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)

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:

released on November 14 ->
JK Vampire – Unmei No Festa JKヴァンパイア～運命のフェスタ～ (iOS/Android) – fall 2014

Genre and official site:
simulation – website

Comment:
In this fantasy sim, players take on the role of a teacher in a high school attended by female students with magical powers. At the beginning of the game, users receive an “egg” that has to be evolved into a student over time: depending on the actions of the players and how they communicate with their character, she can turn into a nurse after graduation, a celebrity or (the ultimate goal) a “princess”. DeNA says one selling point of JK Vampire is that pro voice actresses will be used to make the communication part more realistic.

First artwork:

Nanatsu No Daizai (The Seven Deadly Sins) 七つの大罪 (iOS/Android) – beginning of 2015

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
DeNA is preparing the first game based on “The Seven Deadly Sins”, a manga series that started in Japan in 2012. As to be expected, it will use the same setting and characters as the manga. DeNA is already accepting pre-registrations for the app, which is announced as a “battle RPG” and likely to be distributed through the Mobage platform. Osaka-based Racjin is handling development.

First artwork:

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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:

PROJECT TIAMAT (iOS, Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
Project Tiamat is a new smartphone app announced as part of GREE’s Tokyo Game Show 2014 lineup. Details are still being kept under wraps, but the company is already accepting pre-registrations.

First promo 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:

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GungHo Online Entertainment (3765)

released on November 18 ->
Heroes’ Fortress Bagoon!! 勇者トリデ BAGOOON!! (iOS/Android) – November 2014

Genre and website:
Strategy/Action – website

Comment:
This strategy game was announced as a “surprise” in GungHo’s latest financial report. The company’s first description in English states: “Break enemy’s fortress to get the treasure.Take and be taken, and then build the strongest fortress!” Bagoon is currently being developed at GungHo subsidiary Acquire (which also plans to release the game for PS Vita this winter).

Video:

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LINE Corp.

LINE Legion of Heroes LINE 英雄の軍団 (iOS/Android) – fall 2014

Genre and official site:
Strategy/RPG – website TBA

Comment:
Not much is known about Legion Of Heroes at the moment, but this seems to be the LINE version of Nexon’s mobile game of the same name.

Screenshot:

LINE Trio LINE トリオ (iOS/Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
puzzle game – website

Comment:
LINE Trio is a match-3 puzzle game with a progression map that will offer 140 levels at launch. Just like with previous casual puzzle games LINE Pop, LINE Bubble or LINE Sweets, LINE Trio will make use of the chat app’s cute characters.

Screenshots:

released on November 11 ->
LINE Albion Senki LINE アルビオン戦記 (iOS/Android) – fall 2014

Genre and official site:
Strategy/RPG – website

Comment:
LINE continues to move into the midcore segment with LINE Albion, which will be the first strategy/RPG hybrid (“simulation” in Japanese) game to hit the messenger app. Developed by Korea’s YD Online, the title will let users choose one of five different hero characters at the start. The goal is then to assemble and equip a party and move from stage to stage by clearing battles and increasing the characters’ stats. LINE says that there will be raid boss battles each weekend that will reward successful users with special items. LINE Albion will come a chat function, but other than that, it’s not clear yet which other social features players can expect.

Screenshot:

Note: LINE Corp. is not yet listed but will (probably) be next year.

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CyberAgent (4751)

Mogura 『土竜（もぐら）』(iOS, Android) – October 2014

Genre and official site:
Puzzle – website

Comment:
Mogura is an interesting take on the ubiquitous match-3 puzzle genre: it mixes the usual mechanics from those games with mahjong. Players move from stage to stage on a Japan map by beating rivals. Pre-registration has already started.

Screenshots:

School Fanfare スクールファンファーレ (iOS/Android) – winter 2014

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.

Logo and first artwork:

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:

new entry ->
“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:

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Mixi (2121)

Monster Stadium ンスト モスタジアム (iOS/Android) – TBA

Genre and official site:
TBA

Comment:
Monster Stadium was teased in Mixi’s latest financial report as a “new project” that builds upon the popularity of Monster Strike, the company’s mega hit RPG. Gameplay details are being kept secret for now, but comments from Mixi suggest Monster Stadium will focus more on battles between players – which is interesting, as Monster Strike itself doesn’t offer a PvP mode. 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.

