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Whenever a new system launches, debates also ensue about if it’s worth buying right away. Partially due to the quality of the console itself. But the titles that launch alongside it can also make or break a debut. While the Switch 2 launch library might not seem as exciting in some ways, I think it ended up being a really solid collection of games you can play for weeks, months, and in the case of some years to come. 

One criticism going in to the Switch 2 is the flagship launch title is Mario Kart World. As of March 31, 2025, the Nintendo IR site noted Mario Kart 8 Deluxe sold over 68.2 million units on Switch 2, Mario Kart 8 sold 8.46 million on Wii U, Mario Kart Wii sold 37.38 million on Wii, Mario Kart 7 sold 18.99 million on 3DS, and Mario Kart DS ended up at 23.6 million on DS. Financially, it makes sense. Over multiple console and handheld generations, we see the demand at a glance. Also, given what happened with the Switch installment and room for growth, I think we’ll absolutely see a Booster Course or some other sort of ongoing update schedule. This is the company coming in with a title that will be huge at launch, enjoyed alone or with others, and probably ed for a few years.

Next is that we actually do have some entirely “new” launch window games for the Switch 2 that add incredibly lengthy experiences to the library. I played Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma. That could easily be a 30-40 hour game just from the campaign and before you get into the daily life, find a partner and settle down, enjoy the post-game with a virtual family experience. Moreover, the Switch 2 experience even without the upgrade pack is making me reconsider only giving it an 8 when I wrote the Switch review, because it’s closer to a 9 on the new system. Deltarune Chapters 3 & 4 is something I’m going through now, and it’s also a solid commitment. FAST Fusion ended up being a great budget racer in the series with a lot of replayability and, honestly, the kind of challenge is that is sort of missing in Mario Kart World single-player sometimes. While I’m sure it won’t be game of the year material, Tamagotchi Plaza is going to fill that launch minigame collection hole that folks invest in when they want something silly and short to play with others. Even though Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time came out on other platforms a bit ahead of Switch 2, this is a 10/10 game that makes you feel like you’re only scratching the surface after 100 hours. It’s a huge “get” for a new console.

Besides, we also need to consider the value of the HD remasters and definitive editions of games coming to the Switch 2 at launch. While these are returning titles, I think three are exceptionally valuable here. Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster is an updated release of one of the most creative JRPGs Square Enix released in the last 10 years, and it is still absolutely captivating. It looks fantastic with the updated graphics. The single-screen version works great! Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut’s extra story and multiplayer modes are pleasant extras for what I consider my favorite entry in the series. (The story is so much fun.) Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is going to bring an underrated Shin Megami Tensei spin-off to modern systems for the first time so soon and, as I said in my preview, it’s a wonderful game that deserves this second change at a wider audience.

Even the bad games in the Switch 2 launch library offer their own type of value. Survival Kids isn’t a good Lost in Blue installment, but it is the type of title adults or older kids could play with younger children to get them adjusted to the console. It’s also one of the first examples of the GameShare mechanic, offering a bit of a proof of concept to show how sharing one game among multiple local consoles could work in a low-stress, no-consequence environment. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour isn’t all that much fun and should have been either $5 or free, but it does offer a lot of insights into why the company made certain design decisions via quizzes and tech demo minigame examples. 

As for the ports, they represent a really well-rounded bunch of genres. Whenever a new Nintendo console or handheld’s shown up, it’s often been accompanied by versions of titles that past systems couldn’t. With the Switch 2 launch games, we are both seeing that and getting titles that might’ve had issues on other handhelds like a Steam Deck getting a specific version tailored to this type of experience. Street Fighter 6: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition does that! It looks fantastic, even with compromises. Plus, it involved the motion control mode that could provide a workout. Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition is something of a wonder. It runs way better than I expected. Sid Meier's Civilization VII - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition fits the bill with integrated mouse controls. And, like many of the new titles, they’re lengthy games that take up dozens of hours. 

I’d even consider all of the upgrade pack games valuable of the Switch 2 launch library. In each case, titles are running better than ever. For those who might’ve skipped the Switch 2, it’s a wealth of proven games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, Super Mario Odyssey, and Xenoblade Chronicles 3 that will work better than before. With paid expansions for Kirby and the Forgotten Land and Super Mario Party Jamboree, it’s adding major content updates with more to do. These are opportunities to maybe see how great games become even more wonderful with added power and adjustments behind them. 

