Happinet and Kohachi Studio have confirmed the development of Navinosuke: The Yo-kai Buster for Nintendo Switch, with a planned digital release on the Nintendo eShop worldwide in 2027.
The title will appear under the reimagined Happinet Indie Collection label, a modern revival of the imprint used to bring smaller-scale projects to contemporary audiences.
Originally conceived in secret by Akio and a small team in the early 2000s, Navinosuke is now being rebuilt and updated for current platforms.
The game is presented as a 2D pixel RPG that blends classical pixel-art aesthetics with modern animation touches inspired by Japan’s arcade-era craftsmanship.
According to the publisher’s announcement, the game is set in a fictional version of ancient Japan drawing on local folklore.
The story centers on Navinosuke, a karakuri Onmyoji apprentice created by a clandestine organization called the Onmyo Bureau to counter a rising Yo-kai threat.
The publisher explained that a modern human’s soul is transported more than 1,000 years into the past, entwining that person’s destiny with Navinosuke’s and launching an adventure that links present-day and ancient Japan.
The announcement outlines core gameplay pillars: players will traverse a world where the boundary between humans and Yo-kai is breaking down, investigate supernatural mysteries, form alliances, and recruit and battle a large roster of Yo-kai.
Combat is described as strategic, turn-based encounters built around elemental affinities and a Shikigami system that lets players assemble custom parties.
The publisher notes the game will feature more than 200 recruitable Yo-kai, enabling a wide range of tactical party combinations.
Happinet’s summary highlights a narrative emphasis on destiny, folklore and temporal collision, alongside combat systems that reward experimentation with elemental matchups and Shikigami synergies.
Visual presentation aims to marry classic pixel art with fluid animation to reflect its retro inspiration while appealing to modern players.
Navinosuke: The Yo-kai Buster is confirmed for a 2027 digital release on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch.
Happinet and Kohachi Studio have not announced additional platforms or a specific release window beyond the 2027 target as of the publisher’s initial statement.
The title will appear under the reimagined Happinet Indie Collection label, a modern revival of the imprint used to bring smaller-scale projects to contemporary audiences.
Originally conceived in secret by Akio and a small team in the early 2000s, Navinosuke is now being rebuilt and updated for current platforms.
The game is presented as a 2D pixel RPG that blends classical pixel-art aesthetics with modern animation touches inspired by Japan’s arcade-era craftsmanship.
According to the publisher’s announcement, the game is set in a fictional version of ancient Japan drawing on local folklore.
The story centers on Navinosuke, a karakuri Onmyoji apprentice created by a clandestine organization called the Onmyo Bureau to counter a rising Yo-kai threat.
The publisher explained that a modern human’s soul is transported more than 1,000 years into the past, entwining that person’s destiny with Navinosuke’s and launching an adventure that links present-day and ancient Japan.
The announcement outlines core gameplay pillars: players will traverse a world where the boundary between humans and Yo-kai is breaking down, investigate supernatural mysteries, form alliances, and recruit and battle a large roster of Yo-kai.
Combat is described as strategic, turn-based encounters built around elemental affinities and a Shikigami system that lets players assemble custom parties.
The publisher notes the game will feature more than 200 recruitable Yo-kai, enabling a wide range of tactical party combinations.
Happinet’s summary highlights a narrative emphasis on destiny, folklore and temporal collision, alongside combat systems that reward experimentation with elemental matchups and Shikigami synergies.
Visual presentation aims to marry classic pixel art with fluid animation to reflect its retro inspiration while appealing to modern players.
Navinosuke: The Yo-kai Buster is confirmed for a 2027 digital release on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch.
Happinet and Kohachi Studio have not announced additional platforms or a specific release window beyond the 2027 target as of the publisher’s initial statement.
