Despite having been downloaded more than a million times in North America, GungHo Online Entertainment’s RPG/puzzle blend Puzzle & Dragons, or Pazudora as it’s more commonly known in its native Japan, is still considered something of a niche title in the Western world. The game combines elements of traditional tile-matching puzzle games such as Puyo Puyo and online favourite Bejeweled with the trading and stat-building elements of classic Japanese RPGs, topped off with a sprinkle of Pokémon-esque companion monsters to collect and trade.
The game is currently one of Japan’s most played mobile games and is almost entirely responsible for its makers’ US$763 million of total sales in the first half of 2013 alone, with more than 17 million active players in Japan today. Following on from this success, a 3DS version of the game was recently announced and is due to go on sale on December 12 this year. Reports suggest, however, that the 3DS version will be slightly different in order to protect younger gamers from the microtransaction system that the game has become synonymous with.
Japan enters Golden Week vacation period, survey shows one in three plan to ride it out at home
Japan’s new Pokémon jackets give you the look and powers of the Kanto starter trio
Studio Ghibli releases new anime keychains that are like miniature figurines
New smartphone game turns car models into anime girls with model-worthy looks
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Mitsubishi’s solution for stressed office workers in Japan: fake skylight video displays
Fried sandwiches arrive in Tokyo, become hot topic on social media
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Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
New Kyoto Converse sneakers celebrate Japan with traditional kimono fabrics for your feet
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Studio Ghibli launches huge new anime movie T-shirt collection with special design details
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Japan is so hungry for workers it used up its five-year visa quota in record time
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Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
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Japan’s best conveyor belt sushi restaurant of seven years ago has now, finally, come to Tokyo
Brand-new Pokémon manhole covers coming to help the recovery of a disaster-stricken part of Japan
Japan’s awesomely beautiful Alpen Route snow corridor is now open
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Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
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No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Mitsubishi’s solution for stressed office workers in Japan: fake skylight video displays
Fried sandwiches arrive in Tokyo, become hot topic on social media
Seats descend from ceiling on Japanese train to provide extra comfort for passengers【Video】
Tifa’s Final Fantasy VII bar is going to pop up in real-world Tokyo
Brand-new Square Enix Cafe to open in Tokyo…and in Los Angeles too!
McDonald’s and Gundam team up for customized anime mecha and fried chicken sandwiches[Video]
Learn Japanese through ridiculous manga: Two Piece 【Episode #1】
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Cat paw yoghurt is now a thing in Japan
Takoyaki makers surprisingly good at grilling meat for yakiniku too
Massive manga mural takes over Tokyo station to celebrate Jujutsu Kaisen【Photos】
We eat Kyoto’s best-loved noodle dish at the restaurant that invented it
Turn your bad drawings into gorgeous anime and manga characters!
Sushi for breakfast? Our under-1,000-yen breakfast with Hama Sushi’s new morning menu
