The best games set in Japan

After a first episode dedicated to the best games set in France, it’s now time to fly off to the land of the rising sun. Immersed in futuristic cities filled with neon lights, traditional villages haunted by spirits, or simply natural landscapes imbued with serenity, video games set in Japan offer a unique immersion between modernity and cultural heritage. Our article promises to take players on a journey to the four corners of the country and to different historical periods.

Let’s start our selection with the feudal era of Japan, which roughly spans from the late 12th century to the early 17th century, with the excellent Ghost of Tsushima. A sumptuous open world, remarkable respect for samurai culture, fluid combat, and magnificent art direction await you. Released in 2020, this opus was very well received, placing it among the must-haves of the genre. More recently, we can also mention Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Ubisoft’s latest production, with its magnificent environments enhanced by beautiful dynamic weather.

Set in the same period but in a more fantastical universe, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is one of FromSoftware’s best productions. It was crowned Game of the Year 2019 at The Game Awards ceremony. It is a brutal and sublime tribute to Japanese myths: ninjas, temples, mountains, and mystical folklore are all present, wrapped up in gameplay that requires a certain amount of rigor. Although steeped in fantasy worlds, the Nioh and Onimusha franchises are also set in feudal times. These titles are action game classics combining samurai, demons, and a warlike atmosphere, with the remastered version of the first installment being particularly popular.

Let’s take a little detour to mythological Japan to welcome a sumptuous title: Okami. An artistic masterpiece inspired by Japanese prints, it recounts a poetic adventure centered around the goddess Amaterasu, whom we embody in the form of a white wolf to defeat a tyrannical eight-headed demon. A new installment, currently titled Okami Sequel, was announced at the 2024 Game Awards. It adopts a completely reworked sumi-e ink graphic style, exploiting modern technologies while retaining the unique visual identity that made the series famous.

It is now time to move forward to modern Japan, which begins in the 17th century with a very different proposition: Persona 5 Royal. Samurai and demons are replaced by a stylized and profound portrait of everyday life in Japan. High school, the subway, real neighborhoods, and student life in the broadest sense are an integral part of the game, bathed in a well-written storyline. For a title with more action, look no further than Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Focusing on cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Yokohama, it is urban life that is highlighted through numerous alleys, bars, karaoke rooms, and arcades.

Finally, a quick tour of contemporary Japan is a must, starting at the end of World War II. Released in 2022, Judgment is a spin-off of the Yakuza franchise, but with a greater focus on investigation. It takes place in the same universe and features a new protagonist: Takayuki Yagami, a former lawyer turned private detective. It offers a good dose of everyday life and thriller-style mysteries. Ghostwire: Tokyo is a magnificent reproduction of Shibuya, one of the capital’s districts, which has a unique supernatural urban atmosphere. It’s ideal if you want to visit the neighborhood at night. Still in the same city, but now overrun by demons, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is our final recommendation. This is a turn-based strategic RPG set in a post-apocalyptic universe with striking artistic direction.

Looking through this selection of video games set in Japan, it’s clear how much this country inspires rich, exotic worlds that are deeply marked by its history. It also shows how the country remains an inexhaustible source of creativity for developers around the world. Enjoy discovering these games, and see you for the next stop on our journey, which will be the United Kingdom.