View source for Software:Yo-kai Watch (video game)

{{Short description|2013 role-playing video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Yo-kai Watch
| image = Yo-Kai Watch NA Artwork.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = North American packaging artwork
| developer = [[Company:Level-5|Level-5]]
| publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|Level-5|WW|[[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]]}}
| director = Ken Motomura
| producer = Akihiro Hino
| designer = Akihiro Hino
| programmer = Yuji Mori<br/>Tetsuo Mori
| artist = Nobuyuki Yanai<br/>Takuzō Nagano<br/>Miho Tanaka
| writer = Akihiro Hino
| composer = Kenichiro Saigo
| series = ''Yo-kai Watch''
| engine = 
| platforms = {{ubl|{{wipe|Nintendo 3DS}}|[[Engineering:Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch]]|[[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]]|[[Software:IOS|iOS]]}}
| released = '''Nintendo 3DS'''{{Video game release|JP|July 11, 2013|NA|November 6, 2015|AUS|December 5, 2015|EU|April 29, 2016}}'''Nintendo Switch'''{{Video game release|JP|October 10, 2019}}'''Android, iOS'''{{Video game release|JP|July 10, 2021}}
| genre = [[Software:Role-playing video game|Role-playing]]
| modes = [[Software:Single-player video game|Single-player]], multiplayer
}}

{{nihongo|'''''Yo-kai Watch'''''|妖怪ウォッチ|Yōkai Wotchi|lead=yes}} is a [[Software:Role-playing video game|role-playing video game]] developed and published by [[Company:Level-5|Level-5]] for the {{wipe|Nintendo 3DS}} and the first game in the ''Yo-kai Watch'' franchise. Originally released in Japan on July 11, 2013, the game is based on the [[Unsolved:Yōkai|Yōkai]] of Japanese folklore, who are said to be ghosts and apparitions that cause mischief in daily life. In ''Yo-kai Watch'', [[Software:Player character|player character]] Nathan "Nate" Adams or Katie Forester, depending on who the player chooses, is given the titular watch, which gives him or her the ability to see Yo-kai, after stumbling across and befriending the butler Yo-kai Whisper. Players assume the role of Nate or Katie, as he or she travels around town searching for and befriending peaceful Yo-kai, battling hostile Yo-kai, and solving problems caused by mischievous Yo-kai.

The game was released to a positive commercial and critical reception in Japan, and a steady rise in popularity started a franchise, including a toy line and an anime series, in addition to ''[[Software:Yo-kai Watch 2|Yo-kai Watch 2]]'', released the following year for the Nintendo 3DS. Despite the franchise's success in Japan, the game would not be released internationally until 2015, when [[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]] announced plans to localize the game in the West. By November 2014, the game had sold over a million copies in Japan, making it one of the best selling games on the Nintendo 3DS.

==Plot==
While on a bug-collecting school assignment in suburban Springdale, the protagonist visits Mount Wildwood and discovers an unusual capsule machine from which they free Whisper, a ghost-like Yo-kai who gives them the Yo-kai Watch, enabling them to see Yo-kai. The protagonist returns home with Whisper, only to find that the Yo-kai Dismeralda has caused their parents, Lily and Aaron, to argue. The protagonist and Whisper head to an intersection and meet Jibanyan, who joins them to fight Dismeralda. She and her husband Happiere reconcile and he inspirits Lily and Aaron, ending their conflict.

The next day, the protagonist visits Katie, who is upset she unintentionally said mean things to her friend. Upon realizing a Yo-kai is responsible, the protagonist finds and befriends Tattletell, who inspirits Katie and allows her to reconcile with her friend. With the issue resolved, Tattletell reveals that a group of evil Yo-kai led by Slimamander had broken several seals, disrupting the link between the human  and Yo-kai worlds. The protagonist and Whisper defeat the evil Yo-kai and repair the seals.

The protagonist and Whisper decide to head to Timers and More, run by Mr. Goodsight, to upgrade their watch and be able to befriend stronger Yo-kai. In the process, the protagonist befriends Baku, encounters the [[Unsolved:Oni|Oni]] for the first time, and fights and defeats Sproink.