The Switch 2 launch library is packed with great games. There might not be as many first-party endeavors immediately available, beyond Mario Kart World, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, but every other element is filled with lengthy, well-executed, and meaningful games that showcase the system’s capabilities and could keep us occupied for hundreds of hours.

The Switch 2 is available now worldwide. 

The post There’s Nothing Wrong With the Switch 2 Launch Games Library appeared first on Siliconera.

Dash Food is one of the more fun surprises in Mario Kart World. Grab a meal, get a speed boost and maybe a costume! I have sacrificed first or second place in a race to ensure someone gets a snack when I know I’m missing one of their outfits. But there’s one tragedy here. You can’t dress up Cow in costumes in Mario Kart World, and it’s one of Nintendo’s greatest failings in an otherwise exemplary game. 

For my first full day with the Switch 2 and Mario Kart World, I only used Cow. Cow is wonderful. I love everything about her. But I also know I missed so many opportunities when I did. Lots of other characters can get variants with new outfits via Dash Food, and it might be fun to use this early unlocking push to also get those costumes. 

I had fun doing it! Especially with characters such as Peach, Daisy, and Rosalina, as I knew all three had pretty decent wardrobes to start. However, as I did so, I also started to feel bad. Why?

Because Cow deserves costumes in Mario Kart World. 

Nintendo knew ahead of time Cow is a standout. Cow is the reason NPCs and certain enemies got to be playable characters in Mario Kart World. From the moment Cow ended up being confirmed, she’s been the talk of the town. Her not getting her own outfits is a travesty.

I found it especially disheartening once I started unlocking costumes for other Mario Kart World characters who are enemies or weren’t drivers before. Lakitu? He’s got two costumes. King Boo gets three extra variants. Poor Cow gets nothing. 

Now, I know there could be excuses (bad ones) for Cow being neglected and denied costumes in Mario Kart World. She’s a cow. Sure. But again, that doesn’t stop King Boo. There could be cute collars for her or a hat. 

Especially since we know Cow can wear a hat. She will don a crown, just like everyone else, once you come in first in Grand Prix or Knockout Tour to show your achievement for getting first place. Give her a straw farmer hat similar to Peach’s! Let her get a cute bow like Birdo! Give her a permanent tiara like the queen she is! 

Cow deserves to dress up and be pretty in Mario Kart World, and Nintendo should acknowledge that by giving her costumes in an update. Let her wear fun hats! Give her necklaces! Maybe she could wear a cape! Don’t limit her and those of us who love her!

Mario Kart World is available for the Switch 2. 

The post Give Cow Costumes in Mario Kart World, Nintendo! appeared first on Siliconera.

Unpacking set something of a trend with cozy puzzle games by offering ambient storytelling as we engaged in activities, and Instants builds on that in a similar way by adding scrapbooking to the mix. We’re organizing things yet again. However, this time it involves logic puzzles that requiring finding the correct order of events for images to create a chronologically correct scrapbook. How much you get out of the experience depends on the investment you put into it.

While Unpacking leaves character identities and finer details up in the air, we’re more certain of who we are and what’s going on in the puzzle game Instants. Our character enjoys making scrapbooks. Family and friends come to us to create collections based on supplied images, postcards, and memories. We can check and see who the “cast” involved are. It’s also possible to read cards and the backs of pictures for additional details. In each case, we need to put everything together to commemorate special moments.

If you want to go through Instants rather quickly, it is absolutely possible by ignoring the decoration element of the scrapbooking game. After all, it involves just dumping pictures in proper chronological places. Someone just in it for the logic puzzles can sometimes jam in all the pictures onto two or four pages without any additional decoration or fanfare. As you do, you’ll see lines appear that dictate accuracy in your recording. Green ones show the proper order is maintained. Any color other than green is an alert that you’ve gotten things mixed up and need to swap things around to ensure the pacing is preserved. 

Order goes from upper left to bottom right, so people putting four photos or items on a page will need to put the first in the upper left corner, the second in the upper right, the third in the bottom left, and fourth in the bottom right, and so on. From what I saw, Instants is very good at determining accuracy, just like Unpacking was with items, so I never had an issue when arranging items. Also, the Steam Deck and handheld gaming PCs are ed, so it’s easy to play on the go.

