Here is an updated calendar of major free-to-play native apps that publicly traded Japanese mobile game makers have announced for the coming months.

Please note that these titles can be modified, canceled, or released at any given time.

The list isn’t necessarily exhaustive, as games can get released without being announced before, for example. Details are subject to change.

Please reach out via the contact form on the Kantan Games website or via email: serkan AT kantan-games.co.jp for a deeper assessment of specific content or companies.

Here is the calendar, organized by companies (games marked as “now released ” will be removed with the next update):

DeNA (2432)

new entry ->
Kinnikuman – Muscle Shot キン肉マン マッスルショット (iOS/Android) – March 2015

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
Kinnikuman, a classic Japanese manga series, has served as the basis for countless games in the last years. Now DeNA is using the superhero IP to create an action RPG whose main selling point is the battle system: up to 4 users can choose characters from the manga and fight simultaneously, in real-time, inside a wrestling ring. We will see how close this battle system is to that used in Monster Strike when Muscle Shot comes out.

Screenshot:

Puzzle Sentai DENA Ranger パズル戦隊デナレンジャー (iOS/Android) – fall 2014

Genre and official site:
Puzzle – website

Comment:
First shown during Tokyo Game Show 2014, DeNA has now started a bizarre pre-registration campaign (which features a bearded and hairy foreign man wearing a bikini – you read that right) for its new puzzle game. The promotion does make sense in a way, as Puzzle Sentai is supposed to be whimsical: players take on the role of a “DENA Ranger” who needs to battle bad guys by solving puzzles. The heroes get stronger after clearing stages, moving from one place on a Japan map to the other and also learn new skills along the way.

First artwork:

Kingdom – Eiyuu No Keifu -英雄の系譜- (iOS/Android) – spring 2015

Genre and official site:
Strategy – website

Comment:
Co-developed with Axel GameStudio, a subsidiary of Axel Mark (3624), this strategy-RPG from DeNA is based on “Kingdom”, an anime series aired on Japan’s national TV channel NHK. DeNA says the title will share the same setting, characters and design of the show. The company is already accepting pre-registrations.

Screenshots:
    

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

GREE (3632)

Log Horizon ログ・ホライズン (iOS/Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
GREE has secured the right to turn popular Japanese novel/manga/anime series Log Horizon into a mobile game. According to GREE, fans can expect the title to make use of the same setting and characters – but the goal is to also introduce new characters and tell a story that’s written specifically for the game. Further details are scarce at this point, but it seems that Log Horizon will be heavy on battles and use a guild system as the main social element.

Screenshot:

Rebellion Blade リベリオンブレイド (iOS, Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
Formerly known as Project Tiamat and part of GREE’s Tokyo Game Show 2014 lineup, GREE has renamed one of its major future releases to Rebellion Blade. The company says that players can expect characters to be voiced by a whole cast of professional voice actors and a new kind of battle system.

Video:

Naruto – Shinobi Collection Shippuranbu ナルト- 忍コレクション 疾風乱舞 (iOS/Android) – coming soon

Genre and official site:
Action – website

Comment:
Not to be confused with a prior GREE title with a very similar name, this Naruto game is announced as an endless runner. GREE says players will be able to choose between several characters from the popular Naruto manga series and use “ninja attacks” to battle bosses along the way. Unlike other classic manga and anime series like Gundam or One Piece, for example, companies have struggled to turn the Naruto IP into a successful mobile game so far. “Naruto – Shinobi Collection Shippuranbu” is co-developed by Crooz.

