Artdink, the veteran Japanese developer renowned for cult classics and its long-running A-Train series, has officially launched its PlayStation 1 adventure game 'Tail of the Sun' on Nintendo Switch in Japan as of December 16, 2025.
The re-release, which is also available internationally on Steam, marks the debut title in Artdink's new 'Game Log' initiative—a project aiming to revive the studio's back catalog for modern platforms. 'Tail of the Sun', originally developed by Kazutoshi Iida and first released in 1996 for the PlayStation 1, invites players to control a prehistoric human tasked with gathering mammoth tusks to build a tower reaching the sun.
Iida, known for his unconventional design philosophies, once described the game as the 'anti-Mario' in a translated Game Hihyou interview, emphasizing his goal to create a title that diverged sharply from the optimism of Super Mario 64. For longtime fans and newcomers, the prospect of playing 'Tail of the Sun' on the Nintendo Switch and Steam is notable.
However, a key detail for international players is the absence of English text support.
Although the Steam release utilizes the localized 'Tail of the Sun' title, the game content is based on the Japanese original, 'Taiyo no Shippo', and currently includes only Japanese language options.
This was confirmed by several community sources, including a report circulated on BlueSky and verified by gaming outlets.
As a result, users seeking an English translation will find only Japanese text available at launch. The lack of English localization may be a hurdle for some, but 'Tail of the Sun' is widely regarded as 'import-friendly' due to its minimalist use of in-game text.
Numerous player-generated guides are accessible online to assist with navigation and gameplay, helping mitigate the language barrier for dedicated fans.
Nevertheless, with the game's regular eShop price set at £16.75 (discounted to £13.40 during the introductory launch offer), prospective buyers should weigh the price against the limited language options. The Game Log reissue effort by Artdink is also set to include two additional titles, with the 1995 underwater simulation 'Aquanaut’s Holiday', another work by Iida, being the only other officially announced title at this stage.
The absence of PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 platforms in the initial rollout has been noted, given both games' original PlayStation roots, but no official statements about further platform expansion have been made. Artdink's Game Log program stands as an intriguing initiative, offering a new generation the opportunity to experience the studio's eclectic legacy.
As more titles are confirmed, fans and industry observers alike will be watching closely to see which hidden gems from Artdink's history will next arrive on Nintendo Switch, Steam, and beyond.
The re-release, which is also available internationally on Steam, marks the debut title in Artdink's new 'Game Log' initiative—a project aiming to revive the studio's back catalog for modern platforms. 'Tail of the Sun', originally developed by Kazutoshi Iida and first released in 1996 for the PlayStation 1, invites players to control a prehistoric human tasked with gathering mammoth tusks to build a tower reaching the sun.
Iida, known for his unconventional design philosophies, once described the game as the 'anti-Mario' in a translated Game Hihyou interview, emphasizing his goal to create a title that diverged sharply from the optimism of Super Mario 64. For longtime fans and newcomers, the prospect of playing 'Tail of the Sun' on the Nintendo Switch and Steam is notable.
However, a key detail for international players is the absence of English text support.
Although the Steam release utilizes the localized 'Tail of the Sun' title, the game content is based on the Japanese original, 'Taiyo no Shippo', and currently includes only Japanese language options.
This was confirmed by several community sources, including a report circulated on BlueSky and verified by gaming outlets.
As a result, users seeking an English translation will find only Japanese text available at launch. The lack of English localization may be a hurdle for some, but 'Tail of the Sun' is widely regarded as 'import-friendly' due to its minimalist use of in-game text.
Numerous player-generated guides are accessible online to assist with navigation and gameplay, helping mitigate the language barrier for dedicated fans.
Nevertheless, with the game's regular eShop price set at £16.75 (discounted to £13.40 during the introductory launch offer), prospective buyers should weigh the price against the limited language options. The Game Log reissue effort by Artdink is also set to include two additional titles, with the 1995 underwater simulation 'Aquanaut’s Holiday', another work by Iida, being the only other officially announced title at this stage.
The absence of PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 platforms in the initial rollout has been noted, given both games' original PlayStation roots, but no official statements about further platform expansion have been made. Artdink's Game Log program stands as an intriguing initiative, offering a new generation the opportunity to experience the studio's eclectic legacy.
As more titles are confirmed, fans and industry observers alike will be watching closely to see which hidden gems from Artdink's history will next arrive on Nintendo Switch, Steam, and beyond.
