If you’ve been around video games for a while, you’ve probably heard of Famitsu, one of the most well-known gaming magazines in Japan. They’ve been reviewing games for decades, and getting a perfect 40/40 score from them is a big deal.
Each game is reviewed by four different people, and each of them gives a score out of 10. So a perfect score means everyone gave it a 10 – no pressure, right?
Over the years, only 30 games have ever hit that legendary 40/40 mark. Let’s take a look at which ones made the cut.
All 30 Games That Got 40/40 from Famitsu
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998, N64)
- Soulcalibur (1999, Dreamcast)
- Vagrant Story (2000, PS1)
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002, GameCube)
- Nintendogs (2005, DS)
- Final Fantasy XII (2006, PS2)
- Super Smash Bros. Brawl (2008, Wii)
- Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008, PS3)
- 428: Shibuya Scramble (2008, Wii)
- Dragon Quest IX (2009, DS)
- Monster Hunter Tri (2009, Wii)
- Bayonetta (2009, Xbox 360)
- New Super Mario Bros. Wii (2009, Wii)
- Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010, PSP)
- Pokémon Black & White (2010, DS)
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011, Wii)
- Skyrim (2011, PS3/Xbox 360 – Japan release)
- Final Fantasy XIII-2 (2011, PS3/Xbox 360)
- Kid Icarus: Uprising (2012, 3DS)
- Yakuza 5 (2012, PS3)
- JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: All-Star Battle (2013, PS3)
- Grand Theft Auto V (2013, PS3/Xbox 360)
- Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015, PS4/Xbox One)
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017, Switch/Wii U)
- Dragon Quest XI (2017, PS4/3DS)
- Death Stranding (2019, PS4)
- Ghost of Tsushima (2020, PS4)
- The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (2023, Switch)
- Street Fighter 6 (2023, PS5/PS4/Xbox/PC)
- Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (2024, PS5/PS4/Xbox/PC)
Why Does a Famitsu 40/40 Score Matter?
Famitsu doesn’t hand out perfect scores very often. With four different reviewers judging each game, it’s rare for them all to agree that a game is flawless. That’s why this list is so special. It’s basically a hall of fame for video games.
If a game got 40/40 from Famitsu, you can bet it’s something worth playing.
What Makes These Games So Special?
There’s no one-size-fits-all here. Some are epic RPGs, others are action games, and a few are pretty unexpected, like Nintendogs. But what they all have in common is that they really nailed what they set out to do. They’re polished, fun, and left a lasting impression on both players and critics.
Whether it’s the emotional storytelling of Final Fantasy, the world magic of Zelda, or the over-the-top action in Bayonetta, these games all brought something amazing to the table.
If you’re looking for some of the best games ever made, this list is a solid place to start. Some are older classics, others are more recent, but all of them blew Famitsu’s reviewers away.
