Level-5 CEO Reveals New Yo-Kai Watch Spin-Off Game

According to Hino, the game will play differently from other games in the Yo-Kai Watch franchise, which follow somewhat traditional JRPG mechanics. Yo-Kai Watch Academy Y is not the first spin-off the series has seen. The gameplay in the Yo-Kai Watch Blasters games similarly diverged from the core series, offering up a more action-based approach inspired by the Ghostbusters franchise.

The first game in Level-5’s Yo-Kai Watch franchise debuted in Japan on Nintendo 3DS in 2013. The game was localized two years later, with Nintendo taking on publishing chores. The series follows a boy named Nate Adams who finds a watch that allows him to see ghost-like creatures called Yo-Kai. As many Yo-Kai are based on Japanese folklore, kids in the country embraced the series, where it became a massive pop culture hit.

As of this writing, no further details have been revealed regarding Yo-Kai Watch Academy Y. Are you a fan of the Yo-Kai Watch franchise? Do you hope to see Academy Y reach North America? Let us know in the comments or share your thoughts directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp to talk all things gaming!