YO-KAI WATCH is a cool new game originating in Japan, that’s available on Nintendo DS. The game has been a big hit with my boys, especially my 7 year old. It has some similarities to other games they really enjoy, like Pokemon, such as battling and lots and lots of characters to collect and get to know, but at the same time it’s quite unique with the Yo-Kai concept being very different to anything we’ve come across before.
Some of the differences between YO-KAI WATCH and Pokemon are that battles are in real-time and players will have to think on their feet and actively support their Yo-kai with food, items and skills to defeat their opponents. Yo-kai are invisible and can only be seen by people that have a Yo-kai Watch! In YO-KAI WATCH the player befriends Yo-kai, an action which is initiated by the Yo-kai themselves
However, if your child does love Pokemon they are pretty likely to love YO-KAI WATCH too!
YO-KAI WATCH is about hundreds of sometimes cute, sometimes spooky, and usually mischievous Yo-kai that inhabit our world. Yo-kai are not ghosts, monsters or creatures. Yo-kai are, quite simply, Yo-kai. They cannot be seen by the human eye, but they are everywhere. Whether born from the soul of a deceased human, or an everyday object discovering its higher purpose, their personalities are distinctly humanlike. As you explore the world, use your Yo-kai Watch to find them, befriend them, and turn them into a team to battle other Yo-kai. Befriending new Yo-kai may not be so easy, though – in many cases, you will need to battle with them and impress them during your battle. Each Yo-kai has its own unique skills and strengths and you’ll use them to challenge the evil Yo-kai and help people in need of solving daily problems – like an argument with a friend or forgetting something important – which may be caused by mischievous Yo-kai hidden everywhere.
In the game, players need to befriend as many Yo-kai as possible to prevent them from making more trouble in the town of Springdale.
Examples of just a few of the Yo-kai you’ll meet in the game are:
- Blazion is a Yo-kai that gives people competitive energy bursts,
- Hungramps, a Yo-kai who makes people hungry
- Wazzat, a Yo-kai who makes people forgetful
In the game, players can explore in depth the huge town of Springdale, with its shops, parks, bustling city streets and serene forests. Help out the local community with their problems in order to solve mysteries in the main story, or take on one of hundreds of side quests that are available in the game. This offers over 50 hours of total game play to complete the story, including the side quests.
As you progress through the story, you will be able to level up your Yo-kai through Fusion (combining two Yo-kai), Synthesis (combining a Yo-kai and an item) or Evolution (Yo-kai will evolve into more powerful versions of themselves when reaching certain levels). This is an aspect of the game which my kids are really interested in, as they get very motivated by being able to make their Yo-Kai more powerful.
I can see YO-KAI WATCH continuing to be very popular with my kids, especially since there are also toys, and TV programmes to go alongside the game, which will allow them to develop their interest in the characters even more. Yo-kai are really cute, and will appeal to all ages.
Visit the YO-KAI WATCH microsite to find out more about this game
We were provided with the game download code in order to review
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
Looks interesting!