AlphaDream
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | 2000 |
| Founder | Chihiro Fujioka, Tetsuo Mizuno |
| Defunct | October 1, 2019 |
| Fate | Filed for bankruptcy |
| Headquarters | Tokyo , Japan |
| Products | Mario & Luigi series, Koto Battle, Tomato Adventure |
was a Tokyo-based Japanese video game developer. Established in 2000 by former Square members Chihiro Fujioka and Tetsuo Mizuno, the company maintained a strong partnership with Nintendo and gained recognition primarily for the Mario & Luigi series. AlphaDream ceased operations and filed for bankruptcy on October 1, 2019.
History
AlphaDream began as a branch of , a construction-focused staffing firm. In 1999, Chihiro Fujioka joined AlphaStar to oversee its video game division. On January 12, 2000, Fujioka and Tetsuo Mizuno separated this division to form AlphaStar Software, which was renamed AlphaDream in July of the same year. Several team members, including Mizuno (who was Square’s second president), Fujioka, and Yoshihiko Maekawa, had prior experience at Square. The name AlphaDream, translating to 'first dream,' is a subtle nod to Square’s iconic Final Fantasy franchise.
The studio concentrated on role-playing games, notably creating the Mario & Luigi titles for the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, and Nintendo 3DS. Their initial release, Koto Battle (March 2001), was a Japan-exclusive RPG inspired by the Pokémon style for the Game Boy Color, later made available on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console.
Following this, AlphaDream launched Tomato Adventure in January 2002, developed alongside Graphic Research and directed by Fujioka. The game featured battles involving toy-like weapons and minigames. Originally intended as Gimmick Land for the Game Boy Color, it transitioned to the Game Boy Advance to enhance marketing potential but remained exclusive to Japan.
AlphaDream rose to prominence through its work on the Mario & Luigi series, beginning with Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga in 2003.
Due to declining profits and escalating development expenses, AlphaDream filed for bankruptcy on October 1, 2019. By March 2018, the company’s liabilities had surpassed ¥465 million.
After the company’s dissolution, key personnel such as Fujioka, Maekawa, and Akira Otani contributed to the development of Mario & Luigi: Brothership, with Acquire serving as the lead developer.
Games
| Year | Title | Publisher | Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Koto Battle: Tengai no Moribito | AlphaDream | Game Boy Color |
| 2002 | Tomato Adventure | Nintendo | Game Boy Advance |
| 2003 | Hamtaro: Rainbow Rescue | ||
| Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga | |||
| 2004 | Hamtaro: Ham-Ham Games | ||
| 2005 | Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time | Nintendo DS | |
| Tottoko Hamtaro Nazo Nazo Q Kumonoue no ? Jou | |||
| 2007 | Hi Hamtaro! Ham-Ham Training | Marvelous Interactive | |
| 2009 | Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story | Nintendo | |
| PostPet DS | Marvelous Entertainment | ||
| 2013 | Mario & Luigi: Dream Team | Nintendo | Nintendo 3DS |
| 2015 | Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam | ||
| 2017 | Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser's Minions | ||
| 2018 | Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story + Bowser Jr.'s Journey | ||
| 2019 | Kedama no Gonjiro: Fit & Run | ForwardWorks | Android |
| iOS | |||
| Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 | Sega | Nintendo Switch |