The next day, after Bear uses his mother's ring as bait to catch the "king of Catfish Pond" and accidentally loses it, his father instructs him to retrieve it. The protagonist and Whisper head to a riverside to find the [[Unsolved:Kappa (folklore)|kappa]] Yo-kai Walkappa and the ring, only to disturb the Yo-kai SV Snaggerjag. After the battle, Snaggerjag reveals he is the guardian of the Catfish Pond, and that the group had scared off the catfish in the area. Afterward, the ring is returned.

The next morning, while on his way to work, Aaron accidentally loses important documents after being Inspirited by Wazzat. While retrei the documents, during which they befriend Wazzat and receive a bicycle as thanks for saving their father's job. Soon after, they hear rumors about development at Flower Road and encounter [[Unsolved:Kitsune|Kyubi]], who blackmails them into entering the construction zone at night. In the process, the protagonist and Whisper meet [[Unsolved:Komainu|Komasan]]. They also find that Kyubi had led them to the true culprit: Massiface. After the protagonist defeats Massiface, the rumors stop.

The protagonist visits an art museum with their friend Eddie, who asks them to accompany him in sneaking to the museum at night. After being warped into the museum by Mirapo and evading the museum's security protocols, they battle and defeat Phantasmurai, a suit of armor controlled by a mouse who Eddie was trying to observe.

Soon after, the protagonist's friends meet up with them at the school in an attempt to find Tarantulor, a spider-like Yo-kai causing mischief there. The Yo-kai abducts their friends, and they and Whisper are forced to find them. They find Katie in the girls' bathroom, but are attacked by Tarantutor. After defeating it, Whisper becomes suspicious and asks the protagonist to return to the school and search for more clues. They discover that the abandoned Nocturne Hospital has unusual Yo-kai activity as a result of the evil Doctor Maddiman, who they fight and defeat. He then reveals that he works for Squiddilius McKracken, a dissident Yo-kai who plans to take over the Yo-kai World and destroy the human world.

The protagonist's classmate Lucas reveals he is a Yo-kai related to Enma, the ruler of the Yo-kai World. The protagonist and Whisper venture to the Yo-kai World to seek answers, where they encounter McKracken and seemingly defeat him. However, upon returning to the human world, they find that the seals have been broken once more, McKracken has deployed his minions in the area, and Slimamander has reawakened. The protagonist defeats McKracken's minions and restores the seals, before defeating McKracken himself and banishing him from the human world. Whisper, knowing that more evil Yo-kai will attack, closes the elevator linking the two worlds, which the protagonist reluctantly accepts. In a post-credits scene, the elevator is rebuilt, allowing the Yo-kai to return.

==Gameplay==
[[File:Yo-Kai Watch screenshot.png|thumb|The battle system in ''Yo-kai Watch''. The player uses a spin dial on the touchscreen to switch between Yo-kai during battle.]]
''Yo-kai Watch'' is a [[Software:Role-playing video game|role-playing video game]] where the player searches around Springdale for Yo-kai using the 3DS' touchscreen. Players befriend Yo-kai by giving them a food item that they like before or during battle, and after defeating the Yo-kai it may or may not approach the player character and gives them its Yo-kai Medal, allowing it to be used in the player's team. Yo-kai can also be acquired through an in-game Gasha Machine by collecting in-game coins or using Play Coins. Certain Yo-kai are necessary for completing the game's main quest, and special rare Yo-kai are acquired through various subquests. Yo-kai have the capability to evolve into more powerful versions of themselves if they reach a certain level, or they can evolve by combining with particular items or other Yo-kai. The Yo-kai are divided amongst eight different tribes, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. There are also Legendary Yo-kai that can only be obtained by collecting a particular set of Yo-kai listed in the Yo-kai Medallium, a compendium of the different Yo-kai the player has encountered or befriended.

