FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Forced Out of Japan, Dokimon Quest's Developer Is Making Two Games Set in Japan From Seoul
The studio behind Dokimon Quest, recently claimed nearly 2.5M times in a 48 hour giveaway, is making Dokimon Quest II, set in 1855 Edo period Japan, and Dokimon: The Living Soil in Seoul, South Korea
SEOUL - November 9, 2026 - After nearly two years of fighting to keep its business in Japan, Yanako RPGs, the studio behind the monster-taming RPG Dokimon Quest (over 100k sales) and Yami Kids, has closed its Tokyo offices and is looking at rebuilding in Seoul, South Korea, where its next two games are being made.
The studio had been based in Tokyo since October 2022. In a public post on October 1, head developer Yano wrote that it had become clear the studio would be unable to operate out of Japan: "Countless recent changes in the country and government have made it completely unpractical and unwelcome for our business." The move, Yano added, is "strictly a matter of business and business operations." The studio's statement adds that development continues and no delays are expected.
In Seoul, the studio hopes to "finally shift back into putting all of our time and resources into game development, for the first time in the better part of nearly two years." Its next two games are both set in Japan: Dokimon Quest II, the sequel, takes the story to 1855 Edo period Japan, and Dokimon: The Living Soil is a cozy farming spin-off set in Gunma, planned for Steam Early Access. "We love Japan, and Korea," Yano wrote, and the studio will keep supporting the Japanese language and going to events in Japan where it can.
Yanako RPGs is working on a double Kickstarter for the two games, with the pre-launch page open now, and both can be wishlisted on Steam: Dokimon Quest II and Dokimon: The Living Soil.
"We're rebuilding in Seoul, South Korea, and both of our next games, Dokimon Quest II and The Living Soil, are being made right here," says Yano, head developer at Yanako RPGs.
CONTEXT
- Official statement from Yanako RPGs (X, Nov 9, 2026)
- Developer context: Yano's initial statement on leaving Japan (X, Oct 1, 2026)
- Update from Yano (X, Nov 9, 2026)
- Kickstarter pre-launch page: Dokimon Quest II + Dokimon: The Living Soil
KEY FEATURES
- TRAVEL back to Edo period Japan in 1855 in Dokimon Quest II, nearly 200 years in the past, to finish what you started: "Save Maiko!"
- BATTLE in fights remade from scratch, with a battle camera (can be turned off), result cards and optional battle tips.
- RETIRE from Dokimon Ranger duty in Dokimon: The Living Soil and move to a small town in the Haruna region of Gunma, Japan, to build a quieter life with your Dokimon crew.
- GROW crops where the secret is in the soil, dive into caves in search of treasure, and pick up real-world farming and soil know-how if you want it.
- COLLECT 140+ original Dokimon across the Xelos region in Dokimon Quest, out now on Steam, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android.
- DUEL after dark in the Shadow Duels of Yami Kids, where losing drags you below, and the bargain you make to get back follows the story to its ending.
SCREENSHOTS
ABOUT YANAKO RPGS
Yanako RPGs is the studio of head developer Yano, creator of Dokimon Quest and Notice Me, Leena-senpai. The studio continues to innovate with retro-styled RPGs and monster taming titles, including Yami Kids, out now on Steam, the newly announced Dokimon Quest II, and Dokimon: The Living Soil, a cozy farming spin-off planned for Steam Early Access.
Follow Yanako RPGs on Twitter / X (https://x.com/yano_gamedev) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/yanako_rpgs/)
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Developer Yano is available for interview.
Press kit: https://www.yanakorpgs.com/press
MEDIA CONTACT
yano, Yanako RPGs - yanakorpgs@gmail.com
TEL: +1 727 598 8685
(c) 2026 Yanako RPGs. All Rights Reserved.