However, I think Instants is a game best played by someone who has a lot of free time and genuinely enjoys scrapbooking and organizing photo albums. There are a lot of creative elements for decorating and labeling pictures in the album. The assignments tend to involve special moments, families, or occasions. As such, it really leans into trying to go all out and have fun with it. Since I went through it for a playtest, I couldn’t take that type of time with it. But I actually am going back through it at a much slower pace, which is the ideal way to play, and genuinely having fun decorating the virtual books.

Instants takes the same sort of puzzle approach as indie darling Unpacking, and it works for this cozy game! Someone in it for the challenge can speed through, taking in visual and written clues to find right answers. People who want to take their time and absorb themselves in the simulation can ease into it. Especially since there are a lot of decorative elements and you aren’t limited by number of pages. It’s quite pleasant and offers a peek into people’s lives.

Instants is available on the Switch and PC via Steam. 

The post Instants Scrapbooking Game Relies on Context Clues and Logic appeared first on Siliconera.

Naruto, Naruto Shippuden, Boruto, and Boruto: Two Blue Vortex are all series that highlight the growth of young ninjas placed in extraordinary situations throughout the course of the manga and anime series. However, in the case of this sequel series’ second part, I’m starting to think it might be even better at highlighting that development. The way in which Boruto matured from the first half to the second is so striking, and the recently released second volume of Two Blue Vortex especially highlights different ways in which he’s grown up over the course of all these chapters.

Editor’s Note: There will be spoilers for volume 2 of the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga below. 102s59

Throughout the first volume of the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga, we already started to see Boruto Uzumaki’s development. He’s working alongside Sasuke Uchiha to train. He’s understanding what’s happened in the world. He’s accepted needing to stay on the outskirts, even if it also means rushing in to help the people who falsely consider him an enemy. His thoughts on Kawaki’s motives and willingness to find a solution that could result in a situation that mirrored Naruto and Sasuke’s show it as well. But now that the second volume is here, it’s even more obvious how much he’s changed over the time-skip.

A big part of that comes up at the very outset of the second volume. We see an immediate parallel between his early training with Sasuke after the events in the first part of the series and the second. As the Divine Trees attack, he witnesses what happened to his master attempting to protect him. He made a commitment upon seeing his absorbed body. Especially since Sasuke asked him to protect Sarada. So at the very beginning, we’re seeing the level of respect he has for this man and the commitments he’s willing to make. 

Part of assuming that responsibility also shows the level of courage Boruto now possesses as of Two Blue Vortex. We always knew Naruto’s son was brave. However, at this point he’s willing to go to Konohagakure and risk attacks and capture so he can find Sarada and tell her what happened to her father. He is aware of the possible consequences. However, his relationship with the Uchiha family, assumption of the duty assigned to him, and respect for her and her father means he’s willing to risk it all. It’s quite telling.

So is the tact and intelligence he displays while there. Shikamaru Naru, the acting hokage following the incident involving Naruto, becomes aware of the effect of Eida’s Omnipotence and the fact that everyone’s memories has been tampered with. This is partially due to listening to Sumire Kakei and Amado Sanzu. He doesn’t behave rashly, and instead communicates in a mature fashion with Shikamaru. He takes the time to explain things, even if it might not make a difference. He’s never rash, showing how much he’s grown as an individual and over the course of the series. 

This extends to an encounter with Mitsuki. Mitsuki is enraged, due to Omnipotence and Kawaki’s influence. Boruto understands. He’s aware of it. He doesn’t behave in a hostile manner or go on an all-out attack in response. Instead, he’s extraordinarily kind in this encounter. He helps explain, even though Mitsuki is rightfully experiencing all sorts of emotions. He takes a chance and trusts him. 

In a way, I feel like these latest two volumes of the Boruto: Two Blue Vortex manga are offering even more insight and explanation into how unique Boruto is compared to his father. His growth as an individual is extraordinary. I’d say he’s more mature at this age than Naruto ever was, partially due to the circumstances. But it’s also due to who he is as an individuals. It really helps define this second part of the series and character.

Volumes 1 and 2 of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex are available now, and Viz Media hasn’t shared a release date for the third volume of the manga yet.

The post Boruto: Two Blue Vortex Manga Volume 2 Shows Boruto’s Maturity appeared first on Siliconera.

