JapanVideo Games

Action March 2019

An action-adventure game developed by From Software studio, which takes us the alternate reality of 15th-century Japan. Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice focuses on an exploration of complex levels, sneaking and fights that resemble the Dark Souls series. Other features of the game are the grim atmosphere and a high difficulty level.

Action 15 January 2019

A remastered edition of the first installment of the Onimusha series from 2001. The production, which combines the features of a hack and slash and survival horror, takes us to 16th-century Japan and aims to save the kidnapped princess from the hands of the cunning warlord Oda Nobunaga and his army of demonic servants.

Action 2019

An action sandbox game developed by Sucker Punch, the creators of the InFamous series. The player is taken to the titular island of Tshishima, where as a samurai he or she fights the Mongol invaders in order to avenge the death of family and close ones. A direct confrontation isn’t always the best course of action. To effectively eliminate opponents, the protagonist must learn to work in the shadows. During the journey the protagonist will visit various locations – from bamboo forests to mystic temples.

Action 12 March 2015

Another installment in the popular action game series, known as the Japan’s take on the Grand Theft Auto series. This time, the developers from SEGA created a prequel of the whole series, taking place in 1988, seven years before the events seen in the first installment. The plot of Yakuza 0 focuses on young Kazuma Kiryu, the series' protagonist, as he began his journey to become a legend in the Japanese underworld. During a gang war for the control of Kamurocho, one of Tokio’s districts, Kiryu meets up with mysterious Majima Goro, who searches for an opportunity to return to the criminal underworld. The game is filled with characteristic elements of the series, including a varied story missions, shootouts, chases, and beatdowns. The game world is open, and filled with numerous activities. As per the series traditions, Yakuza 0 retains the suggestive atmosphere of Asian action movies.

Action yesterday, 17 January 2019

Action 17 April 2018

The 6th installment in the series of gangster action games published by SEGA, which is popular in Japan. The titular Yakuza is the Japanese word used to describe local organized criminal structures and its members. In Yakuza 6 the player once again assumes the role of the protagonist of the previous installments of the series: Kazuma Kiryu who since many years has had trouble with the local mafia – more precisely, since the time when he took the blame for killing the boss of the local Yakuza in order to save his friend. The player learns the plot of the game through the cutscenes and dialogues. The game takes place in a fictional district of Tokyo called Kamurocho. Similarly as the previous entries in the series, Yakuza 6 is a third-person perspective action game. The player is traveling through the streets of the city, taking quests from non-playable characters and he participating in hundreds of spectacular street fights. The fights are based on mechanics which require the player to learn various combinations of attacks and blocks. Yakuza 6 offers even larger open world and greater freedom to explore it (now it is possible to climb on the roofs of the buildings).

Action 29 August 2017

A complex remake of the first installment in the Yakuza series. The original title debuted on PlayStation 2 in 2005. The game takes place in 1995, eight years after the events shown in Yakuza 0. Kazuma Kiryu, the main protagonist, is a high ranked member of the criminal clan Tojo. He takes the blame for the murder of the patriarch of Dojima family, who was responsible for kidnapping his friend Yumi. After ten years the protagonist is released from prison. His task is to find Yumi and restore order in Tojo clan, which is at the brink of a civil war. The action in Yakuza Kiwami is shown from a third-person perspective. The player can visit many smaller locations that depict the streets of Tokyo. The gameplay consists of exploration, completing story quests and side missions, and fighting enemies by using four different combat styles. The game contains various minigames and side activities. Goro Majima’s challenges are a novelty introduced in the remake. In addition to refreshing the graphics, the developers re-recorded all dialogues and created new cutscenes.

RPG 2019

A sequel to the souls-like game from 2017. It was developed by the creators of the first entry in the series, Team Ninja. In NiOh 2, the players once again assume the role of a samurai who faces hostile men and mythical creatures.

Strategy 08 March 2018

The third expansion to strategy game Hearts of Iron IV. Developers introduced new content for China and modified national objective trees for Japan and the Third Reich, allowing e.g. to remove Hitler from power and the German Empire.

Action 06 July 2001

Action 28 August 2018

Yakuza Kiwami 2 is an expanded remake of the second entry in the Yakuza series. The game was developed by Sega and enables the player to assume the role of Kazuma Kiryu. The developers left the story from the original version and used a modern engine and improved mechanics.

Action 2019

Fighting June 2019

The next installment of the Samurai Shodown series. The action of the title takes place in Japan at the end of the 18th century, and its history presents many authentic events and characters, which are extend with typically fantastic elements.

Action 17 November 2017

A dynamic third-person perspective shooter developed by Tamsoft studio from Japan. The action of School Girl/Zombie Hunter takes place in the university known from the Onechanbara series. Once Musaku High School gets invaded by hordes of bloodthirsty zombies, five schoolgirls trapped inside rise up to the challenge and face them. Cooperation is the key to success – each heroine has unique abilities, weaknesses, and strengths, so only together they can battle the enemies. They also have different personalities that we get to discover during the campaign featuring dozens of levels. The key element of the title is combat against hordes of zombies with the use of either melee weapons or firearms. The more the heroines get hit, the more naked they become. This can be used as a tactical advantage – the removed clothes serve as a bait for enemies. In School Girl/Zombie Hunter you can play solo or with friends. The title features 3D graphics clearly inspired by anime style.

