Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories is an action role playing game developed by Square Enix and Jupiter Corporation. It was published by Square Enix and…
Kingdom Hearts Chain of Memories
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Jupiter Corporation is a Japanese video game developer based in Kyoto, Japan, founded in 1992. The studio is best known for two things: developing the Picross series of nonogram puzzle games for Nintendo, and co-developing Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories with Square Enix in 2004. Jupiter has operated as a long-term development partner for Nintendo across portable platforms and continues to release new Picross entries regularly on Nintendo Switch.
Jupiter’s most enduring contribution to gaming is the Picross series, the nonogram puzzle format where players fill in grid squares based on numbered clues to reveal a hidden picture. Mario’s Picross launched on Game Boy in 1995 and introduced the format to Nintendo’s audience. Picross DS in 2007 revitalized the series on the Nintendo DS. The Switch era has been particularly productive for Jupiter, with the Picross S series releasing new entries regularly and themed crossover entries including Picross: Lord of the Nazarick in collaboration with Kadokawa, and Picross X: Picbits vs Uzboross as a faster-paced spin-off. The series has a dedicated fanbase among puzzle enthusiasts who appreciate its clean design and consistent quality.
Jupiter’s highest-profile project outside the Picross series was Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, released for Game Boy Advance in 2004 in Japan and North America. Co-developed with Square Enix as a bridge between Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II, the game adapted the action RPG combat of the original into a card-based system designed for handheld play. It was later remade as Re:Chain of Memories for PlayStation 2 in Japan in 2007 and included in the Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix compilation. Jupiter’s ability to adapt the Kingdom Hearts formula for portable hardware demonstrated the studio’s technical range beyond puzzle games.
Beyond Picross and Kingdom Hearts, Jupiter developed Pokémon Pinball for Game Boy Color in 1999, which included a built-in rumble feature that was unusual for a cartridge at the time. The studio has also handled various Nintendo-adjacent handheld projects over its history, working primarily within Japan’s portable gaming ecosystem across Game Boy, DS, and Switch generations.
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories is an action role playing game developed by Square Enix and Jupiter Corporation. It was published by Square Enix and…