The notable thing about the Death end re;Quest series of games is how easy it is to meet bad ends. Gruesomely. Repeatedly. Even if you think you’re maybe doing the right thing. It’s gory, to be certain, though it can make actually getting a character ending or the true one even more satisfying. Death end re;Quest: Code Z is a spin-off roguelike that… well, falters along the way. (It’s fine, I’d say it is not the best roguelike or representation of this series.) What I will say though is that it absolutely takes advantage of the Death End mechanic from the series and nature of the genre to attempt to do something different with the genre, though the violent nature and reliance on knowledge of the series and its characters both might dissuade many from playing.

So ideally, you’d think maybe Death end re;Quest: Code Z would be more accessible since it involves parallel universes, however it does still include the sorts of references and asides that might make for some barriers. Sayaka Hiwatari is a debugger on the game End to Odyssey with Shina Ninomiya, and she encounters something insidious while on the job. This means needing to head into the Strain Area dungeon and save or fight folks like Shina, Yurisa Yamamura, and Lucil Filarete. So you must stay alive and sane while searching for them, then getting out together while figuring out what Arata Mizunashi, another familiar face, is after.

Except since this is both Death end re;Quest, getting those bad endings in Death end re;Quest: Code Z is something we want to get, rather than avoid like we would in most roguelikes. This is because while on any difficulty other than Normal you lose what’s in your inventory and your levels, dying ends up being a way to make progress. Each death gets you a skill point if it is the first time you died that way. Which means keeping Sayaka’s sanity high enough to not affect her health and instead try and have an enemy, trap, or boss kill her is to your benefit. It’s an interesting concept, and perhaps one of the few things I found really unique about this spin-off.

It also feels like the Death Ends in Death end re;Quest: Code Z are designed to be a selling point due to the execution. These are handled in the same way as the mainline installments. So there will be unique descriptions explaining what happened. It becomes a “moment.” Someone who really loves the series for that reason might even find themselves searching for Death Ends repeatedly for completionist purposes. 

While I wish Death end re;Quest: Code Z was more fun to play or perhaps more welcoming to newcomers, I do appreciate the way it embraces and uses the Death End bad endings mechanic. This is a series in which it could be quite easy for characters to die. Dying happens a lot in roguelikes. Attempting to make a death in a roguelike less painful by tying it to the unique endings and character growth makes sense. The execution isn’t the best, but I can see what Compile Heart and Idea Factory were trying. 

Death end re;Quest: Code Z is available for the PS4 and PS5, and it will come to the PC via Steam later in 2025. 

The post Death end re;Quest: Code Z Revolves Around Bad Endings appeared first on Siliconera.

Now that Yen Press’ run of the CLAMP Collection Tokyo Babylon manga is done, we once again get to see what happened to Subaru and Hokuto Sumeragi and Seishirou Sakurazuka. After all, volume 7 is dedicated completely to the major reveals and 

Editor’s Note: There will be spoilers for the Tokyo Babylon manga ending below. 6q3e4j

Throughout Tokyo Babylon, CLAMP keeps hinting at things not being exactly right. Seishirou engages in suspicious behavior that proves he not only has his own supernatural abilities and awareness, but may be an onmyouji on par with Subaru. Subaru constantly wears gloves he never takes off. There are times when we’ll see him think back to a childhood memory with a mysterious person. Hokuto seems especially aware of something to do with Seishirou, yet pushes him and her brother together. Once we start to get into later volumes, Seishirou’s activities become more blatant, and we start hearing about the Sakura Zukamori assassin. 

So Tokyo Babylon volume 7 is completely dedicated to giving us answers, yet with the ending also leaving us completely lost with new questions. The bet between Seishirou and Subaru? It’s completely revealed. Seishirou met Subaru when both of them were young and Subaru saw him committing one of his assassinations. Seishirou marked the boy as a possible victim, saying once they’d meet again that Subaru would have one year to get him to fall in love with him. If he failed, Seishirou would kill him. If he succeeded, he’d get to live. But Seishirou claims he failed, and we’re confronted with a scene that’s blatant torture. 

Considering the violence we’ve seen throughout Tokyo Babylon, which affected both Subaru and Seishirou in the past, this in itself isn’t shocking. Especially paired with CLAMP being realistic and showing the effect of this latest encounter on Subaru after the fact. He’s comatose. Completely broken. His mind and body is devastated after Seishirou completely revealed who he is. There’s no immediate recovery. We witness exactly how brutal it all was. 

