. The company's shooter identity was established by Shienryu, which originated in arcades in 1997 and was subsequently associated with Saturn and PlayStation 2 releases. Warashi later worked on other shooting titles, including Sengeki Striker, Macross M3, Shienryu Explosion, and Triggerheart Exelica. Triggerheart Exelica was released for the NAOMI arcade platform and Dreamcast in 2006, followed by an Xbox 360 version. Its Dreamcast release in early 2007 is notable because it was among the final commercial releases for Sega's discontinued console. An enhanced PlayStation 2 edition followed in 2009. Mahjong represented another substantial part of Warashi's catalog. The company produced both original and licensed or character-oriented mahjong software, including Gal Jan, Mahjong King, Mahjong Queen, Akagi: Yami ni Oritatta Tensai, and games in D3 Publisher's Simple series. Other projects included shogi titles, quiz games, a Nintendo DS action title centered on beetles, and Break 'Em All. These releases show a business profile broader than that of a specialist arcade-shooter studio, combining original arcade projects with commissioned, licensed, and budget-priced console software. Warashi became defunct in 2011. Information about its corporate structure, headquarters, founders, ownership, and financial performance is limited in the available reference material. A former Warashi programmer, Tsutomu Tabata, later became chief technology officer of Cosmo Machia in 2015. Cosmo Machia subsequently acquired the rights to Triggerheart Exelica in 2023, helping preserve one of Warashi's most recognizable properties after the original company had ceased operations. In May 2026, Hamster Corporation was reported to have purchased Warashi's remaining assets, with plans to distribute them through its Arcade Archives and Console Archives lines. Warashi therefore remains historically relevant primarily through its surviving game catalog and the continuing reissue of selected intellectual property.

Warashi was a Japanese video game developer active across the arcade, home-console, handheld, and mobile segments. Its catalog suggests a hybrid development model: the company created arcade-oriented original properties, adapted games to several Japanese consoles, and supplied software for publisher-led budget lines. The two most visible strands of its work were shooting games and mahjong titles. The shooter side of the business included Shienryu, released in 1997 for Sega's ST-V arcade hardware and later associated with Saturn and PlayStation 2 versions. Warashi also developed Sengeki Striker for Kaneko's Super Nova System. During the following decade it worked on a range of console and arcade projects, including Macross M3 for Dreamcast and Shienryu Explosion for PlayStation 2. This period established Warashi as a recognizable participant in Japan's arcade-shooter development ecosystem, even though the company did not achieve the international profile of larger publishers. Warashi's most prominent later property was Triggerheart Exelica. The game appeared for Sega's NAOMI arcade platform and Dreamcast in 2006, with the Dreamcast version arriving in early 2007. That release is historically notable because it was one of the final games issued for the Dreamcast, a platform Sega had discontinued several years earlier. An Xbox 360 version followed, and Triggerheart Exelica Enhanced was released for PlayStation 2 in 2009. The series became the principal Warashi property to receive continuing attention after the company's closure. Mahjong was the other major component of Warashi's output. The company developed or released titles such as Gal Jan, Mahjong King, Mahjong Queen, Akagi: Yami ni Oritatta Tensai, and several games connected with the Simple series. These projects were distributed across Saturn, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Game Boy Color, Nintendo DS, and other platforms. The company also made games based on shogi, quizzes, and other casual or niche formats, including Shogi King, The Shougi 2, The Quiz 20,000 Questions, The Sekai Meisaku Gekijou Quiz, Break 'Em All, and Beetle King. Warashi became defunct in 2011. The available reference material does not establish a precise founding date, founder, headquarters, ownership history, or financial record. A former Warashi programmer, Tsutomu Tabata, joined Cosmo Machia as its chief technology officer in 2015, providing a documented personnel link between the defunct developer and a later Japanese game company. In 2023, Cosmo Machia acquired the rights to Triggerheart Exelica. In May 2026, Hamster Corporation was reported to have acquired Warashi's remaining assets and to have planned releases through its Arcade Archives and Console Archives labels. These later rights and asset transactions have kept parts of Warashi's catalog available for preservation and commercial reissue.

• 2026

  Hamster acquires remaining Warashi assets

  [1]Warashien.wikipedia.org

  Hamster Corporation was reported to have purchased Warashi's remaining assets in May 2026, with planned releases under its archival game labels.

• 2023

  Triggerheart Exelica rights transfer to Cosmo Machia

  [1]Warashien.wikipedia.org

  Cosmo Machia acquired the rights to the Triggerheart Exelica property.

• 2015

  Former Warashi programmer joins Cosmo Machia leadership

  [1]Warashien.wikipedia.org

  Tsutomu Tabata, identified as a former Warashi and Athena programmer, became chief technology officer of Cosmo Machia.

• 2011

  Warashi becomes defunct

  [1]Warashien.wikipedia.org

  Warashi ceased operating as a game developer.

• 2009

  Triggerheart Exelica Enhanced reaches PlayStation 2

  [1]Warashien.wikipedia.org

  An enhanced version of Triggerheart Exelica was released for PlayStation 2.