When the player encounters a Yo-kai, they enter into battle with it using six Yo-kai that the player has befriended previously, and the enemy Yo-kai may bring other Yo-kai to fight with them. The touchscreen is used during battles to rotate amongst the player's Yo-kai in battle at will. It is also used either to clear up status effects on the player's Yo-kai or to charge up the Yo-kai's special abilities. A common in-game event is "Oni Time" (Terror Time), where the player character enters a nightmare realm where he or she looks for treasure chests with special items in them all while trying to avoid being seen by other Yo-kai. If spotted, the player is chased by a powerful [[Unsolved:Oni|Oni]] Yo-kai that can easily wipe out the player's party unless they can escape. It is possible to defeat the Oni, but only if the player's Yo-kai are particularly powerful.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2013/06/09/cant-sleep-onis-will-chase-you-in-level-5s-youkai-watch/ |title=Can't Sleep Onis Will Chase You In Level-5's Youkai Watch |publisher=Siliconera |date=June 9, 2013 |access-date=January 29, 2014}}</ref> The player can also encounter similarly powerful Namahage Yo-kai if the player crosses the street on a red light, but the encounter may be beneficial if the player follows the rules.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2013/07/11/level-5s-next-major-rpg-has-a-number-of-areas-to-explore/ |title=Level 5's Next Major RPG Has A Number Of Areas To Explore |publisher=Siliconera |date=July 11, 2013 |access-date=January 29, 2014}}</ref>

==Development==
''Yo-kai Watch'' was developed by Level-5, a Japanese video game developer based in Fukuoka, {{wipe|Japan}}. Before ''Yo-kai Watch'', Level-5 were best known for their ''[[Software:Professor Layton|Professor Layton]]'' series of [[Software:Puzzle video game|puzzle]] [[Software:Adventure game|adventure]] games for the Nintendo DS, one of the best selling game series on the platform, with 15 million units sold across six titles.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ponce|first1=Tony|title=Layton series has sold over 15 million units|url=http://www.destructoid.com/layton-series-has-sold-over-15-million-units-260877.phtml|website=[[Social:Destructoid|Destructoid]]|date=28 August 2013|access-date=9 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Fahmy|first1=Albaraa|title=Level-5 reveals sales figures for 'Ni No Kuni', 'Professor Layton', 'Guild'|url=http://www.digitalspy.com.au/gaming/news/a509905/level-5-reveals-sales-figures-for-ni-no-kuni-professor-layton-guild.html|website=Digital Spy|publisher=Hearst Corporation|date=27 August 2013|access-date=9 October 2015}}</ref> At a time where Level-5 were already successful with resonating with younger gamers with multiple IPs such as ''[[Software:Inazuma Eleven|Inazuma Eleven]]'' and ''[[Software:Ni no Kuni|Ni no Kuni]]'', many of the Level-5 staff expressed interest in creating, in Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino's words, the new ''Doraemon''; a title that would "be loved by many people over a long period of time". The team agreed that such a title would be an [[Software:Open world|open world]] [[Software:Role-playing video game|role-playing game]].<ref name="famitsu-interview">{{cite web|last1=Nakamura|first1=Toshi|title=How Yokai Watch Was Engineered To Be A Massive Hit|url=http://kotaku.com/how-yokai-watch-was-engineered-to-be-a-massive-hit-1602863085|website=Kotaku|publisher=Gawker Media|date=10 July 2014|access-date=9 October 2015}}</ref>

{{cquote|We’ve created a lot of different IPs, and I figured it was about time that we made something like ''Doraemon'', that could be loved by many people over a long period of time. That was the start of it. I researched what would give something appeal and longevity, and pondered what would be relatable to people and developed the open world RPG that children could play, ''Yo-kai Watch''. I think title's popularity is the fruits of trial and error.|author=Akihiro Hino, interview with ''Weekly Famitsu''<ref name="famitsu-interview"/>}}

