Indie developer Yanako RPGs has announced that its dark, retro-styled monster-taming RPG Yami Kids will launch for PC via Steam on September 22. The studio also revealed that a sequel to its debut title, Dokimon Quest: II, is in the works, though no release window has been set yet. Both announcements were made on the Steam page for the original Dokimon Quest, according to RPG Site. The news was reported by Rpgsite.
The news comes as Yanako RPGs prepares to expand its monster-raising lineup. Yami Kids is described as a dark, retro-styled monster-taming RPG featuring over 80 Oni to collect, with a short story centered on twins Yuki and Yuumi Yami. Meanwhile, Dokimon Quest: II is set in Edo period Japan and promises a host of new features and improvements built on the studio’s new engine, MonTamer Maker.
To celebrate the announcements, the original Dokimon Quest is currently free on Steam until August 26. The game, which is also available on Xbox One and Nintendo Switch as Doki Monsters: Quest, has been localized into Japanese, French, Brazilian Portuguese, and Latin American Spanish. The new games, however, are so far only slated to be available in English.
Yami Kids: A Dark Twist on Monster Taming
Yami Kids blends retro graphics with modern quality-of-life settings and introduces a new twist on the classic monster-taming formula. Players can summon, collect, and train over 80 powerful Oni, engaging in classic monster-vs-monster turn-based duels. The game’s signature feature is the Shadow Duel, a deathmatch that only occurs at night against real rival Contractors and their Oni teams. Losing a Shadow Duel pulls the player into The Underworld, a realm filled with strange items, mysterious locations, and tasks that must be completed before returning to the world of the living.
The story follows twins Yuki and Yuumi Yami. Yuki is described as a dependable older brother (by about five minutes) with a sharp tongue, who will do anything to protect his “little” sister, even delving into the Underworld and back. Yuumi is the adorable younger sister with an unusual obsession with fire and creepy things, and her wacky personality is a direct reflection of the twins’ harsh upbringing in The Slums.
Dokimon Quest: II – Edo Period Adventure
Dokimon Quest: II takes players back in time to the Xelos region in 1855, 200 years before the first game. Set in Edo period Japan, the sequel’s story has players teaming up with villagers who found them, with the goal to “Save Maiko!” The game introduces a Buddy System that allows players to recruit companions with roles such as Trainers, Healers, and Merchants, each offering different benefits during travel and battles.
The sequel also includes a range of customization options, including movement preferences, difficulty settings, game visuals, battle options, and the partner that accompanies the player. In the Edo period, trading and bartering were more common than buying with money, so some items will rely on gathering, crafting, trading, or returning a favor. Players can also speed across the Xelos region using mounts on land, sea, and below sea, and dive into mysterious dungeons to unleash the Wilderness of certain Dokimon and discover new powers.
Additional features include a Letter System that deepens lore and storytelling while creating a memory trail, and customization for furniture, decor, and more for the player’s new home in Edo period Japan. The game promises smoother gameplay, updated systems, polished movement and interactions, all-new menus, and reworked moves and battles that are polished, balanced, expansive, intuitive, and faster than ever.
Built on MonTamer Maker
All three monster-raising RPG games from Yanako RPGs are being made with Montamer Maker, an engine derived from GameMaker. Dokimon Quest: II is specifically described as being built on the new and improved Dokimon engine “MonTamer Maker.” This engine appears to be a key part of the studio’s development approach, allowing them to create these retro-styled RPGs with modern enhancements.
While Yami Kids has a confirmed release date of September 22, Dokimon Quest: II remains without a release window. Fans of the original Dokimon Quest can grab it for free on Steam until August 26, and those interested in the new titles can wishlist them on Steam. As always, we’ll keep you updated as more details emerge.
