Parents' Guide to

Yo-Kai Watch

By David Chapman, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 10+

Fun happy-"ghost"-lucky game helps kids deal with emotions.

Game Nintendo 3DS 2015
Yo-Kai Watch Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

  • Yo-Kai Watch Game: Screenshot #1
  • Yo-Kai Watch Game: Screenshot #2
  • Yo-Kai Watch Game: Screenshot #3
  • Yo-Kai Watch Game: Screenshot #4
  • Yo-Kai Watch Game: Screenshot #5

Community Reviews

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age 6+

Based on 3 parent reviews

eeeeeeeeebduvduiegdi
eeeeeeeeebduvduiegdi Adult
June 18, 2021
age 10+

Yokai watch is better than pokemon

the pokemon community are hating bro suck this pokemon yokai watch is better buy 2 and physic specters buy the new yokai watch games never play Pokemon.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Easy to play/use
Holly R.
Holly R. Parent of 2-year-old
May 13, 2020
age 6+

Not a Pokémon rip-off

It’s a pretty good game. The only thing that is actually bad about it is that similar to the anime series the game has some potty humor and some of the Yo-Kai have gross designs like Cheeksqueek having a buttocks for a face. Some Yo-Kai look devilish and “possession” is a huge story driver but the possession is nothing like what is shown in scary movies (a Yo-Kai might possess a character and make them hungry or have to take frequent bathroom breaks for example). Some people might be offended by that but it’s not really bad. And good Yo-Kai are befriended to deal with the unpleasant types that cause trouble. The game is like The Real Ghost Busters meets Pokémon with a splash of MegaTen’s recruiting methods getting a coat of MLP:FiM paint (meaning the emphasis is on friendship rather than making contracts with the spirits). I like it and I go to church and don’t really see anything truly Satanic to it. The game is Japanese after all so it’s based off of their mythology rather than actual religious beliefs that are more sinister. It’s just a shame the series never caught on.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Easy to play/use
See all 3 parent reviews

What’s It About?

In the world of YO-KAI WATCH, people's everyday lives are subtly (and sometimes not-so-subtly) influenced by invisible spirits called Yo-kai. After accidentally encountering a particularly friendly Yo-kai, you're given a device called the Yo-Kai Watch. With it, you can see and interact with the Yo-kai. After earning a Yo-kai's trust, respect, and, most importantly, friendship, you'll be gifted with its medallion, adding that spirit to your collection and allowing it to be summoned at a moment's notice. You'll help the people of Springdale deal with their spirit-induced problems and threats, while seeking out and befriending more than 200 unique Yo-kai.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (8):

This role-playing game is the first title in a franchise that's heavily steeped in Japanese mythology. Yo-Kai Watch has been a massive hit in Japan, even outselling Nintendo's other collectible-creature juggernaut, Pokémon. But the question is whether or not the game can maintain that same appeal when translated for an international audience. The answer? It absolutely can. The world of Yo-Kai Watch is a treat, and the colorful, animated style feels like you're actively taking part in a cartoon. It doesn't hurt that the voices in the game are the same as the animated series. All the characters are full of personality, too. It's hard not to get attached to the different Yo-kai you come across throughout the adventure.

There are a couple of things some players will need to adjust to, though. For starters, you don't directly control your Yo-kai team's actions but, rather, take more of a coaching role. You tell the team which foes to target, heal and "purify" hurt Yo-kai, and play short mini-games to charge up powerful "Soultimate" moves. Otherwise your team pretty much fights its own battles. In a lot of ways, Yo-Kai Watch is more about strategy than action. Also, the game has a bit of a learning curve. The in-game help does a great job of explaining the basics, but a lot of the more nuanced gameplay is likely to come from trial and error. None of this takes away from the experience, though. Yo-Kai Watch is still one of the best all-ages experiences to come to the 3DS in some time.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the Yo-kai. Do kids believe in things such as spirits, and do games like this have a role in that belief?

  • Talk about different cultures. The Yo-kai are based on Japanese mythology; what are some other cultures' beliefs, and are they something kids might want to research?

Game Details

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