Level-5’s Youkai Are Essentially Like Ghostly Pokémon

Players can catch over 200 kinds of youkai, Japanese folklore spirits, In Youkai Watch. Nogappa pictured on the right creates mega waterfalls. Komasan fires spirit energy and Jinmen Inu (literally human faced dog)… lies on the floor. Youkai join players in battle and level up after fights. Similar to Pokémon, youkai can evolve.

Each youkai has a different rank like the hungry Himoji starts at rank E, but can level up to a B rank youkai called Kuiiji. The mosquito-like Negatiboon can evolve into a C rank spirit. Some evolutions have special conditions. Jibanyan, a cat-like creature Level-5 revealed early on, can evolve into the suave Warunyan.

When you’re not catching youkai you can live a regular life with your friends. One of Youkai Watch’s scenes has Keeta and Fumi watching fireworks from their school’s roof.

Youkai Watch also has an augmented reality camera app to play with. Mysterious Lens takes a photo and "reveals" unseen youkai. If you find a youkai you’ll get an item to use in game.

Youkai Watch is slated for release on July 11 for Nintendo 3DS.