Nintendo’s Yo-Kai Watch, a role-playing game that was a cultural phenomenon in Japan for the Nintendo 3DS family of systems, is coming to the U.S. The title launched in 2013, became a top-seller, and beyond video games, manga, and anime TV shows, has generated more than $1 billion in retail sales of toys and other merchandise in Japan.
Yo-Kai Watch revolves around a boy with a special watch that lets him befriend and help Yo-kai, mystical creatures (invisible to the human eye) born from the soul of a deceased human, or an everyday object discovering its higher purpose. Players can overcome challenges and help characters solve everyday problems with the help of Yo-kai friends, which can resemble anything from inanimate objects to mythical creatures.
“With sales of more than 7 million units in Japan, Yo-Kai Watch is coming to the U.S., where a new audience will be able to experience this irresistible franchise for the first time,” says Scott Moffitt, Nintendo of America’s executive vice president of sales and marketing. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a kid, parent, fan or fan-in-the-making: Everyone will be won over by this charming game.”
