Japanese game - suitable 10 year old boy

[jkELG]

Learning about Japan. Want to surprise him with a game - boardgames, card game, or preferably interactive and fun. Genuine Japanese game preferred.

Thanks for any recommendations.

Shogi? It's like chess.

Do you mean like a game where it's written all in Japanese or a game from Japan with English instructions?

Thanks @Kpo58 Definitely with English instructions.

Currently on offer @jkELG , Sushi Go

Tokaido is a fun board game, it’s about a journey in Japan. The aim is to have the best experience, you don’t win but getting to the end first.

Thank you @BartokRules This is the game I will go for.

Oh good! We play the iPad version too.

If she likes Fall Guys and light, fun games, you’ve got loads of great options for 9–10-year-olds. A few really popular ones this year are Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Wonder, and Luigi’s Mansion 3 — all super kid-friendly and easy to get into.
If she enjoyed the cooking game, she’ll probably love Overcooked 2 or Kirby and the Forgotten Land. Both are colourful, simple, and great for younger players.
My niece is around the same age and these have been her absolute favourites. They’re perfect for kids who aren’t “serious gamers” but still enjoy fun, interactive games. https://thecupcut.com/

I also want to recommend Tokaido. We have the board game version. It’s really beautifully designed, with nice illustrations. It’s a great family game - not very competitive but it’s not easy to win, you collect experiences along the way and have to make some strategic decisions as it’s not possible to max them all.

My family likes the Ticket To Ride Board game. If you have the base set ( Ticket to Europe or US) there is a Japan expansion edition where you invest in and "ride" the bullet train around the country.

If you want a fun puzzle type PC game then Nacy drew: Shadow at the Water's Edge is set in Kyoto and involves being a detective, completing challenges to get clues such as tea ceremonies and calligraphy.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/200080/Nancy_Drew_Shadow_at_the_Waters_Edge/

Think I counted at least 4 AI generated posts with either the most tenuous link to games referencing Japan, or no link at all 😂

Thanks OP for starting the thread, and thank you to @BartokRules too. My nephew's birthday later this month and he's studying Japanese, so Tokaido absolutely answers my dilemma about what to buy him!

Japanese games can be a great choice for kids because many of them focus on story, creativity, and exploration rather than intense competition. Some titles even have a very colorful, animated style that younger players really enjoy. For example, games like Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch are often recommended because of their friendly art style and adventure-based gameplay. I’ve also seen kids enjoy sandbox-style mobile games after reading a Toca Life World creative gameplay guide, since those kinds of games let them build stories and explore freely without pressure.

omg What’s with all the AI replies?!

We have the Japan ticket to ride expansion and it’s good fun.

What weird responses 🙄😱

Sushi Go Party is the bigger version of the one suggested by @Arregaithel - it's good fun but be warned that the instructions make it so SO much more complicated than it is! We got it during COVID and I remember needing a lie down after, but maybe my tolerance levels were lower...

Never heard of Tokaido but it sounds excellent, will look that up. Ticket to Ride is a classic - there's a good games shop in Durham that has absolutely loads of the different country expansion packs, I bet it's online too. Also Zatu Games in Norwich is v good for this kind of thing, even just buying online, as they have lots of reviews and "If you liked this, you might like this" suggestions. They often have offers on too.

Shogi is a good one, but just a warning, my 8 year old can play chess, but shogi is too complicated for him to fully remember all the pieces. So your son may have some trouble, especially as they are written in Kanji.

Wow, some combination of words in this thread really attracts the bots.