Standard Edition
StandardUS$39.99 at launch
In the box
- Nintendo 3DS game card
- Case with cover art
3DS
Yo-kai Watch
Yo-kai Watch (Japanese: 妖怪ウォッチ, Hepburn: Yōkai Wotchi) is a role-playing video game developed and published by Level-5 for the Nintendo 3DS and the first game in the Yo-kai Watch franchise. Originally released in Japan on July 11, 2013, the game is based on the Yōkai of Japanese folklore, who are said to be ghosts and apparitions that cause mischief in daily life.
PuzzleRole-playing (RPG)
- Plays offline
- Yes
Overview
Yo-kai Watch (Japanese: 妖怪ウォッチ, Hepburn: Yōkai Wotchi) is a role-playing video game developed and published by Level-5 for the Nintendo 3DS and the first game in the Yo-kai Watch franchise. Originally released in Japan on July 11, 2013, the game is based on the Yōkai of Japanese folklore, who are said to be ghosts and apparitions that cause mischief in daily life. In Yo-kai Watch, player character Nathan "Nate" Adams or Katie Forester, depending on who the player chooses, is given the titular Yo-kai Watch, which gives him or her the ability to see Yo-kai, after stumbling across and befriending the butler Yo-kai Whisper. Players assume the role of Nate or Katie, as he or she travels around town searching for and befriending peaceful Yo-kai, battling hostile Yo-kai, and solving problems caused by mischievous Yo-kai.
The game was released to a positive commercial and critical reception in Japan, and a steady rise in popularity started a franchise, including a toy line and an anime series, in addition to Yo-kai Watch 2, released the following year for the Nintendo 3DS. Despite the franchise's success in Japan, the game would not be released internationally until 2015, when Nintendo announced plans to localize the game in the West. By November 2014, the game had sold over a million copies in Japan, making it one of the best selling games on the Nintendo 3DS.
Official trailer
Trailer. Watch on YouTube
Gameplay
YO-KAI WATCH Gameplay Walkthrough FULL GAME (Nintendo 3DS), Kouteshi. Watch on YouTube
Screenshots
Game details
- Genres
- Puzzle, Role-playing (RPG)
- Developer
- LEVEL-5
- Publisher
- Nintendo, LEVEL-5
- Series
- Yo-Kai Watch
- Platforms
- Nintendo 3DS
- Age rating
- ESRB E10+
- Modes
- Single player
- Yes
- Local multiplayer
- Yes
- Online multiplayer
- No
- Co op
- No
- Age ratings
- PEGI
- 7
- ESRB
- E10+
- CERO
- A
Release dates
| Platform | Region | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Nintendo 3DS | Japan | 2013-07-11 |
| Nintendo 3DS | North America | 2015-11-06 |
| Nintendo 3DS | Australia | 2015-12-05 |
| Nintendo 3DS | Europe / PAL | 2016-04-29 |
Editions
Nintendo 2DS bundle
US$99.99 at launch
In the box
- Red Nintendo 2DS
In the game
- Game preinstalled
Playable today
Playable offline todayYes
The story and local battles still play; item downloads ended in 2024.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Price at release | US$39.99 |
| Ever released on disc | Yes, on Nintendo 3DS game card |
| Ever released in the store | Yes, 6 November 2015 On the Nintendo 3DS eShop. |
| In the store to buy today | No The 3DS eShop closed on 27 March 2023. |
| Can be downloaded again if you already bought it | Yes From the 3DS eShop. |
| Disc runs with no patch | Yes |
| Disc runs with the final patch | Yes Update version 1.2. |
| Has online features | Yes Item downloads over the internet and SpotPass notices. |
| Online servers running today | Shut down Online features ended with Nintendo Network on 8 April 2024. |
| Playable offline today: campaign | Yes |
| Playable offline today: local multiplayer | Yes Two-player battles over Local Play, each with a 3DS and a copy. |
| Playable offline today: online multiplayer | Does not exist Battles are local only. |
Online
Plays offlineYes
Reception
- Aggregates
Outlet Platform Score Scale Metacritic 3DS 76 100 - Critics
Outlet Score Scale Destructoid 8.5 10 Edge 6 10 Famitsu 36 40 Game Informer 8.5 10 GamesRadar 3.5 5 IGN 7.2 10 Nintendo Life 7 10 Nintendo World Report 9 10
Staff and cast
- Staff
Role Name Developer Level-5 Publisher Nintendo (outside Japan), Level-5 (Japan) Director Ken Motomura Producer Akihiro Hino Designer Akihiro Hino Programmers Yuji Mori, Tetsuo Mori Artists Nobuyuki Yanai, Takuzo Nagano, Miho Tanaka Writer Akihiro Hino Composer Kenichiro Saigo
Notes for collectors
- Released in Japan in July 2013, more than two years before North America.
- Nate or Katie befriends Yo-kai by feeding them before or during battle, and gets their Yo-kai Medals.
- Battles use six befriended Yo-kai, swapped in and out with a dial on the touch screen.
- The North American launch came a month after the anime started on Disney XD.
Credits
- Publisher
- Nintendo, LEVEL-5
- Developer
- LEVEL-5
- Director
- Ken Motomura
- Released
- 2015-11-06
- Age rating
- ESRB E10+
- Region
- US
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