Game publisher Happinet has announced that the 2D monster-taming RPG Navinosuke: The Yo-kai Buster will launch in 2027 for the Nintendo Switch and PC (Steam), as part of its Happinet Indie Collection label. The game is developed by Kohachi Studio, an indie game studio formed by former members of Nazca’s Metal Slug team.
Navinosuke: The Yo-Kai buster follows the story of the mechanical onmyoji (exorcist) Navinosuke, who travels through a fictional ancient Japan overrun with yokai. As he goes around resolving the many supernatural incidents across the land, Navinosuke will have to fight the yokai in strategic turn-based battles and convince them to fight alongside him. Apparently, the game will feature over 200 unique supernatural creatures inspired by Japanese folklore.
The game was originally developed in the early 2000s for the Game Boy Advance. Interestingly, it was designed to run using a GPS unit that could connect to the console, making it a very early example of a geolocation-based RPG akin to Pokémon GO. However, the GPS unit idea ended up getting scrapped before development ended. While the game was reworked so that it could be played without relying on the geolocation mechanics, it ultimately ended up being shelved due to undisclosed circumstances.
The new Navinosuke: The Yo-kai Buster retains much of the original pixel visuals made for the game, while redesigning the UI and gameplay. While the game was previously announced only for the Nintendo Switch (with a 2026 release date), publisher Happinet has confirmed that it will also be playable on Steam. Both versions are set to release sometime in 2027.