First artwork:

Pazukue パズクエ (iOS/Android) – 3Q

Genre and official site:
Puzzle – website TBA

Comment:
GREE’s Wright Flyer Studios, established last year, is currently developing puzzle and tower defense hybrid “Pazkuke” (which is short for “Puzzle Quest”). The game is described in the company’s FY15 Q3 financial report as follows:

• Clear puzzles to summon “phantoms” and do battle with the oncoming monsters in this all-new fusion of puzzle and tower defense gameplay
• Immerse yourself in action-packed battles using extra-long chains in fever mode and special skills of phantoms

Screenshots (work in progress):

Poitto Hero ポイッとヒーロー (iOS/Android) – release date TBA

Genre and official site:
Action – website TBA

Comment:
Jointly developed by GREE studio Pokelabo and Sega Networks (6460), this tower defense game is scheduled to open for pre-registrations this spring. The game is described in GREE’s FY15 Q3 financial report as follows:

• Tower defense game incorporating real-time battles in which up to four players can cooperate at a time
• Stages roll out in four directions—players cooperate by placing their characters strategically

Screenshots (work in progress):

Project Weapon (tentative)  (iOS/Android) – spring 2015

Genre and official site:
RPG – website TBA

Comment:
Currently under development at TriFort, Project Weapon is the tentative title of a new action RPG, the first app to be released under the GREE/KDDI partnership announced last year. The game is described in GREE’s FY15 Q3 financial report as follows:

• Fast-paced action RPG—throw combos using simple controls to fend off attacking monsters
• Action changes based on weapons and combos used. Customize weapons to create the strongest warriors
• Cooperative gameplay for up to four players—possible to join game mid-battle

Screenshots (work in progress):

Untitled new LINE game (iOS/Android) – release date TBA

Genre and official site:
genre TBA – website TBA

Comment:
GREE, in its FY15 Q3 financial report, mentions the first game which its studio Wright Flyer Studios is currently developing with LINE. According to GREE, the app will be published in Q4 by the GREE/LINE joint venture “Epic Voyage”.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

(Colopl (3668)

Rumble City ランブル・シティ (iOS / Android) – winter/spring 2015

Genre and official site:
City-building simulation – website

Comment:
City-building simulations are a tired genre in mobile (most were never as successful in Japan as in the rest of the world), and Rumble City looks pretty standard as well, but Colopl says that their take will be different especially thanks to its multi-player mode. Users will be able to battle against each other to win over buildings from each other, with fights lasting “from 30 minutes to 2 days”, according to the company. As is typical for Colopl, production value seems to be really high, but I have a hard time imagining Rumble City becoming a super hit on the Japanese market.

Video:

Battle Girl High School バトルガール ハイスクール (iOS / Android) – winter/spring 2015

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
In this action RPG “set in Japan in 2025”, players take on the role of a male teacher in an all-girls high school. The goal is to train and communicate with students before leading them to quests and battles. Colopl says that it uses its experiences from action games like White Cat Project to make the fights more enjoyable, i.e. by offering one-finger control. As to be expected, the company has already lined up a cast of professional voice actresses to boost the appeal of the female students.

Screenshots:

Tokyo Casino Project 東京カジノプロジェクト (iOS / Android) – spring 2015

Genre and official site:
Casino – website

Comment:
In this game, Colopl mixes a total of 7 casino games (roulette, Blackjack, poker, etc.) with a full-fledged casino management simulation. In the “simulation part” need to build up a casino on a resort island before being able to play the games in the “casino part”: each user can choose between up to 50 different avatars, walk around their casinos in 3D, and play via “Punikon”, Colopl’s one-finger control system. The company says that the game will also offer a “casino league” where players can compete with each other in real-time.

Screenshot:

For more information in Japanese on these three Colopl games, click here.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

LINE Corp.

entry updated ->
LINE Cross Legion LINE クロスレギオン (iOS/Android) – spring 2015

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
On February 13, LINE announced the first MMORPG on its platform will be launched in spring 2015 instead of fall 2014, as initially planned. LINE Cross Legion will be the LINE version of Nexon’s mobile game “Legion of Heroes”, which has been downloaded 6 million times worldwide. On Android, LINE is already accepting up to 4,000 beta testers until the end of February. LINE Cross Legion is only announced for Japan at this point.

