Japanese Archives

AppWizard

August 8, 2026

5 Best PC Games Of The ’90s, Ranked

"Doom II" has received a new official level nearly three decades after its initial release. "Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings," released in 1999, features 13 distinct civilizations and has seen numerous expansions that enhance multiplayer modes. "Grim Fandango," released in 1998, is celebrated for its distinctive art design and captivating narrative, despite initial commercial struggles. "Half-Life," released in 1998, introduced a seamless gameplay experience and a compelling narrative, establishing itself as a classic in the first-person shooter genre. "StarCraft," released in 1998, allows players to choose from three unique factions and is known for its balanced gameplay and robust online multiplayer experience.

AppWizard

August 7, 2026

The latest Expeditions game launches into early access today, and I can’t think of a better setting for the series than feudal Japan

Campfire Cabal has released Expeditions: Samurai in early access on Steam, transitioning from ancient Rome to feudal Japan. Players create a custom character arriving in Japan aboard the Dutch frigate De Albatros during the Sengoku era. The game features an expanded companion system with eight characters, stealth mechanics for tactical combat, and cooperative gameplay allowing a second player to control a twin of the main character. Expeditions: Samurai includes five main quests, three side quests, and 14 locations, with plans for future updates to add new content and features. The final version aims to have over 35 side quests, a player village, crafting mechanics, and mini-games, with completion expected by early 2027. Early adopters can purchase the game at a lower price.

AppWizard

August 6, 2026

Fields of Mistria 1.0 changes: What’s new in the full release version?

Fields of Mistria 1.0 has been fully released after two years of early access, featuring significant updates and enhancements. The town's story is complete, with repairs following an earthquake finalized. Players can now experience ten heart events for datable characters, allowing for deeper relationships. Marriage and children have been introduced, enabling players to start families. The Saturday Market has two new merchants, Stillwell and Zorel. An achievements system rewards players retroactively, and there is no need to start a new save file to access the new content. Key updates include the completion of the Town Repair Questline, an increased Town Renown Cap, the addition of the Mistril Town Rank Event, and new quests. Beta localizations for seven languages have been added. Gameplay enhancements include new perks, customizable house exteriors, and engagement ring crafting. Quality of life improvements include player character rotation and improved drop rates from treasure chests. Art enhancements and new soundtracks have been introduced, along with substantial performance improvements and bug fixes.

AppWizard

August 4, 2026

Minecraft-themed rice paddy art reaches peak viewing in Japan’s Gyoda

The rice paddy art at Ancient Lotus Park in Gyoda, Saitama, features a design inspired by the video game Minecraft. The artwork measures approximately 180 meters in length and 165 meters in width and can be viewed from the 50-meter tall Gyoda Tower. Around 1,000 volunteers planted rice seedlings in four colors, including the "Sai no kizuna" variety, to create recognizable characters from the game and a pixelated version of Gyoda Tower. The prime viewing period is expected to last until mid-October. Admission to the tower is 400 yen for high school students and adults, 200 yen for elementary and junior high students, and free for preschool children. Inquiries can be made to the Kodai Hasu Kaikan at 048-559-0770.

BetaBeacon

August 4, 2026

Suikoden Star Leap Game Reveals August 7 Release Date in Japan

Konami announced the release of Suikoden: Star Leap for iOS and Android in Japan on August 7.

AppWizard

August 4, 2026

‘Wait for me, my Czech friend’: Japanese dev adds Czech localization just for the one Steam user who wishlisted his game in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic and Japan formed a bond during the 2023 World Baseball Cup when the Czech national baseball team, mostly made up of amateur players, played against Japan and lost 2-10. The Czech pitcher Ondrej Satoria struck out Shohei Ohtani, earning admiration from Japanese fans. In a related development, Japanese developer Eba Game is launching a game called Ball Boy Simulator on Steam, which includes Czech language support due to a request from a Czech user. The game explores the psychological horror of high school baseball clubs and incorporates AI-generated content for various elements. The quality of localization for the Czech audience is yet to be determined.

AppWizard

August 4, 2026

Beast of Reincarnation review

"Beast of Reincarnation," developed by Game Freak, is an action RPG set in a desolate 41st-century Japan, featuring a protagonist named Emma who suffers from the Blight, a condition that affects her emotions and memories while granting her unique powers. The gameplay combines open and linear exploration with fast-paced combat reminiscent of titles like Sekiro and Nier, though enemy placement can feel uninspired outside of major encounters. The game has a rugged art style that captures a post-apocalyptic world but may hinder exploration due to dense graphics. Technical performance issues have been noted, particularly on gaming laptops. The narrative is characterized by mature storytelling and nuanced voice acting in Japanese, focusing on silence and introspection rather than typical humor. Despite its flaws, the game aims to offer a unique experience in the action RPG genre.

AppWizard

August 3, 2026

‘Wait for me, my Czech friend’: Japanese dev adds Czech localization just for the one Steam user who wishlisted his game in the Czech Republic

The Czech Republic and Japan developed a bond during the 2023 World Baseball Cup, where the Czech team, mainly amateur players, lost 2-10 to Japan but impressed fans, particularly when pitcher Ondrej Satoria struck out Shohei Ohtani. Japanese developer Eba Game is launching a game called Ball Boy Simulator on Steam, incorporating Czech language support due to a single Czech fan's interest. The game, a psychological horror experience about high school baseball clubs, uses AI-generated content for various aspects of its development.

AppWizard

August 2, 2026

Developer of ‘Spanking Exorcist’ game held up by Steam content moderation releases free ‘apology game’ where you spank him as punishment: ‘We would be delighted if you enjoy it’

Actor, the developer of Spanking Exorcist, released a free "apology game" called Apology.exe after missing its launch date on July 24 due to content moderation issues on Steam. The game allows players to humorously simulate spanking the developer as a form of retribution. Spanking Exorcist, which blends first-person exploration with unsettling visuals, officially launched on Steam six days after the missed date, priced at .99 with a launch discount bringing it to .39.

AppWizard

August 1, 2026

ACRODRIFT: FPV Drone Simulator Arrives on PC on August 7

ACRODRIFT: FPV Drone Simulator is set to launch on PC via Steam on August 7, 2026, with console versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S expected in 2026 or 2027. Developed by Dueking Studio and published by Ultimate Games S.A., the simulator features realistic flight physics and offers three core gameplay modes: Free Flight, Race, and Collection. Players can engage with over 20 challenges and customize their drones in a workshop with options for pre-built models or scratch builds. The game includes six maps, 11 drone frames, and 13 types of motors. It supports both gamepads and professional drone controllers. The minimum system requirements for PC include Windows 10 64-bit, Intel Core i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X CPU, 8 GB RAM, and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT GPU.