Action 09 August 2018

A remastered version of the third entry in the popular series of action games that tell the story of the Japanese mafia. The story depicted in Yakuza 3 Remastered concentrates on the character of Kazuma Kiryu.

RPG 2019

A turn-based RPG created by Dead Mage Studio. Tale of Ronin features a story set in Japan’s feudal period. As the title suggests, player assumes the role of a ronin, i.e. a masterless samurai, who gets a chance to improve his lot. To make that happen, however, he must embark on a dangerous journey and experience both good and bad sides of the turbulent period of history, such as friendship, betrayal, war and honor. The protagonist starts his journey as a lone traveler, but in time he may be joined by two other companions. Together they visit various locations, make difficult decisions and, most of all, fight with enemies encountered on the way. The most interesting feature in Tale of Ronin is the so-called Sekai System, which is a kind of permadeath mechanic. If the protagonist gets killed in battle or commits seppuku to reclaim lost honor, the player becomes another ronin. In such case, however, you don’t have to start completely from scratch. Instead, you visit a world shaped by the actions of your previous hero.

RPG 21 November 2018

Yakuza Online is a role-playing game. It enables the players to assume the role of a Japanese gangster who is trying to take control over one of the Tokyo districts. The game revolves around collecting companions, completing tasks, and participating in turn-based battles.

RPG 19 June 2018

A dungeon crawler RPG developed by the Japanese developer Kadokawa Games, led by Takayasu Sawaki - the creator of El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron. The main protagonist of The Lost Child is a journalist who investigates a suicide committed on the Shinjuku station in Tokyo. As it turns out, beings from another world are involved in the mystery, and the main protagonist comes into possession of a weapon called Demon Gun Gangour, which is capable of enslaving the fallen angels. Players observe from the first-person perspective how the main protagonist ventures through vast underground tunnels and fights the demons inhabiting them. Combat is turn-based and the defeated enemies can be enslaved in order to use their unique traits in the battles to come. Occasionally, the player gets to the surface where they can acquire useful information from NPCs - the interactions have been designed to resemble the form of visual novels. The game features visuals resembling the ones featured in manga.

Strategy 24 March 2016

A turn-based strategy game developed by Koei Tecmo. The action of the title takes place in Japan during the Sengoku era (years 1467-1573). Similarly as in the previous installments of the series, the main part of the game are the story campaigns in which the players can learn about the history of various actual people such as Yukimura Sanada, Masamune Date or Ieyasu Tokugawa. More than two thousand of playable characters appear in Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence – Ascension. The story tells about the events that led to the birth of the Tokugawa Shogunate. The gameplay is turn-based and concentrates on managing one’s fief, providing the army with technology, training soldiers, trading with neighbors and waging wars. Naval battles and sieges are a novelty in the series. The player can even start his carrier as a regular officer who climbs the ladder of the military career. The game features high-quality (for the genre’s standards) graphics.

Action 26 February 2009

Adventure 24 October 2017

Yomawari: Midnight Shadows is a horror action-adventure game developed by the Japanese studio Nippon Ichi Software and a sequel to Yomawari: Night Alone. The game takes place in modern-day Japan and tells the story of two girls, Yui and Haru, who can't find the way back home from their trip to the mountains. To make matters worse, they get separated after a short while. In terms of gameplay mechanics, Yomawari: Midnight Shadows will test our dexterity and wit. As we play, we explore a city that drastically changes when the sun came down and try to make the girls meet. The campaign has segments where we will play as both Yui and Haru. Actions we take as one of them influence the fate of the other. Our heroines are practically defenseless, so we will have to do anything we can to avoid any kind of confrontation. The gameplay, however, does not focus only on sneaking around. From time to time we will have to simply run away or defeat ghosts with the help of various items.

Action 2019

Adventure 30 August 2018

A visual novel with dating simulator features. During the game, the player assumes the role of the protagonist who arrives at the seaside city of Mihate. There, he meets two girls. His fate depends on the actions and decisions made by the players.

Strategy 06 April 2017

One among many DLCs for 2013 Europa Universalis IV by Paradox Interactive. Mandate of Heaven is focused on East Asia, especially on the Chinese Ming dynasty, Japan, and Manchurian tribes. Playing these factions, we can count on significantly more interesting experiences that are rich in detail, options, and unique events that are absent in the core game. The expansion introduces 50-year periods of prosperity and top power that can be achieved by meeting specific requirements. Depending on the chosen faction, we have unique, faction-specific options. The add-on also introduces an enhanced diplomacy interface as well as a myriad of new historical events and choices that influence the course of the game.

RPG 18 April 2008

RPG 15 November 2017

Hyakki Castle is a role-playing game developed by Japanese studio Asakusa. The developers were inspired by the rich folklore and history of their country. The game takes place during the Edo period and revolves around a wizard sent to a stronghold that serves as a prison for the enemies of the shogunate. Somehow he manages to free himself and take control of the whole building. The player controls a four-person group of warriors sent to stop the mage. The game is based on old school dungeon crawlers from the late 80s and early 90s. It features a first-person perspective view, jump-based movement system, the possibility to turn around only by 90 degrees and a real-time combat system. The possibility to split the team into two groups is an interesting addition. In such case each group can be controlled separately. This is useful both during combat and when solving riddles.