==Marketing and release==
''Yo-kai Watch'' was officially unveiled to the public by Level-5 at the 2011 Tokyo Game Show, where it was announced during the company's annual Level-5 Vision press conference.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Romano|first1=Sal|title=Level-5 Vision 2011 trailers|url=http://gematsu.com/2011/10/level-5-vision-2011-trailers|website=Gematsu|date=15 October 2011|access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref><ref name="l5v-2011">{{cite web|title=Level5 Vision Recap|url=http://level5ia.com/news/level5-vision-2011-recap/|publisher=Level-5|date=15 October 2011|access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref> It was planned from the start that ''Yo-kai Watch'' would be a franchise that consisted of a manga and anime series.<ref name="l5v-2011"/> A shōnen manga series by Noriyuki Konishi began serialization in ''CoroCoro Comic'' from December 15, 2012. This series has been licensed by Viz Media under its Perfect Square imprint. The series went on to earn awards for best Children's Manga at the 2014 Kodansha Manga Awards and at the 2015 Shogakukan Manga Awards.<ref name="vizlicense">{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-04-06/viz-media-adds-yo-kai-watch-manga-to-perfect-square-imprint/.86542|title=Viz Media Adds Yo-kai Watch Manga to Perfect Square Imprint|publisher=Anime News Network|date=6 April 2015|access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref> Prior to the release of ''Yo-kai Watch'' in Japan, a [[Software:Game demo|game demo]] was made available to download from the Nintendo eShop on July 3, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Romano|first1=Sal|title=Yokai Watch demo hits Japan on Wednesday|url=http://gematsu.com/2013/07/yokai-watch-demo-japan-wednesday|website=Gematsu|date=1 July 2013|access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref>

After the success of the game and its sequel, ''[[Software:Yo-kai Watch 2|Yo-kai Watch 2]]'', a localization of the franchise in territories outside Japan was seriously considered.<ref>{{cite web|last1=MacGregor|first1=Kyle|title=Level-5 ponders world domination for Yo-Kai Watch|url=http://www.destructoid.com/level-5-ponders-world-domination-for-yo-kai-watch-277910.phtml|website=[[Social:Destructoid|Destructoid]]|date=10 July 2014|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref> After registering a [[Social:Trademark|trademark]] for the ''Yo-kai Watch'' brand in the United States in January 2014,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Schulenberg|first1=Thomas|title=Level-5 registers US trademark for 3DS game 'Yo-kai Watch'|url=https://www.engadget.com/2014/01/26/level-5-registers-us-trademark-for-3ds-game-yo-kai-watch/|website=[[Software:Engadget|Engadget]]|publisher=AOL|date=26 January 2014|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref> and inviting public opinion on an international release of the game,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Carter|first1=Chris|title=Level-5 wants to know if you want Yo-kai Watch|url=http://www.destructoid.com/level-5-wants-to-know-if-you-want-yo-kai-watch-270790.phtml|website=[[Social:Destructoid|Destructoid]]|date=19 February 2014|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref> Level-5 formally announced in April 2015 that the game would indeed be released in the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, and Korea, with Nintendo helping to publish the game outside Japan.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Good|first1=Owen S.|title=Yo-Kai Watch will launch in the west on 3DS, Nintendo announces|url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/4/7/8360173/yo-kai-watch-western-launch-release-nintendo-3ds|website=Polygon|publisher=[[Company:Vox Media|Vox Media]]|date=7 April 2015|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Nunneley|first1=Stephany|title=Yo-Kai Watch finally confirmed for a western release on 3DS|url=https://www.vg247.com/2015/04/07/yo-kai-watch-finally-confirmed-for-a-western-release-on-3ds/|website=VG247|date=7 April 2015|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Pereira|first1=Chris|title=Nintendo Bringing Japanese Hit Yo-Kai Watch to 3DS in the US|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-bringing-japanese-hit-yo-kai-watch-to-3ds/1100-6426474/|website=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|date=17 April 2015|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref> At E3 2015, a trailer for the game was showcased during Nintendo's Digital Event presentation, and demos of the game were available to play on the show floor during the convention.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Kamen|first1=Matt|title='Yo-Kai Watch' could be Nintendo's secret weapon|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2015-06/19/yo-kai-watch-nintendo-secret-weapon|magazine=Wired|publisher=Condé Nast|date=15 June 2015|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Nunneley|first1=Stephany|title=E3 2015: Yo-Kai Watch lands in the west this holiday season on 3DS|url=https://www.vg247.com/2015/06/16/yo-kai-watch-3ds-e3-2015-release/|website=VG247|date=16 June 2015|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref> A release window of Holiday 2015 was also announced at the convention,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Dyer|first1=Mitch|title=E3 2015: Yo-Kai Watch's Release Window Revealed|url=http://au.ign.com/articles/2015/06/16/e3-2015-yo-kai-watchs-release-window-revealed|website=IGN|publisher=[[Company:J2 Global|j2 Global]]|date=16 June 2015|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref> with the date being further clarified to a November 6 release in North America by the time the game was showcased at the EB Games Expo 2015. A demo for the game was released on the Nintendo eShop in North America on October 22, 2015.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Futter|first1=Mike|title=Japanese Sensation Yo-Kai Watch Gets 3DS Demo|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2015/10/13/japanese-sensation-yo-kai-watch-gets-3ds-demo.aspx|magazine=Game Informer|publisher=[[Company:GameStop|GameStop]]|date=13 October 2015|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref> The game was also sold as a bundle with the Nintendo 2DS in North America, selling under $100.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Makuch|first1=Eddie|title=$100 Yo-Kai Watch 2DS Bundle Announced|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/100-yo-kai-watch-2ds-bundle-announced/1100-6431514/|website=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|date=19 October 2015|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|first1=Michelle|last1=Mandara|title=Nintendo News: New YO-KAI WATCH Nintendo 2DS Bundle Hits Stores on Nov. 6|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151019005491/en/|location=Redmond, {{wipe|Washington (state)}}|publisher=[[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo of America]]|agency={{wipe|Business Wire}}|date=19 October 2015|access-date=19 October 2015}}</ref>