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19-xoJ9_BVo

Note: LINE Corp. is not yet listed.

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

CyberAgent (4751)

LINE Paper Dash World LINE ペーパーダッシュワールド (iOS/Android) – coming soon

Genre and official site:
Action – website

Comment:
Cygames is preparing its first title for the LINE platform. The first material shown to the public points to a high-quality app, but genre-wise the CyberAgent studio isn’t taking any risks: like so many other LINE games, Paper Dash World will be an endless runner with action elements. Cygames says that the characters will have 14 different “jobs” (with different skills) and that there will be over 30 different “pets” supporting them during the runs.

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHelrBF0N1A

released on February 12 ->
Little Noah リトルノア (iOS/Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
Strategy – website

Comment:
Little Noah is the first title coming out of BlazeGames, a new studio established by CyberAgent/Cygames in September. It’s being described as a real-time strategy game that will allow up to four players to battle simultaneously. So far so good, but the first screenshots make Little Noah seem very close to Clash Of Clans gameplay-wise. BlazeGames has won Square Enix veteran Akihiko Yoshida as the art director, while the music is composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto (who also used to work for Square Enix).

Screenshot:

released on February 18 ->
Princess Connect! プリンセスコネクト！ (iOS/Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
CyberAgent studio Cygames is working on this Sci-Fi RPG, which is set in the year 2033 in a high school in Japan where players need to switch between the real world and VR in order to advance in the story (which according to CyberAgent will be “light and funny”). As it’s almost the norm for Japanese mobile games like this nowadays, the company says around 50 different voice actresses will be used to boost production value.

Screenshots:

School Fanfare スクールファンファーレ (iOS/Android) – April 2015

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
Planned for release on CyberAgent’s mobile Ameba service, School Fanfare is not a typical RPG offering a dramatic story or monster fights. Instead, players are supposed to choose a schoolgirl of their liking and try to train her on the way to becoming a famous singer. CyberAgent has hired famous Japanese illustrators and musicians to help create the game. The company tries to appeal to a similar user base as School Idol Live from KLab or School Girl Strikers from Square Enix. Originally planned for release during winter 2014/1015, CyberAgent postponed the app to April.

Video:

Royal Flush Heroes ロイヤルフラッシュヒーローズ (iOS/Android) – 2014

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
Royal Flush Heroes will mix poker mechanics with a 3D battle RPG. During battles, players must find the ideal formation by arranging a total of ten different characters on a map. Details on what role exactly the poker elements will play are scarce at this point, other that they will be used during battle scenes. In other words, Royal Flush Heroes is another hybrid casino game, a popular sub genre in Japan (see here).

First artwork:

“Roguelike RPG” (iOS/Android) – 2014

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
CyberAgent says that with this yet to be named “Roguelike RPG”, they are trying to appeal to fans of classic RPGs. The game will be set in “medieval Europe” but also allow the characters to travel through time to enter new dungeons (which, as usual, are generated randomly). In the first version, players can expect up to 100 characters and will be able to choose between eight different jobs (knight, monk, lancer, etc.). The game will be presented in portrait mode, allowing for one-finger control at all times.

First screenshots:

Puppet Collection パペット★コレクション (iOS/Android) – February 2015

Genre and official site:
Puzzle – website

Comment:
This match-3 puzzle title seems to have nothing special about it, except for its “kawaii”-factor and the fact that players will be able to collect the cute characters through progressing in the game.

Screenshots:

——————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Mixi (2121)

Monster Stadium モンスト モスタジアム (iOS/Android) – spring 2015

Genre and official site:
Action – website TBA

Comment:
Monster Stadium, the follow-up to Mixi’s mega hit Monster Strike. was first shown to the public during the Nico Nico Tokaigi 2015 event in January 2015. While the original is heavy on cooperation, Monster Stadium will focus more on PvP, namely 4 against 4 battles. Players will need to choose a stage, put together a deck of monsters, choose team members, and then clear the stage – before the other team does. Mixi apparently tries to replicate the strategy of GungHo Online Entertainment (3765) whose mega hit Puzzle & Dragons was followed by spin-off app called Puzzle & Dragons Challenge last year. More on Monster Stadium here.

