RPG Navinosuke: The Yo-kai Buster Resurfaces After More Than 20 Years, to Release for Nintendo Switch and PC in 2027
Developed in Secret by a Veteran Arcade Game Team in the Early 2000s, the Long-lost Japanese RPG is Faithfully Rebuilt for a New Generation
TOKYO – Sept. 10, 2026 – Happinet is teaming up with independent development studio KOHACHI STUDIO and is pleased to announce Navinosuke: The Yo-kai Buster, the latest title under the “Happinet Indie Collection” label. The 2D pixel RPG is set to make its worldwide debut in 2027 for PC via Steam and the Nintendo Switch™ system. Originally developed in secret during the early 2000s by a team led by Akio, a KOHACHI STUDIO creator and veteran of Japan’s arcade game industry, Navinosuke: The Yo-kai Buster remained unreleased for more than two decades. Now, Akio and his team have rebuilt and reimagined the RPG for modern audiences, bringing the long-lost title to players for the first time. The game is now available for Wishlisting on Steam.
Watch the trailer on YouTube
Twenty years later, the journey begins anew. An RPG quietly forged by the developers behind the legendary Metal Slug. Faithfully rebuilt while preserving the vision, artistry and gameplay of the original development team, Navinosuke: The Yo-kai Buster will make its long-awaited debut on Steam and Nintendo Switch™, allowing players to experience a piece of gaming history. More than simply reviving an unreleased game, Navinosuke: The Yo-kai Buster preserves a forgotten chapter of RPG history—bringing an original vision from the early 2000s to players exactly as it was meant to be experienced.
Set in a fictional version of ancient Japan inspired by local folklore, Navinosuke: The Yo-kai Buster follows Navinosuke, a karakuri Onmyoji apprentice created by the secretive Onmyo Bureau as humanity’s last hope against an escalating Yo-kai threat. When the soul of a modern-day human is transported more than 1,000 years into the past, their fate becomes intertwined with Navinosuke’s, beginning an adventure that bridges the modern day and ancient Japan.
As the fragile balance between humans and Yo-kai begins to collapse, players will journey across ancient Japan solving supernatural mysteries, forging unlikely friendships and uncovering a story where destiny, folklore and time itself collide. Along the way, players will discover and battle a host of unique Yo-kais. While some appear as dangerous foes, many can be recruited as allies, allowing players to use them to build custom parties for strategic turn-based combat built around elemental affinities and the Shikigami system. With countless party combinations, every encounter offers new tactical possibilities.
Visually, this new title remains true to its origins. Every character has been recreated with richly detailed pixel art and handcrafted animations that capture the expressive style and craftsmanship of Japan’s arcade golden age while bringing the game to modern platforms with renewed life.
Key Features:
- An Epic Japanese Folklore Adventure — Journey through a fictional ancient Japan where the worlds of humans and Yo-kai are on the brink of collapse.
- Recruit More Than 200 Yo-kai — Battle fearsome supernatural creatures before convincing many to join your party as loyal companions.
- Strategic Turn-based Combat — Master elemental affinities and the Shikigami system to create powerful team combinations tailored to your playstyle.
- Classic Pixel Art, Reimagined — Discover beautifully animated pixel artwork inspired by the craftsmanship and visual style of Japan’s arcade era.
- A Story Across Time — Follow the journey of a modern human whose soul is transported more than 1,000 years into the past, where their fate becomes intertwined with Navinosuke, a karakuri Onmyoji apprentice.
For more game information on Navinosuke: The Yo-kai Buster, please visit the official website. Keep up with the latest news by following their social media channels on X and YouTube.
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About KOHACHI STUDIO:
KOHACHI STUDIO is a Japanese indie game studio whose team includes veteran developers who have worked on acclaimed titles such as Metal Slug and R-Type. Today, the studio brings together experienced creators with a passion for distinctive pixel art and 2D game development, and is currently working on two original titles: the action game Black Finger JET and the Japanese-style RPG Navinosuke: The Yo-Kai Buster.
About Happinet:
Happinet is an international game publisher that designs, develops, and sells video games. Its Happinet Indie Collection label exists to showcase outstanding global indie titles to consumers by focusing on quality without being limited to specific genres.
Happinet also serves as a comprehensive Japanese entertainment trading company that boasts significant market share in each of its four main businesses: toys; visual and music; video games; and amusements. For more information, visit http://www.happinet.co.jp/english/index.html.