These moments before the end also provide an opportunity for us to see the healthier loving relationships around Subaru. We know at this point that, age difference not withstanding, the primary pairing here is extremely toxic. But Subaru is initially saved because of an act of love and sacrifice by his grandmother. She resorted to extreme lengths to snatch him away from Seishirou, paying a price in the process. Then Hokuto, his twin sister, sets out as a secondary sacrifice to assure his safety after the previous encounter that left him broken. 

But more importantly, we don’t get to know what’s next. We only know what happened to Hokuto because of CLAMP’s narrative and Subaru’s ability. We don’t see him meet Seishirou again in the ending of volume 7 of the Tokyo Babylon manga. We don’t see the inevitable weeks and months it takes him to recover. We even don’t see him pick up the pieces. We only see him end up assisting on a final “case” to show that even after everything that happened, he’s still using his onmyouji abilities to help others.

I also think the fact that X/1999 remains unfinished helps the Tokyo Babylon ending stand out even further at this point. CLAMP got to offer us some resolution. Further confrontations between Subaru and Seishiro appear, as they meet again. Hokuto is referenced, and we get closure regarding that spell only she could use. But at the same time, we don’t get to know what becomes of Subaru. He still doesn’t get an ending.

The Tokyo Babylon ending still hits me every time I read it, even years later. There’s no mercy in this final volume. CLAMP set up a tragedy, leaving little clues along the way. Some more obvious than others, of course. There’s no closure here. No happy ending. Just like real life, things don’t come together perfectly. Instead, we see how different choices we’ve made and people we let in permanently affect our lives even after a short time together. And, because the follow-up work remains unfinished, we just never get to really know what happened to Subaru at the end.

All seven volumes of the CLAMP Collection Tokyo Babylon manga are available via Yen Press.

The post The Tokyo Babylon Ending Remains Striking Over 30 Years Later appeared first on Siliconera.

So Takahashi from the Bike Shop, a shojo slice-of-life manga from Arare Matsumushi, is one of those love stories that you can settle in, enjoy, and get cozy with due to how low-key it is. Yes, there’s some anxiety about the relationship in the first volume as characters define things and Panko gets used to Ryouhei. However, by the end of it and throughout the second volume, we’re seeing a strong foundation being built between a couple that could really work. 

Editor’s Note: There are some mild spoilers for volume 2 of the Takahashi from the Bike Shop manga below. 5c3863

The end of the first volume of Takahashi from the Bike Shop and start of the second volume of the manga mainly focuses on how Panko is overthinking things and adjusting to the new potential relationship and her feelings. Like clearly, she’s now dating Ryouhei. There are mutual feelings that are obvious to Ryouhei and the reader. But she’s just taking a moment. Which is relatable and fine! It happens. Where Matsumushi takes a turn from other shojo manga is that this doesn’t get stretched out to a full, uncomfortable volume or two of “will they or won’t they” moments. Instead, Panko realizes at work while fantasizing and shutting down a jerk coworker that yes, she likes him, and she wants to date him. 

This means when she does go out with Ryouhei again, following a meal with her work friend Kimi and her partner Suruga, there’s no ambiguity. The new couple defines what they are. They enjoy their time together. He notices she’s a bit upset about an change. She treats him to a shirt he wanted. It’s just comfortable and pleasant to see a couple who is behaving in such a healthy, mature manner. 

Honestly, I also love how mature Takahashi from the Bike Shop is, but how the manga approaches even serious situations in a cozy and comfortable manner. Panko sees people misjudging Ryouhei or treating people unfairly, and she starts speaking up because of the influence of her new boyfriend. I mean, I’d even consider it as her realizing it doesn’t matter what people think of her. Only the opinions of folks who count, like him and her friend Kimi. She’s 30! Who cares about them! Do what makes her happy! And, in turn, reading that makes me happy. 

This extends to another situation. There’s something of a tragedy that happens at the end of the second volume of Takahashi from the Bike Shop. Ryouhei completely steps up and volunteers to help Panko and her mother. Even though it means he needs to go out of his way, as well as encounter a traumatic situation of his own. He goes all out for his partner and his kindness makes something sad a little more bearable. Then, in turn, Panko comforts him in her own way. They’re able to be there for each other.