Screenshots:

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Konami (9766)

Kyoshin Senso 巨神戦争 (iOS/Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
Action – website

Comment:
Kyoushin Senso roughly translates to “War Of The Giants” in English. The title was first announced during the Tokyo Game Show 2014 as an “online battle” game for smartphones that is based on new IP and lets players cooperate in real-time to fight “gigantic” monsters.

First artwork:

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Bandai Namco (7832)

released on February 11 ->
Assassination Classroom – Kakoikomi No Jikan 暗殺教室 囲い込みの時間 (iOS/Android) – 2015

Genre and official site:
Action – website

Comment:
Bandai Namco has yet again purchased the rights for a popular Japanese manga, this time for fantasy series “Assassination Classroom”. The game’s concept sounds interesting: players are supposed to “trap” enemies inside a triangle formed by three characters. Without giving more details, Bandai Namco even speaks of a new genre already, namely “kakoikomi games” (“kakoikomi” means enclosure in Japanese). The company is already accepting pre-registrations.

Screenshots:

SD Gundam Strikers SDガンダム ストライカーズ (iOS/Android) – coming soon

Genre and official site:
Action – website (English)

Comment:
Another Bandai Namco smartphone app announcement, another Gundam game. But wonders never cease: this time, the company is planning a release in Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other East Asian countries simultaneously and in English. More information on this “team battle action” game can be found on its offficial English-language website.

Screenshots:

——————————————————————————————————————————————————–

Sega Networks / Sega (6460)

Sonic Runners ソニック ランナーズ (iOS/Android) – spring 2015

Genre and official site:
Action – website (ENG)

Comment:
Sega is bringing another Sonic title to smartphones: Sonic Runners, which the company calls a “running/action” game. However, unlike previous entry Sonic Dash, this app will not be an endless runner but must be played stage by stage. According to Sega, users can expect 50 stages in the first version of Sonic Runners, with more likely to be added after release. The app has so far been confirmed for Japan only, but the rest of the world should follow soon.

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zohjxhYl53A

Squads – Saikyou No Kizuna スカッズ ～最凶の絆～ (iOS/Android) – fall 2014

Genre and official site:
Action – website

Comment:
There is a surprisingly large number of “gangster simulation” games available on smartphones in Japan (i.e. from Sega or Konami). For Squads, Sega is collaborating with publishing company Akita Shoten to create the story and a total of 200 “criminal characters” for the first version of the app. The company calls the game a battle RPG – but again, there are a lot of these apps out there already.

First artwork:

The World End Eclipse ワールド エンド エクリプス (iOS) – 2015

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
The World End Eclipse is announced as a so-called online theatrical RPG  in 3D that takes place in a fantasy world “destroyed by a war between dragons”. Details are scarce at this point, but Sega said the game’s PS Vita, iOS, and PC versions will be compatible (it will be free-to-play on all platforms). On December 25, 2014, the company postponed the release from winter 2014 to 2015.

Video:

Hortensia Saga – Ao No Kishidan オルタンシア・サーガ -蒼の騎士団- (iOS/Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
RPG – site not yet available

Comment:
First unveiled in September 2014, Hortensia Saga is meant to be a quasi follow-up to Sega Networks’ super hit Chain Chronicle. The company says that Hortensia Saga tries to differentiate itself from other RPGs through a deep story and its multi-player mode that lets players fight in 20 vs. 20 guild battles against each other, in real-time. What may sound impressive to non-Japanese ears has actually been done many times before in this country – but the app’s high production value (more impressions here), some gameplay features too detailed to mention here and Sega’s branding power could help make Hortensia Saga a hit.