An anime series based on the video game premiered on the TX Network, owned by TV Tokyo, on January 8, 2014, six months after the Japanese release of the game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2013-11-15/yokai-watch-tv-anime-to-premiere-in-january|title=''Yōkai Watch'' TV Anime to Premiere in January|publisher=Anime News Network|date=16 November 2013|access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref> The series has run continuously on TV Tokyo since then, including a rebranding as a "Second Season" featuring new characters<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-04-07/yo-kai-watch-anime-2nd-season-previewed-in-video/.86845|title=Yo-Kai Watch Anime's 2nd Season Previewed in Video|publisher=Anime News Network|date=7 April 2015|access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref> from the upcoming ''Yo-kai Watch 3'' game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-04-07/yo-kai-watch-3-game-announced-with-usa-setting/.86844|title = Yo-kai Watch 3 Game Announced with USA Setting| date=June 19, 2023 }}</ref> As part of efforts to localize ''Yo-kai Watch'' in western countries, the series was broadcast in the United States; dubbed in English and premiered on Disney XD on October 5, 2015, a month before the release of the game in North America.<ref>{{cite press release|date=5 October 2015|title=Japan's Record-Breaking New Anime Franchise YO-KAI WATCH™ Premieres Tonight On Disney XD @ 5 ET/PT; Product Sneak Peak Today!|url=https://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/MM19706.htm|location=Santa Monica, {{wipe|California}}|publisher=CNNMoney|agency=PR Newswire|access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref> The series was broadcast in Australia on GO! in 2016.<ref name="australia-rd">{{cite web|title=Yo-Kai Watch to Launch in Australia and New Zealand|url=https://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=news&nid=3706|website=Nintendo Australia|publisher=[[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo Co., Ltd.]]|date=5 October 2015|access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref>