First artwork:

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Konami (9766)

Chronos Ring クロノスリング (iOS/Android) – fall 2014

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
Konami is developing this 3D RPG together with hardcore RPG specialist Tri-Ace and first announced it at the Tokyo Game Show 2014. Not much is known at the moment about Chronos Ring , but the app will be based on an entirely new IP and feature music contributed by famous Japanese artists.

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EbZ9imPzNQ

Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu 実況パワフルプロ野球 (iOS/Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
Sports – website

Comment:
Konami continues to milk its popular Jikkyou Powerful Pro Yakyuu franchise of cute baseball games that started way back in 1994 on the Super Nintendo. The series made the jump to Japanese feature phones on 2007 and saw quite a few mobile versions since then. This new app is endorsed by Masahiro Tanaka from the New York Yankees. Konami is already accepting pre-registrations.

Screenshots:

Kingdom Dragonian キングダムドラゴニオン (iOS/Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
Strategy – website

Comment:
Konami first announced Kingdom Dragonian as part of its Tokyo Game Show 2014 mobile lineup. It will be a strategy game based on new IP and come with a new kind of battle system.

First artwork:

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:

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Bandai Namco (7832)

Summon Night Memories サモンナイト メモリーズ (iOS/Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
Almost unknown outside Japan, Summon Night is a strategy RPG franchise Bandai Namco started on consoles in 2000. The company says that Summon Night Memories will belong to the same genre and have the same setting as previous games in the series, just optimized for smartphones and with a F2P business model.

Screenshots:

Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle ドラゴンボールZドッカンバトル (iOS/Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
Action – website

Comment:
First unveiled during Tokyo Game Show 2014, Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle is the next smartphone game to be based on the classic Dragon Ball anime and manga franchise. In contrast to previous Dragon Ball apps, this one will be offered F2P. Announced as a “battle action game”, Bandai is planning to not only offer Dokkan Battle in Japan but also America, Europe, and Asia.

Video:

Sword Art Online – Code Register ソードアート・オンライン コード・レジスタ (iOS/Android) – 2014

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
This will be the first mobile game (apart from the Vita title) based on the popular light novel and anime series Sword Art Online, which takes place in various MMORPG worlds. Code Register will use the same settings and characters and focus on the battles. The big selling point here is the hit IP, Bandai Namco’s specialty when it comes to making mobile games. gumi is co-developing.

Screenshots:

released on November 14 ->
One Piece Dance Battle (iOS/Android) – 2014

Genre and official site:
Music – website

Comment:
Bandai Namco continues to milk the One Piece IP: this time, the super-popular anime and manga series will be used for a “rhythm game”. Players face various characters from One Piece in dance-offs and need to push a total of five different buttons placed on the bottom of the screen at the right time. If the rhythm is right, players deal damage to opponents, build up combos and deliver a final blow when the combo gauge is full.

Screenshots:

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Sega Networks / Sega (6460)

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) – winter 2014

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).

Video:

Dragon Parade ドラゴンパレード (iOS/Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
RPG – site not yet available

Comment:
Dragon Parade was first unveiled in the latest earnings report of Axel Mark (3624) as a “mystery release”, causing the company’s share price to spike a day later (Axel Mark is co-developing). During a press conference in September 2014, Sega detailed that the game will be an action RPG with a heavy focus on battles and communication between users. Gameplay footage can be shared on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube right from the app. Axel Mark and Sega Networks plan to release Dragon Parade in Japan and worldwide.

Screenshots:

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:

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Square Enix (9684)

released on November 19 ->
Kairi Sei Million Arthur 乖離性ミリオンアーサー (iOS/Android) – 2014

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
This is the follow up to one of Square Enix’ earliest mobile-only hits, “Diffusion One Million Arthur” (which never made it outside Japan and Korea). Just like the predecessor, Kairi Sei is a quest-based RPG that was designed for smartphones from scratch. Early information and material from the game suggests that Square has de-emphasized the card element in favor or a more traditional battle system and drastically increased production value (voice acting, theme song, etc.). The company has just started accepting pre-registrations.

