Nintendo Releases 'Yo-Kai Watch' For 3DS: Is This the Next Pokemon?

Nintendo recently launched “Yo-Kai Watch” for its 3DS gaming platform. The new game is set to become as popular as “Pokemon.”

Japanese game developer Level-5 released “Yo-Kai Watch” in North America. The franchise is actually a hit in Japan already. A “Yo-Kai Watch” anime was launched in English in October 2015. Earlier in November, a new manga, inspired by the series, was featured. In 2016, there will be a variety of related toys available. Considering how mobile gaming has become the trend at present, Level-5 is facing the challenge of offering a dedicated handheld game.

The Verge wrote that Level-5 started in 1998 and became known for video games, particularly “Professor Layton” and “Ni No Kuni.” “Yo-Kai Watch,” however, is the company’s most successful creation, even though the game was exclusive in Japan. The franchise initially released in 2013 and sold over 7 million games, raking in over $1 billion in sales of related merchandise and toys. Because of the huge success of “Yo-Kai Watch,” Level-5 aimed to spread its popularity on a global scale. Aside from the North American release, the game will also be available in Europe, Latin America, Korea and Australia.

Level-5 abby, is the new American subsidiary of the company in Santa Monica, California, which will be the base of operations in spreading the franchise and other titles to the United States.

“As we looked toward our opportunities for global growth, it became clear to us that we needed to locate our global concern at the entertainment/multimedia global center, and that place is Southern California,” said Yukari Hayakawa, COO of Level-5 abby. He added that they needed to make decisions at times, which conflict with the policies of their headquarter company, so that they can have the best offer depending on the regional market. The approach is easier as an independent entity, according to Yukari.

International Business Times wrote that the first game in the “Yo-Kai Watch” franchise focuses on the adventures of Nate or Katie. The main protagonist discovers a strange vending machine in the woods, leading to the mystery of the Yo-Kai, which are invisible beings that are fond of stirring trouble. Whisper gives the main protagonist a Yo-Kai watch and the important mission of removing the bad Yo-Kai from the town. Good ones, on the other hand, can be befriended and teamed up to battle evil Yo-Kai. The concept is actually quite similar to “Pokemon.”

More updates and details on “Yo-Kai Watch” for Nintendo 3DS are set to become available soon.