In July 2019, Level-5 announced the first game in the series would be ported to the [[Engineering:Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch]];<ref>{{cite news |url=https://gematsu.com/2019/07/yo-kai-watch-1-for-nintendo-switch-announced |title=Yo-kai Watch 1 for Nintendo Switch Announced |author=Romano, Sal |date=July 28, 2019 |work=Gematsu |access-date=29 July 2019}}</ref> the port was released on October 10, 2019, in Japan. Unlike the original 3DS version, there was no option to use English text.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://gematsu.com/2019/10/this-weeks-japanese-game-releases-concrete-genie-yo-kai-watch-1-for-nintendo-switch-more |title=This Week's Japanese Game Releases: Concrete Genie, Yo-kai Watch 1 for Nintendo Switch, more |author=Romano, Sal |date=October 6, 2019 |work=Gematsu |access-date=21 November 2019}}</ref> The game was ported to mobile devices via [[Software:IOS|iOS]] and [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]] in Japan on July 10, 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-09 |title=Yo-kai Watch 1 for iOS and Android launches July 10 in Japan |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/07/yo-kai-watch-1-for-ios-and-android-launches-july-10-in-japan |access-date=2022-07-10 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 76/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/yo-kai-watch/critic-reviews/?platform=3ds |title=Yo-Kai Watch for 3DS Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |access-date=February 8, 2017}}</ref>
| Destruct = 8.5/10<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.destructoid.com/review-yo-kai-watch-317946.phtml|title=Yo Kai Watch review|date=November 4, 2015}}</ref>
| Edge = 6/10
| Fam = 36/40<ref name=famitsu-review/>
| GI = 8.5/10<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/games/yo-kai_watch/b/3ds/archive/2015/11/04/game-informer-yo_2d00_kai-watch-3ds-review.aspx|title= Yo-kai Watch review|magazine= Game Informer}}</ref>
| GRadar = {{Rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/yokai-watch-review/|title= Yo-Kai Watch for 3DS review|date= November 9, 2015}}</ref>
| IGN = 7.2/10
| NLife = 7/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/3ds/yo-kai_watch|title=Yo-Kai Watch review|date=November 10, 2015}}</ref>
| NWR = 9/10<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/41420/yo-kai-watch-review|title=Yo-Kai Watch 3DS Review}}</ref>
}}
Japanese video game magazine ''Famitsu'' scored the game a 36 out of 40, with all of the four judges of the review giving the game 9 out of 10. Editor Reona Ebihara wrote that "the game gradually expands its feature set as you go, opening up this very unique world that's easy to melt into." She also commented positively of the game's use of the Nintendo 3DS' [[Stereoscopy|stereoscopic]] features and its "simple and deeply strategic" battle system. Fellow reviewer Urara Honma corroborated Ebihara's remarks, stating that the battle system felt "really great to control". She further wrote, "You won't run into much frustration playing this game, and while it does feel like one big fetch quest at times, the charms of the story more than make up for that."<ref name=famitsu-review>{{cite web|last1=Gifford|first1=Kevin|title=Japan Review Check: Yokai Watch, New Super Luigi U|url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/7/3/4489476/japan-review-check-yokai-watch-new-super-luigi-u|website=Polygon|publisher=[[Company:Vox Media|Vox Media]]|date=July 3, 2013|access-date=October 11, 2015}}</ref> ''IGN'' awarded it a score of 7.2 out of 10, saying "''Yo-kai Watch''{{'}}s gameplay is inconsistent, but its world is compelling."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/11/04/yo-kai-watch-review | title = Yo-Kai Watch Review |first=Kallie |last=Plagge | work = IGN | date= November 4, 2015 | access-date= November 9, 2015}}</ref>

During the 19th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated ''Yo-kai Watch'' for "Handheld Game of the Year".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.interactive.org/awards/award_category_details.asp?idAward=2016&idGameAwardType=67 |title=2016 Awards Category Details Handheld Game of the Year |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |website=interactive.org |access-date=29 November 2023}}</ref>