Screenshot:

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Square Enix (9684)

released on February 17->
Arcadia No Aoki Miko アルカディアの蒼き巫女 (iOS/Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
Square Enix is currently silent on details on this title, which is announced as a “battle break RPG”.  The company also said that players can expect a whole cast of professional voice actresses to voice the characters inside the game.

Video:

released on February 12 ->
Final Fantasy Legends – Jikuu No Suishouファイナルファンタジーレジェンズ 時空ノ水晶 (iOS/Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
Announced during the “Final Fantasy for Smartphone 2015 New Work Announcement Conference” in November 2014, Square Enix says this Final Fantasy game will include time travel elements and appeal to fans of Super Nintendo RPGs, Chrono Trigger in particular.

Screenshot:

Final Fantasy Brave Exviusファイナルファンタジー ブレイブエクスヴィアス (iOS/Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
A-lim, the company behind mega hit Brave Frontier, is developing this game with Square Enix’ Hirono Kei as producer. Square Enix says that players can expect a totally new story and setting, with characters from previous Final Fantasy games. According to developer Alim, the goal is not just to offer a Final Fantasy-skinned Brave Frontier, but the first screenshots do indicate a strong similarity (and the game’s title is unfortunate in this sense, too).

Screenshots:

Mevius Final Fantasy メビウス ファイナルファンタジー (iOS/Android) – spring 2015

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
Square Enix is describing this entry in the Final Fantasy series as a “full-scale, high-quality” RPG, which has not “been seen on smartphones before” but will go back to the roots of the franchise in terms of gameplay. Not much else is known about the game at the moment, except for the fact that he producer, scenario writer and character designer have been working on previous Final Fantasy games.

First artwork:
 

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

KLab (3656)

Age of Empires: World Domination (iOS/Android) – 2015

Genre and official site:
Strategy – website

Comment:
Age of Empires: World Domination is the mobile version of Microsoft’s popular Age Of Empires PC game franchise. KLab will produce and distribute the app worldwide. The company pushed back the release date twice, first from summer to fall 2014, then again to 2015, saying it needs more time to increase quality. KLab’s stock price spiked when the company announced the Microsoft deal in June 2013.

Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOsK-ooTZGg

Glee Forever (iOS, Android) – coming soon

Genre and website:
Music – website (ENG)

Comment:
First teased in KLab’s Q3 FY2014 financial report, Glee Forever will be based on Glee, the musical comedy/drama TV series that’s popular around the world. KLab says it will use the IP for a music game (choosing such a genre makes sense) that will offer characters and the setting from the series. The company hopes that it can build on the experience it gained with its mega hit “Love Live”, a music game that is heavy on story and characters. As of now, the plan is to release the Glee game worldwide with the start of season 6 of the TV series, likely around September 2015.

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icsT4ODWkBk

BLEACH Brave Souls (iOS, Android) – spring 2015

Genre and website:
action – website

Comment:
This will not be the first mobile social game based on the Bleach manga and anime franchise, but based on the first material out, this 3D action game looks pretty promising. Not too surprisingly, BLEACH Brave Souls will share the same setting and characters with the manga. The app is the first of two such IP-based apps KLab is planning to release this year. Japanese rock band “Hello Sleepwalkers” is contributing to the soundtrack.

Video:

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Crooz (2138)

“Infinite Stratos”-based social game (iOS, Android) – coming soon

Genre and website:
TBA (likely RPG)

Comment:
In its latest earnings report, Crooz disclosed it has acquired, as the first company, the right to turn Japanese anime series Infinite Stratos into a mobile social game. Crooz hasn’t announced details, but it has successfully used popular IP for its games in the past. Infinite Stratos will be distributed through Mobage where pre-registration already started.

First artwork:

Crooz is also co-developing “Naruto – Shinobi Collection Shippuranbu” together with GREE (see above).

