Shujinkou

You won't become fluent in Japanese by playing Shujinkou, but it will introduce the basics of both hiragana and katakana to you in a game that features the best bits of the Etrian Odyssey series in a very clever way. The combat system is solid enough that not even the counterintuitive menus could keep me from diving back in for more.

Suffice it to say, Shujinkou is one of the most ambitious indie games I’ve ever played. It not only satisfies the DRPG craving, but also rivals the industry and genre giants in delivering a complete experience. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the genre or just curious to try something new, this is the one.

Shujinkou is clearly a love letter to Japanese language and culture, created by a team with passion for both games and language. Despite the technical issues and uneven pacing, I really loved my time with this game. As someone relearning Japanese, immersing myself in the language learning aspects was both a great refresher and a genuine learning tool at times without ever losing focus on also being a fun game experience. The combat is engaging with just the right amount of difficulty, and the characters are charming and memorable. I still listen to the music every chance I get. It’s a long game, so if you get it be prepared for the commitment, but I think it’s well worth your time.

Thanks to Shujinkou, I know more Japanese than ever before. I have a basic understanding of sentence structure and logic, and can call upon a limited vocabulary. More importantly, though, I can say I've played a legitimately great RPG.

I didn't want to make Shujinkou sound so bad. The task he faced wasn't an easy one, and in a way, he succeeded. As a study material, it can be very helpful to those who are afraid or have difficulty learning a new language, presenting the elements gradually and pedagogically correct. However, as a game, it falls short, requiring some steps to sacrifice its own mechanics to achieve its purpose.

Shujinkou is one of the most pleasant surprises of the year, teaching a beautiful language without seeming like a product that's only meant to be educational, delivering a rich plot, beautiful visuals, well-done soundtrack and charismatic characters.

An amazing learning tool and an even better game, Shujinkou is an ambitious JRPG that's well worth your time, given what's already an incredible year for independent games.

Shujinkou is a DRPG that dazzles with a brilliant central idea: transforming the Japanese language into a combat system as original as it is profound. Its learning curve is demanding and its lengthy duration can be intimidating, but those who get caught up in it will discover a unique experience that blends learning and adventure rarely seen in the genre.

Shujinkou ports to the Nintendo Switch with its spirit blessedly intact. The biggest differences come down to the game’s load time and text size, plus the choice for players to check it out at a lower price point. That balances with the larger cash outlay, but chance to play a demo on the Steam version. More importantly, Shujinkou remains the same inventive, smart, comfy treasure I tried out this past winter. It’s not just a terrific dungeon crawler for fans that love delicately picking through gridded maps for treasures and trials. It’s a genuinely great learning tool for anyone interested in learning Japanese, with a mind towards keeping your attention and personal pace at the fore. It’s simply a great success in both genres.

An extremely interesting and novel mix of classic dungeon crawling with a potential means of learning a different language, but also then very niche