A remaster of the original Nintendo 3DS Yo-Kai Watch game, the beginning of Level-5’s monster-collecting RPG series, is coming soon to the Nintendo Switch in Japan under the title Yo-Kai Watch 1 for Nintendo Switch. The Yo-Kai Watch Switch remaster will launch in Japan on October 10. Both the physical and digital versions of the remaster have a suggested retail price of 4,980 yen, or a little more than $45.
The Yo-Kai Watch 1 Switch remaster was previously announced in a weird promotion with Japanese-language YouTube channel Dennoji Reto, according to Destructoid, but this is the first official announcement of the game from Level-5. The game’s official website features plenty of gorgeous character art and numerous screenshots of the remaster, showcasing the game’s upgraded HD visuals. The Yo-Kai Watch 1 Switch remaster doesn’t appear to add any new features to the game beyond the HD upgrade. According to translation of an official Yo-Kai Watch tweet by Twinfinite, players who purchase the remaster will get a code to unlock the boss character Chairman McKraken in Yo-Kai Watch 4. The remaster features new box art, complete with bright orange coloring and the face of Jibanyan, Yo-Kai Watch‘s Pikachu-equivalent.
【#妖怪ウォッチ1】ニンテンドー3DSソフトからはパッケージも大きく変化！ジバニャンの大きな顔が目印になったデザインに♪ロゴには主人公が初めて出会う妖怪であるウィスパーも…！本日より順次予約開始です！ pic.twitter.com/3uYbLlglOx
— ゲーム「妖怪ウォッチ」公式 (@game_yokai) July 29, 2019
Beginning with that 2013 3DS game, the Yo-Kai Watch franchise spans several games, manga adaptations, toy lines, and an anime television series. The series earned attention with its interesting monster designs and generally charming visuals. The most recent video game in the series, Yo-Kai Watch 4, released in Japan on June 20 after receiving a delay last year. The franchise has failed to capture Pokemon-like success in the U.S., however, possibly due to the re-emergence of Pokemon‘s mega-popularity due to Niantic’s Pokemon GO.
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There’s no word yet on whether or not the Yo-Kai Watch 1 Switch remaster will come to the West, but we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled for any news.
