Tengen Inc. was established in 1987 as a subsidiary of the American arcade game company Atari Games. The company was created to help Atari Games stabilize its operations and re-enter the consumer market. The name “Tengen” is derived from the Go term “Tengen.”

Tengen expanded into the Japanese market through its Japanese subsidiary, Tengen Co., Ltd. From the Famicom era to the Mega Drive era, Tengen released localized versions and ports of games developed in America. Notably, the Mega Drive versions of 'Gauntlet' and 'Marble Madness' were directly ported by the Japanese subsidiary and received high acclaim. 'Marble Madness,' in particular, was more faithfully ported than the American Electronic Arts version, garnering strong support from gamers.

In 1994, Tengen's Japanese subsidiary was renamed Time Warner Interactive Japan (TWI) and entered the Sega Saturn and PlayStation markets. This also marked the beginning of the development of original Japanese games, with 'TAMA' being the first release. However, in 1997, Williams acquired Time Warner Interactive's US headquarters, leading to the dissolution of Tengen's Japanese subsidiary.

Tengen's success was significantly bolstered by the contributions of skilled technicians. For example, Jun Amanai was involved in the development of the Mega Drive version of 'Marble Madness' and the design of the hardware that became the prototype for the Mega Drive multitap “Sega Tap.” He later moved to the US and worked on 'Gauntlet Legends' at Midway Games, which inherited the Atari brand.

Tengen was loved by many gamers for its innovative game development and highly accurate ports. The success in the Japanese market, in particular, demonstrates Tengen's superior technology and creativity. Their games left a deep impression on gamers of the time and are still remembered today.

vTengen's history and achievements continue to influence many people as an important chapter in the gaming industry. It can be said to be an attractive company that lets you feel the effort and passion behind game development.