Welcome to our weekend segment, where we showcase recent or upcoming Japanese indie titles that share a specific theme. This week, we’re covering games that are specifically played from a 2D plane. Because as advanced as 3D titles can be in terms of graphics and spatial awareness, there are times when you prefer the simplicity of a classic bidimensional game.
Yunyun Syndrome!? Rhythm Psychosis
Starting on a hyperactive note, Yunyun Syndrome!? Rhythm Psychosis is a rhythm-adventure title starring Qtie, a hikikomori (shut-in) girl who seeks to infect the world with her love for the fictional character Yunyun, an angelic devil who speaks through her monitor screen. Using the finest selection of brain rot songs, Qtie will either turn everyone into Yunyun fans or get lost in the never-ending void that is the internet.
Yunyun Syndrome!? Rhythm Psychosis features five original songs and 25 licensed tracks, all of which are denpa (intentionally strange and catchy) in nature. Popular tracks include sakuranbokissu~bakuhatsudamo~n~, Cirno’s Perfect Math Class, and Internet Overdose (from Needy Streamer Overload), all of which can be played on a four-track interface where you must press the notes as they drop down to rack up the highest score possible.
With a narrative that centers on Qtie and Yunyun’s relationship and their individual stories, as well as multiple endings, Yunyun Syndrome!? Rhythm Psychosis looks like it has more substance than its initial premise lets on. Developed by Alliance Arts and WHO YOU, the game is out now for Windows (Steam). A free demo is available too.
Starting a Village from Zero
Slowing things down a bit, we have Starting a Village from Zero, a survival roguelite city builder developed and published by Shukichi Studio. As a familiar summoned by the apprentice witch Lily, you must bear the burden of doing her manual labor to create a village in an isometric world.
Nearly every aspect is randomized upon starting a new game, from the world layout and events, to the materials and recipes you collect. What matters is how you adapt to your current situation. With over 50 types of materials and building types that systematically unlock as you progress, you will naturally grow accustomed to the systems and establish a village that is entirely your own.
While there is no fixed time limit, Starting a Village from Zero uses Lily’s temperament to nudge you in the right direction. By increasing her mood meter with limited resources, you’ll be able to unlock more ways to develop your village.
Featuring a calming soundtrack, simple interface, and cute visuals (note that some images were created with the help of AI and refined by a human artist), Starting a Village from Zero is set to release in 2026 for Windows (Steam).
DoppelTest
DoppelTest is a lighthearted yet philosophical visual novel that centers on Kagari, a withdrawn child scared of responsibility, and Kagami, the stand-in robot Kagari sends to take her place in society. By choosing which tasks each character does in Kagari’s daily life, you influence who people accept as the real Kagari after two weeks.
Neither of the two characters wants to be recognized as the real Kagari. The human Kagari doesn’t like interacting with society, so she prefers that Kagami take her place instead. Meanwhile, the robot Kagami knows that it is not in her place to take over Kagami’s life.
y doing the tasks that you assign them, Kagari and Kagami learn more about themselves and others. Sending Kagami to school, for instance, will cause Kagari’s teacher to reprimand her for avoiding her studies. Likewise, Kagami’s frequent visits to the local maintenance engineer can lead her to discover her love for communication with humans. Unlike other fictional societies where humans and robots are at odds, DoppelTest sees both sides peacefully coexisting with each other.
Developed and published by NukuRobo, DoppelTest is available on Windows (Steam).
Meltmare
Developed by solo game creator saebashi, Meltmare is a 2D action-adventure title that puts you in the shoes of a girl/hacker duo as they escape a mysterious facility. While Rua, a mysterious girl, fights the monsters using all sorts of melee, ranged, and supernatural weapons, the hacker (whose character you inhabit) livestreams the event on behalf of a client and uses viewer comments to make Rua stronger.
Though you’ll be slicing and blasting enemies as Rua, it’s the hacker’s ability to use viewer comments as hints and equipment upgrades that makes the premise unique and refreshing. The first trailer includes a scene where the hacker (you) interacts with Rua through a text-based dialogue tree, hinting that there could be more to the story than meets the eye.
Meltmare is currently in development for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC (Steam).
Lunar Pulse
Lunar Pulse is a single-player card game where 13 witches engage in one-on-one duels that last up to 60 seconds. Featuring 15-card decks where both players can see each other’s hands, you must carefully predict your opponent’s move and choose the appropriate counterattack, lest you be defeated.
While the rules are easy to grasp (for example, dodge cards beat strike cards while parry cards reflect strike card damage back to their user), the game’s deckbuilding and enhancement features, both of which have roguelike elements, add to its depth. Combined with the ongoing mind games that you play against the AI opponents, you will never get tired of creating unique decks and outwitting your enemies. Defeat is not the end in Lunar Pulse, as your deck grows stronger even when you lose.
In between card battles, a story involving Lilith of Heresy (that’s you) and 12 other witches unfolds. Your conversation choices during these dialogue sections affect which of the multiple endings you get, with each ending unlocked bringing you closer to the truth about your character’s identity and the world she inhabits.
Developed by Fahrenheit 213 and Gianty, Lunar Pulse is set to release in 2027 for Windows (Steam).
While not as graphically complex as 3D games, 2D games generally give developers more freedom to focus on other aspects, such as storytelling and gameplay. Except for the flashy and chaotic Yunyun Syndrome!? Rhythm Psychosis, all of the 2D titles listed here are easy on the eyes and allow you experience them at your own pace.
