One Of 2025’s Best-Reviewed Games Has Quietly Released On Switch Today

2025 has proven to be a remarkably packed year for video games — Hades II, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Clair Obscur, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Split Fiction are merely a few titles that have achieved an over 90 average on OpenCritic. However, before Hades II made its appearance, there was one game that towered above the others, and you might not have even heard of it.

Shujinkou debuted on PC via Steam and PS5 earlier this year, and the Switch version is available today (2nd October) on the eShop for £26.99 / $29.99 (or your local equivalent). The port was actually revealed about a month prior, but amidst the chaos of September, it completely went unnoticed!

Crafted by Rice Games, a studio established by Julian Rice, Shujinkou is a dungeon-crawling RPG where players can also learn to speak and write in Japanese. Those with a fair understanding of Japanese may recognize that the very title translates to ‘Protagonist’, and the three central characters are all named Shu, Jin, and Kou.

However, imparting Japanese knowledge isn’t the principal aim — while it is incorporated into the gameplay, it’s entirely voluntary, and Julian Rice has remarked in interviews that “It is not designed as a Japanese language learning tool”. This is primarily a video game influenced by Etrian Odyssey.

If you’re keen on the RPG elements, this summary from the eShop should assist:

Mastering Japanese is completely optional. For those who are more inclined toward the adventure, Shujinkou offers a rich role-playing experience:

• Navigate through intricate mazes and unravel puzzles from a first-person viewpoint.
• Engage in tactical turn-based combat that evolves over time.
• Switch to “English-Only” mode at any moment to concentrate solely on the gameplay experience.
• Acquire hundreds of Arawasu abilities and discover powerful items.
• Craft numerous distinctive weapons and armors, each accompanied by unique descriptions.
• Fish for a broad array of aquatic creatures at various picturesque locations.
• Undertake 100 side quests that delve into and enhance the diverse inhabitants of Genya.
• Participate in six minigames hosted by members of the Fuu Lobby.
• Reflect on your adventure through the Art Gallery and Jukebox.

Having been in development for more than six years, what truly distinguishes Shujinkou is its additional, seamless incorporation of Japanese language acquisition. Whether you’re here solely for the adventure or to finally learn Japanese through an authentic video game, the opportunity to acquire a challenging, real-world skill makes Shujinkou stand out in the already-crowded genre of remarkable role-playing games.

The title currently holds a 94 on OpenCritic after 9 evaluations, and a 90 on Metacritic following 6 assessments. That’s not an overwhelming number, but it is significant, as many of those assessments are highly favorable.

“Shujinkou is an outstanding game, easily making its way into my top JRPGs,” states Noisy Pixel in its review. Digitally Downloaded echoed this sentiment, affirming “It’s a creative, thoughtful concept and I hope people give it a chance despite its indie nature.” Similarly, RPGFan describes the game as “one of the most ambitious indie projects I’ve ever experienced.”

Clearly that’s just a selection of opinions (there are a few lower ratings included) and on Steam, it has only accrued 14 evaluations. Yet the combination of mechanics alone piques our interest. Shujinkou, we are watching you closely.

Have you experienced Shujinkou? Will you be purchasing this on Switch today? Share your thoughts in the comments.