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Marvelous (7844)

Kunio-kun No Nekketsu Dodgeball All Stars!! くにおくんの熱血ドッジボール ALLSTARS!! – to be released on iOS this winter and on Android in spring 2015

Genre and official site:
Sports game – website

Comment:
Kunio-kun is a popular Japanese video game character created in the 1980s that has appeared in one dodgeball simulation after the other, first on consoles, later also on mobile devices and even the PC. This newest entry is sure to attract fans of the series, given Marvelous will keep the design “retro” and offer music and characters from previous Kunio-kun titles. Players will be able to pull off over 100 “killer” shots or create effective shots themselves and use them during matches.

Screenshot:

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

mobcast (3664)

entry updated with new details and release date ->
18 (Eighteen) 18（エイティーン）(iOS / Android) – February/March 2015

Genre and official site:
Puzzle game – website

Comment:
Announced way back in July 2014, this project is the brain child of  Tetsuya Mizuguchi. During its Q3 FY2014 earnings call, Mobcast explained that users can expect a “mysterious puzzle game” (direct translation) that will blend a story line, puzzle mechanics, and battle RPG elements. Using Mizuguchi’s background and star power, “18 (Eighteen)” will be released by Mobcast worldwide. In Japan, the company started accepting pre-registrations on February 10.

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=or0Zn_cYz8Q#t=46

 

Lumines ルミネス (iOS / Android) – coming soon

Genre and official site:
Puzzle game – site TBA

Comment:
The acclaimed puzzle video game series Lumines is getting its first smartphone version. The app will be star creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s third collaboration with Mobcast, following casino game Dragon Spin and puzzle game Eighteen. Mobcast says the app version will be tailor-made for phones and appeal to both Lumines fans and new users alike. The plan is to release the game worldwide.

First screenshot:

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Koei Tecmo (3635)

Guru Guru Dungeon No Nobunyaga ぐるぐるダンジョン のぶニャが (iOS/Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
This will be the latest entry in Koei Tecmo’s Nobunyaga “franchise”: the word Nobunyaga is a pun on the samurai Nobunaga – the “nya” indicates the character is a cat. As the title indicates, Guru Guru will be a dungeon RPG. Koei Tecmo says the game will have “slot battle mechanics” and use GPS, meaning users can get characters for the game based on where they play in real life.

Screenshots:

Nobunaga No Yabou 201x – 信長の野望 201X (iOS/Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
Nobunaga and Koei Tecmo again: this title will be a battle RPG (turn-based) that is set in “Japan in the year 201x”.

Screenshots:

Sangokushi Legion 三國志レギオン (iOS/Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
Strategy/RPG – website

Comment:
Not much is known about this title at this point, except that it will use hero characters from the historic “Records of the Three Kingdoms” and have a strong social component.

Video:

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Aeria (3758)

Prism Fantasia プリズムファンタジア ～精霊物語～ (iOS) – 2015

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
Prism Fantasia is an action RPG in full 3D that will be easy to control, according to Aeria. The first screenshots look a bit dull and there are many games like this out there, but that might change until release. In September 2014, Aeria announced that Prism Fantasia will be released sometime in 2015, not in summer 2014 as previously planned.

Screenshot (from Facebook):

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Altplus (3672)

Astral Gazer アストラルゲイザー (iOS/Android) – winter 2015

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
Not much is known about Astral Gazer, which Altplus calls a kawaii, easy-to play “fusion battle RPG” – except for the fact that players will be able to choose between 200 different characters when putting together a party.

Video:

———————————————————————————————————————————————————

Drecom (3793) 

new entry ->
BraveSwordxBlazeSoul ブレイブソード×ブレイズソウル (iOS/Android) – coming soon

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
Drecom subsidiary Grimoire is preparing an RPG – that is all the company has announced publicly about its next big game so far.

Video:

 

Please reach out via the contact form on the Kantan Games website or via email: serkan AT kantan-games.co.jp for a deeper assessment of specific content or companies.