Maybe it’s because Panko is an older protagonist or due to the fact that this is a slice-of-life manga with so little drama, but Takahashi from the Bike Shop is a shojo series that makes me feel all cozy and happy. Both Panko and Ryouhei are pretty secure individuals by the time we get to the second volume. She’s still way more anxious about things than he is, so he’s coming across as the more mature one. But we get a sense that this is a real partnership with both people invested in, helping out, respecting, and caring for each other. It’s refreshingly mature and grown-up about things.

Volumes 1 and 2 of Takahashi from the Bike Shop are available now via Yen Press, and volume 3 of the manga will debut on October 28, 2025. 

The post Takahashi from the Bike Shop Is My Current Cozy Manga appeared first on Siliconera.

I’m constantly bombarded with ads from manga apps with shojo series, like Emaqi and Manga Plaza, taunting me with a few pages from a Cinderella story series about a black sheep twin or stepsister who meets the best man who recognizes her for the diamond in the rough she is. Some of these types of stories can be great in their own right due to certain takes on the genre, like Bride of the Barrier Master. Now that we’re five volumes deep into the My Happy Marriage manga, I keep being reminded how its the superior series when it comes to characters, handling of sensitive topics, and actual relationship development.  

Editor’s Note: There will be some minor spoilers for early volumes of the My Happy Marriage manga below. 57r32

The first reason I feel like My Happy Marriage is the superior Cinderella story manga is because the start is exactly that. Miyo Saimori’s the elder daughter who is pushed aside in favor of her stepsister due to not possessing a Gift and the marriage between her father and mother being essentially a political one. She’s engaged to Kiyoka Kudo, a person with a powerful gift who is also head of the Special Anti-Grotesquerie Unit and rich. He’s as close as a prince as we can get in this period piece. Because she’s so kind, humble, considerate, and unlike any fiance ever forced on him, he ends up seeing exactly who she is and realizing how special she is. And because this is a manga based on a light novel, there’s ample characterization to make him appealing too.

Also important is how Miyo is depicted throughout My Happy Marriage compared to the Cinderella fairy tale and other shojo manga. Miyo went through hell in her family home. She was abused. Throughout the first two volumes, we see her responses to that. She hides the fact that she has so little clothing and is working to make what she has last. She apologizes too much. She goes out of her way to not cause trouble. Don’t make requests. Don’t make mistakes. Don’t make assumptions. It might almost seem like overkill sometimes to see someone trip over herself so much to keep out of others’ ways. However, if you ever were in her position or knew someone who was, it comes across as quite realistic. It isn’t like other shojo manga that involves a heroine more quickly getting over years of abuse because now she’s got a normal life where she’s potentially pampered and loved. She’s very much in recovery.

I also appreciate that Kiyoka’s approach to the situation feels equally realistic. He tries to be patient and kind. He reaches out to her. He sets up gifts in such a way to possibly encourage her accepting them and not feeling guilty about doing so. He has his housekeeper Yurie reach out to her and her. But at the same time, there are moments in later volumes of the manga in which even he gets frustrated. Which happens! Even if you care about someone, it could be easy to get impatient about the time table for recovery not being what you’d expect. 

The fact that Miyo keeps growing throughout My Happy Marriage and her own development as a person isn’t sidelined for the sake of the more romantic elements in this shojo manga and immediately resolved Cinderella story is encouraging as well. By the time the fourth volume hits, we’re aware of her capabilities. But this isn’t a blessing. All gifts are shown to have their own trade-offs, and in her case being untrained is leading to negative experiences that exacerbate her PTSD reflected throughout the story. This means as we lead into the fifth volume, we’re hitting a point at which her own character development is going to be prioritized. As a result, I feel like we’re seeing her feelings for Kiyoka coming through more clearly and better understanding her own power.

I love My Happy Marriage so much, and I’m so glad Square Enix Books picked it up, as the manga ended up being one of the best period piece Cinderella style stories out there. It feels like one of the best written “underdog” tales in a sea of manga about twin sisters who supposedly aren’t the gifted ones, but actually are, and end up with a too-good-to-be-true fiance who realizes exactly how amazing they are and fights off their jealous family. Here we see things like PTSD acknowledged. We watch personal growth between characters. Difficulties surrounding supernatural abilities are addressed, so they don’t seem all wonderful. Plus the actual relationship between Miyo and Kiyoka feels as though it is developing in as health a manner as it can, given the circumstances. It’s a wonderful shojo manga. 

