Level-5 is reviving the Yo-Kai Watch franchise in the West with a remake of Yo-Kai Watch 2. Announced during a recent Nintendo Direct, the new title, Yo-Kai Watch 2: Haunted Domain, marks the return of the series after a seven-year absence from Western markets. The game is a remake of the original Yo-Kai Watch 2, which was previously released on Nintendo 3DS in 2016 under multiple titles including Bony Spirits, Fleshy Souls, and Psychic Specters.
The Yo-Kai Watch series centers on collecting Yo-Kai, mythical Japanese spirits, who can aid the player in battle. Players, taking on the role of Nate or Katie, use the Yo-Kai Watch to discover, befriend, and command these spirits. The original Yo-Kai Watch 2 featured nearly 450 collectible Yo-Kai.
Yo-Kai Watch 2 achieved significant popularity, particularly in Japan. Its initial releases, Bony Spirits and Fleshy Souls, along with the enhanced Psychic Specters, sold over six million copies globally before its Western launch. However, reception in the West was more subdued, and subsequent titles, such as the Japanese-only Yo-Kai Watch 4, saw reduced success or limited availability outside of Japan, coinciding with a period of fewer international releases from Level-5.
Haunted Domain is set to feature updated graphics and new story elements, alongside additional Yo-Kai. While the remake is confirmed to be in development, a release date has not yet been announced.