• 2007

  A late Dreamcast release

  [1]Warashien.wikipedia.org

  The Dreamcast edition of Triggerheart Exelica was released in early 2007 and became notable as one of the platform's final games.

• 2006

  Triggerheart Exelica launches

  [1]Warashien.wikipedia.org

  Triggerheart Exelica appeared on the NAOMI arcade platform and Dreamcast.

• 2000

  Mahjong Queen is released

  [1]Warashien.wikipedia.org

  Mahjong Queen was released for Game Boy Color, continuing Warashi's handheld mahjong work.

• 1998

  Shogi King is released

  [1]Warashien.wikipedia.org

  Warashi expanded beyond shooters and mahjong with Shogi King for Game Boy Color.

• 1997

  Shienryu enters the arcade market

  [1]Warashien.wikipedia.org

  Shienryu was released for Sega ST-V arcade hardware and became one of Warashi's signature shooting properties.

• 1996

  Warashi releases Gal Jan

  [1]Warashien.wikipedia.org

  Gal Jan was released for the Sega Saturn and represents Warashi's work in the mahjong genre.

A Japanese multi-platform game developer with a strong arcade-shooter identity and a substantial secondary catalog of mahjong, board-game, quiz, and budget-oriented software.

• Shoot 'em up · 1997

  Shienryu

  A vertically oriented arcade shooter first released for Sega ST-V hardware in 1997. Shienryu became one of Warashi's defining original properties and was later associated with versions for Sega Saturn and PlayStation 2.

• Shoot 'em up · 2003

  Shienryu Explosion

  A PlayStation 2 shooting game released in 2003 and connected to Warashi's established Shienryu arcade-shooter identity.

• Shoot 'em up · 2006

  Triggerheart Exelica

  Warashi's best-known later shooter property, released for NAOMI arcade hardware and Dreamcast in 2006, followed by an Xbox 360 version. Its early-2007 Dreamcast release is notable for arriving near the end of the platform's commercial life.

• Shoot 'em up · 2009

  Triggerheart Exelica Enhanced

  An enhanced PlayStation 2 edition of Triggerheart Exelica released in 2009, extending the property's presence beyond its arcade and Dreamcast versions.

• Shoot 'em up · 1997

  Sengeki Striker

  An arcade shooter developed for Kaneko's Super Nova System and released in 1997.

• Shoot 'em up · 2001

  Macross M3

  A Dreamcast shooting title released in 2001, demonstrating Warashi's work on platform-specific console software in addition to arcade-originated properties.

• Mahjong · 1996

  Gal Jan

  A Sega Saturn mahjong title released in 1996 and part of Warashi's early catalog in the genre.

• Mahjong · 2002

  Akagi: Yami ni Oritatta Tensai

  A PlayStation 2 mahjong title released in 2002 and associated with the Akagi property.

• Mahjong · 1999

  Mahjong King and Mahjong Queen

  Handheld mahjong releases for Game Boy Color, issued as separate King and Queen titles in 1999 and 2000 respectively.

• Budget console games

  Simple series mahjong titles

  Warashi contributed several mahjong-related games to Japanese Simple-branded budget series for PlayStation, PlayStation 2, and Nintendo DS, including The Mahjong, The Shisenshou 2, and The Mahjong for the Simple DS line.

• Board game · 1998

  Shogi King

  A Game Boy Color shogi title released in 1998, reflecting Warashi's work in traditional Japanese board-game adaptations.

• Puzzle or action game · 2005

  Break 'Em All

  A Nintendo DS title released in 2005 and representing Warashi's activity outside its principal shooter and mahjong categories.

• 2026

  Acquisition of Warashi's remaining assets by HamsterM&A

  Background

  Warashi's corporate operations had ended, leaving its remaining assets and catalog available for later rights management.

  Action taken

  Hamster Corporation purchased the remaining Warashi assets in May 2026.

  Aftermath

  Hamster announced plans to release material through its Arcade Archives and Console Archives series.

  Source

• 2023

  Transfer of Triggerheart Exelica rightsM&A

  Background

  Warashi had been defunct since 2011, while Triggerheart Exelica remained one of its most recognizable properties.

  Action taken

  Cosmo Machia acquired the rights to Triggerheart Exelica.

  Aftermath

  The property moved under a successor company's control, supporting continued preservation or exploitation of the franchise.

  Source

• 2026

  Hamster Corporation purchases Warashi's remaining assets[1]Warashien.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Other

  Hamster Corporation was reported to have purchased Warashi's remaining assets in May 2026 and planned to publish selected material through its Arcade Archives and Console Archives programs.

• 2023

  Cosmo Machia acquires the rights to Triggerheart Exelica[1]Warashien.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Other

  Cosmo Machia acquired the rights to Warashi's Triggerheart Exelica property, placing one of the defunct developer's best-known shooter series under a new rights holder.

1. 1Warashien.wikipedia.org