Screenshot:

new entry ->
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:

new entry ->
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:

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KLab (3656)

Monster & Slots – Slots n’ Slash モンスター＆スロット -Slots n’ Slash (iOS/Android) – November 2014

Genre and official site:
Casino/adventure – website

Comment:
Published by KLab’s Manila-based subsidiary KLab Cyscorpions, “Monster & Slots – Slots n’ Slash” is trying to combine casino game with simple adventure mechanics (details on the popularity of the hybrid casino sub genre in Japan can be found here). The screen is split in half with the lower bottom showing the slot machine and the top half showing the adventure and action part. Users must spin the reel to kill monsters and earn coins that are needed to continue playing. New stages and equipment can be unlocked by killing boss characters. Slots n’ Slash is already available in the Philippines App Store.

Video:

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

released on November 13 ->
Crystal Fantasia クリスタルファンタジア (iOS/Android) – winter 2014

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
Crystal Fantasia is being marketed as a side-scrolling action RPG, even though the first gameplay video below suggests it might be more of an endless runner. The game will let players assemble parties, train and evolve characters, and also battle bosses at the end of missions.

Video:
http://youtu.be/EmRROTb24j0

new entry ->
“Glee”-based mobile game (iOS, Android) – coming soon

Genre and website:
Music – website TBA

Comment:
First teased in KLab’s Q3 FY2014 financial report, this yet to be named title 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 (which 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.

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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).

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Marvelous (7844)

NBA Clutch Time (iOS/Android) – November 2014

Genre and official site:
Sports – website

Comment:
Marvelous isn’t exactly known for sports games, but the company has acquired the rights for a basketball management simulation that features all of the NBA’s 30 teams and 500 players (including several retired star players). What’s interesting is that a US or European release hasn’t been announced yet. Instead, the game will be released in Japan in November first, followed by other Asian countries like Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and others later.

Video:
http://youtu.be/jvYk7_nE-K0

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mobcast (3664)

Dragon Spin Z ドラゴン★スピンZ (iOS/Android) – December 2014

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
Dragon Spin Z is a mix between RPG and social casino (slot) game and a co-production between mobcast’s Japan and Korea offices. The plan is to distribute Dragon Spin Z in Asia, including China, which should be the case after the Japan launch. I covered mobile social casino hybrids in Japan here. Most have failed, but this one has a big selling point: the producer is legendary creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi (ex-Sega, see below).

Screenshots:

 

18 (Eighteen) 18（エイティーン）(iOS / Android) – December 2014/January 2015

Genre and official site:
Puzzle game – site TBA

Comment:
Announced way back in July, 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.

First screenshots:

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Capcom (9697)

Street Fighter Puzzle Spirits ストリートファイター パズルスピリッツ (iOS / Android) – winter 2014

Genre and offical site:
Puzzle game – website

Comment:
After Capcom cloned Candy Crush with Snoopy Drops just a few weeks ago, it’s now Puzzle & Dragons‘ turn. Just like with the GungHo game, the screen splits in half: while the puzzle action takes place on the bottom, the top shows the RPG part. If the player pulls off a combo, their Street Fighter character attacks the enemy with a special skill. Capcom says that the game will include a number of Street Fighter characters, just in cute form, such as Ryu, Ken, Chun Li, and even Akuma.

Screenshots:

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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:

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Ateam (3662)

Unison League ユニゾンリーグ (iOS/Android) – release date TBA

Genre and official site:
RPG – website

Comment:
Previously known as “project Unison”, maker Ateam has revealed a few more details and artwork for its next big game in September 2014. The Nagoya-based company says Unison League will let players choose between 5 different character classes (archers, mages, etc.) and battle against each other in real-time, probably using a guild system. Unison League’s Android version is currently in closed beta.

Screenshots:

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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):

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.