Yo-Kai Watch

Yo-kai Watch 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 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. While on a bug-collecting school assignment in suburban Springdale, the protagonist visits Mount Wildwood and discovers an unusual capsule machine from which they free Whisper, a ghost-like Yo-kai who gives them the Yo-kai Watch, enabling them to see Yo-kai.

The protagonist returns home with Whisper, only to find that the Yo-kai Dismeralda has caused their parents, Lily and Aaron, to argue. The protagonist and Whisper head to an intersection and meet Jibanyan, who joins them to fight Dismeralda. She and her husband Happiere reconcile and he inspirits Lily and Aaron, ending their conflict. Yo-kai Watch is a role-playing video game where the player searches around Springdale for Yo-kai using the 3DS’ touchscreen.

Players befriend Yo-kai by giving them a food item that they like before or during battle, and after defeating the Yo-kai it may or may not approach the player character and gives them its Yo-kai Medal, allowing it to be used in the player’s team. Yo-kai can also be acquired through an in-game Gasha Machine by collecting in-game coins or using Play Coins. Certain Yo-kai are necessary for completing the game’s main quest, and special rare Yo-kai are acquired through various subquests.

Yo-kai have the capability to evolve into more powerful versions of themselves if they reach a certain level, or they can evolve by combining with particular items or other Yo-kai. The Yo-kai are divided amongst eight different tribes, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. There are also Legendary Yo-kai that can only be obtained by collecting a particular set of Yo-kai listed in the Yo-kai Medallium, a compendium of the different Yo-kai the player has encountered or befriended.