===Sales===
[[File:Yo-Kai Watch Sales Chart.png|thumb|A chart depicting weekly sales of ''Yo-kai Watch'' in Japan from July 2013 to December 2014.]]
''Yo-kai Watch'' debuted with a strong opening week, selling over 53,000 units in its first week of availability; the best selling handheld game in Japan and second-best selling game in Japan for that week, beaten only by Nintendo's 92,000 unit sales for ''[[Software:Pikmin 3|Pikmin 3]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Handrahan|first1=Matthew|title=Pikmin 3 boosts Wii U sales in Japan|url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2013-07-18-pikmin-3-boosts-wii-u-sales-in-japan|website=Gamesindustry.biz|publisher=Eurogamer / Gamer Network|date=18 July 2015|access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref> In a list published at the end of the year, Japanese video game magazine ''Famitsu'' named ''Yo-kai Watch'' as the 23rd best selling game in Japan, with just over 280,000 units sold.<ref>{{cite web|author=Brian|title=Famitsu: Top 100 Best-Selling Games of 2013|url=http://nintendoeverything.com/famitsu-top-100-best-selling-games-of-2013-in-full/|website=Nintendo Everything|date=29 January 2014|access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref> After the debut of the ''Yo-kai Watch'' anime in January 2014, Level-5, a month later, reported that the sales numbers for the game had spiked to over 500,000 physical copies of the game sold alone, without including [[Finance:Digital distribution in video games|digital download]] sales.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Carter|first1=Chris|title=Level-5 reports Yo-Kai Watch has sold over 500,000|url=http://www.destructoid.com/level-5-reports-yo-kai-watch-has-sold-over-500-000-270811.phtml|website=[[Social:Destructoid|Destructoid]]|date=19 February 2014|access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref> The number was brought up to over 800,000, including digital sales, after sales tracker [[Company:Media Create|Media Create]] reported the game had sold as much by May 2015, though, ''Famitsu'' reported a more conservative estimate of 650,000 in the same time frame.<ref name="million-shipped">{{cite web|author=Sato|title=Even Level-5′s President Was Surprised About Yo-kai Watch's Booming Popularity|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2014/05/05/even-level-5s-president-surprised-yo-kai-watchs-booming-popularity/|website=Siliconera|date=5 May 2014|access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref> The month earlier, however, Level-5 reported that they had, in fact, shipped 1 million units,<ref>{{cite web|title=Nintendo 3DS™ Game Yo-Kai Watch Ships Over 1 Million Units|url=http://level5ia.com/news/nintendo-3ds%E2%84%A2-game-yo-kai-watch-ships-over-1-million-units/|website=Level-5|date=22 April 2014|access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref> with Level-5 CEO Akihiro Hino stating, in an interview with ''Famitsu'', that he believed that the game would reach the million sales mark soon.<ref name="million-shipped"/> By June, a month before the release of the game's sequel, ''Yo-kai Watch 2'', the game had crossed the million sales milestone, according to Media Create, after a steady increase of weekly sales since January 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Romano|first1=Sal|title=Media Create Sales: 5/26/14 – 6/1/14|url=http://gematsu.com/2014/06/media-create-sales-52614-6114|website=Gematsu|date=4 June 2014|access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref> By November 2014, the game had sold a total of just under 1,294,000 units sold in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Romano|first1=Sal|title=Media Create Sales: 11/3/14 – 11/9/14|url=http://gematsu.com/2014/11/media-create-sales-11314-11914-2|website=Gematsu|date=12 November 2014|access-date=11 October 2015}}</ref> As of June 10, 2016, the game sold 400,000 units in North America. Although that number was below Level-5's expectations, it still got the ''Yo-kai Watch'' franchise off to a promising start overseas, and instilled confidence that the franchise would find its place.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sato|title=Level-5 CEO On Snack World, A Pause In Yo-kai Watch In 2016, And Plenty Of New Starts In 2017|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2016/06/10/level-5-ceo-snack-world-pause-yo-kai-watch-2016-plenty-new-starts-2017/|website=Siliconera|date=10 June 2016|access-date=16 June 2016}}</ref>

The Nintendo Switch port sold 9,426 copies in its first week on sale, placing 4th overall for software sales.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://gematsu.com/2019/10/famitsu-sales-10-7-19-10-13-19 |title=Famitsu Sales: 10/7/19 - 10/13/19 [Update] |author=Romano, Sal |date=October 16, 2019 |work=gematsu |access-date=21 November 2019}}</ref>

