Shujinkou
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| Shujinkou | |
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| Developer(s) | Rice Games Inc |
| Publisher(s) | Rice Games Inc |
| Director(s) | Julian Rice |
| Programmer(s) | Julian Rice |
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| Engine | Unity (game engine) |
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| Release | February 2025 |
| Genre(s) | Role-playing game, Dungeon crawler |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Shujinkou (主人公, Shujinkou) is an upcoming dungeon-crawling Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) developed and published by Rice Games Inc. The game integrates Japanese language learning into its mechanics, allowing players to encounter and engage with language elements as part of the gameplay.
Story
[edit]The narrative follows three protagonists—a retired samurai (Shu), an eccentric fox (Jin), and a princess (Kou) as they confront the Akuma, creatures that consume language and threaten their world. The campaign spans over 80 hours, divided into two arcs, and features 16 handcrafted labyrinths.[1]
Gameplay
[edit]Shujinkou features turn-based combat within labyrinthine dungeons. Players control the three main characters, each with differing abilities and backstories. The game includes Japanese language content such as vocabulary, kana, kanji, and grammar elements, covering content from JLPT N5 to N1 standards.[2] Players can choose to engage with the language-learning elements or play in an English-only mode, depending on their preference.
Development and Release
[edit]Announced in 2019, Shujinkou has been in development with the goal of appealing to players interested in both JRPGs and language learning. A demo was released on Steam[3] and PlayStation 5[4] in November 2024, offering approximately 15 hours of content to introduce players to its mechanics and language-learning systems.
The full game is scheduled for digital release on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC in February 2025[5], with a Nintendo Switch version planned for late 2025.
Reception
[edit]Early impressions of the demo have highlighted the game’s combination of traditional JRPG gameplay with language-learning features.[6] Feedback has noted its detailed integration of Japanese language content as a distinguishing aspect.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ ""Language Learning JRPG "Shujinkou" Demo Releasing on PS5 Today!" - Games Press". www.gamespress.com. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ ""Language Learning JRPG "Shujinkou" Demo Releasing on Steam Today!" - Games Press". www.gamespress.com. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ "日本語を学ぶJRPG『Shujinkou』プレイ時間約15時間にわたる無料デモ版がSteamで公開！3Dダンジョンを攻略しながら日本語を学ぼう―製品版は12月配信予定". Game*Spark - 国内・海外ゲーム情報サイト (in Japanese). 2024-11-05. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ Coulibaly, Mohamed Lamine (2024-11-24). "Shujinkou Demo Available on PlayStation 5". RPGamer. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ "完成を見ることなく…今は亡き母に捧ぐインディー3DダンジョンRPG―日本に渡った若者の"ゼロからのゲーム制作"". Game*Spark - 国内・海外ゲーム情報サイト (in Japanese). 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ Watson, Eric (2024-11-01). "Indie RPG Shujinkou teaches you Japanese while you play - try the free demo". Pixelkin. Retrieved 2025-01-07.
- ^ "Shujinkou Demo on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved 2025-01-07.