==Sequels==
{{main article|Software:Yo-kai Watch 2}}
A sequel to ''Yo-kai Watch'' was released on July 10, 2014, for the Nintendo 3DS in two versions: {{nihongo4|''Yo-kai Watch 2: Ganso''|妖怪ウォッチ2 元祖|Yōkai Wotchi 2 Ganso}} and {{nihongo4|''Yo-kai Watch 2: Honke''|妖怪ウォッチ2 本家|Yōkai Wotchi 2 Honke}}. Borrowing near-identical gameplay elements from the original ''Yo-kai Watch'', the games featured an expanded setting, a brand-new story, additional game modes, and a broadly expanded roster of Yo-kai. The games were released to positive critical reception, and an overwhelmingly successful commercial performance was boosted by the popularity of the anime and the preceding game. Both versions of the game accumulated [[Finance:Pre-order|pre-order]] sales of over 800,000,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Romano|first1=Sal|title=Yokai Watch 2 had 814,000 pre-orders in Japan|url=http://gematsu.com/2014/07/yokai-watch-2-814000-pre-orders-japan|website=Gematsu|date=12 July 2014|access-date=15 October 2015}}</ref> with the games selling over 1.28 million units in their first week of sale.<ref>{{cite web|last1=MacGregor|first1=Kyle|title=Yo-Kai Watch 2 sells 1.28 million in just four days|url=http://www.destructoid.com/yo-kai-watch-2-sells-1-28-million-in-just-four-days-278167.phtml|website=[[Social:Destructoid|Destructoid]]|date=15 July 2014|access-date=15 October 2015}}</ref> The games would go on to become the best selling games in Japan for 2014, selling over 3 million copies by December and outperforming Nintendo's ''Pokémon'' franchise with [[Software:Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire|''Pokémon Omega Ruby'' and ''Alpha Sapphire'']] and [[Company:Capcom|Capcom]]'s ''[[Software:Monster Hunter|Monster Hunter]]'' franchise, with ''Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ashcraft|first1=Brian|title=Pokémon Wasn't The Biggest Seller in Japan Last Year|url=http://kotaku.com/pokemon-wasnt-the-biggest-seller-in-japan-last-year-1678931600|website=Kotaku|publisher=Gawker Media|date=15 January 2015|access-date=15 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Duwell|first1=Ron|title=Japan's 1,000 best selling video games in 2014 – Yokai Watch is super effective against Pokémon|url=http://www.technobuffalo.com/2015/07/09/japans-1000-best-selling-video-games-in-2014-yokai-watch-is-super-effective-against-pokemon/|website=Techno Buffalo|date=9 July 2015|access-date=15 October 2015}}</ref> The games join ''Yo-kai Watch'' as two of the best selling games on the Nintendo 3DS. A third version of the game, {{nihongo4|''Yo-kai Watch 2: Shinuchi''|妖怪ウォッチ2 真打|Yōkai Wotchi 2 Shin'uchi}}, was released in December 2014, adding enhancements to the original ''Ganso'' and ''Honke'' versions of the game.

Because of the healthy sales of the first game and the first set of sequels, additional sequels titled ''[[Software:Yo-kai Watch 3|Yo-kai Watch 3]]'' and ''[[Software:Yo-kai Watch 4|Yo-kai Watch 4]]'' were released initially in Japan in July 2016<ref>{{cite news |url=https://gematsu.com/2016/07/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1441 |title=Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1441 |author=Romano, Sal |date=July 13, 2016 |work=Gematsu |access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref> and June 2019, respectively.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://gematsu.com/2019/06/this-weeks-japanese-game-releases-yo-kai-watch-4-yakuza-5-for-ps4-more |title=This Week's Japanese Game Releases: Yo-kai Watch 4, Yakuza 5 for PS4, more |author=Romano, Sal |date=June 17, 2019 |work=Gematsu |access-date=15 July 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{officialwebsite|http://yo-kai.nintendo.com}}
* {{officialwebsite|http://www.youkai-watch.jp}}

{{Level-5}}
{{JGA GOTY}}

[[Category:Role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]

{{Sourceattribution|Yo-kai Watch (video game)}}