Volumes 1-5 of the My Happy Marriage manga adaptation are available via Square Enix, and both seasons of the shojo anime are on Netflix.

The post My Happy Marriage Is the Best Cinderella Story Series appeared first on Siliconera.

Kikuri Hiroi can be one of those scene-stealing characters in both the Bocchi the Rock anime and manga adaptations. While the series tends to focus on Kessoku Band like Hitori, Ikuyo, Nijika, and Ryo, this funny and flawed ing cast member with moments of depth is a standout too. Though since she is an alcoholic and has plenty of vices, the enjoyment someone gets out of the Bocchi the Rock! Side Story: Kikuri Hiroi’s Heavy-Drinking Diary spin-off manga will vary depending on how much you like her and the original series.

Editors Note: There will be some mild spoilers for early parts of volume 1 of the Bocchi the Rock! Side Story: Kikuri Hiroi’s Heavy-Drinking Diary manga.  2e6f1

While the original Bocchi the Rock is a four-koma series that gradually builds on the story of Kessoku band in strips that also can sometimes stand on their own, the Bocchi the Rock! Side Story: Kikuri Hiroi’s Heavy-Drinking Diary side story manga follows a more traditional format as it looks at Sick Hack’s singer and bass player. While it starts by bringing up Kikuri’s talents and how adept bandmates Eliza Shimizu and Shima Iwashita are, it also quickly establishes she is no angel and shows a copy trying to reason with her when she’s in a full drunken “incorrigible alcoholic”moment. 

It’s a stark introduction to two facets of her personality, and the first chapter continues to emphasize that. She gets so drunk after a sold-out Yokohama Arena show that she winds up blackout drunk in Kanazawa. While Eliza and Shima clearly respect her talents enough to perform and be in Sick Hack with her, neither is going to come and pick her up and they also definitely knew she probably wouldn’t make the fireworks show they were going to go to. People in the bar she winds up in think she’s exaggerating about her indie band being popular and talents, due to the fact she walks in drunk and keeps drinking. But then actual fans recognize her, ask to meet her, and her story. Kikuri gets carried away and offers to cover folks’ tabs, blowing through her money and winding up alone and broke at a shrine with a stray cat and huge bottle of cheap booze. 

What I appreciate is that Bocchi the Rock! Side Story: Kikuri Hiroi’s Heavy-Drinking Diary sort of feels like a different type of slice-of-life manga. It’s still going through an indie rocker’s daily life. We get a different perspective. But it doesn’t lock the story into a comedic or dramatic tone, and it establishes that from the outset. Because while this chapter starts out funny, as we see her deal with her drunkenness, not being able to convince people for a ride, and come to with spending almost all of her money as she’s carried away on fan adoration, that quickly turns darker. By the end of the chapter, she’s entered her infamous Spiral of Happiness, which sees her dealing with any discomfort or pain by getting so drunk that she gets “happy” and numb. 

And we see this continue throughout this spin-off. Kikuri reaches a high point, usually a performance of sorts or something dealing with her talents resulting in a win for Sick Hack or her personally. But then something happens to swiftly bring her down. It could be recklessly spending money that could have ed her for a month or longer. Maybe it’s getting so carried away in the moment that she trashes expensive equipment that belonged to a club. While we see people around her, such as Eliza and even Shima, do care in their own ways and offer different sorts of s, there’s a constant cycle that makes it both occasionally amusing and a fascinating analysis of her as a character. However, because Kikuri is a drunk, I could see it being painful or difficult for some people to read, especially when it can seem like she isn’t thinking about consequences or considering others.

So if someone really likes the original series or is interested in the character, I feel like the Bocchi the Rock! Side Story: Kikuri Hiroi’s Heavy-Drinking Diary manga can be interesting supplemental reading. But if someone has experiencing being in a role like Shima or being around someone like that, I think it might be a difficult read. Especially when moments come up when Kikuri or other people do get serious.

Volume 1 of Bocchi the Rock! Side Story: Kikuri Hiroi’s Heavy-Drinking Diary is available now, and Yen Press will release volume 2 of the manga on September 23, 2025. The company also handles the Bocchi the Rock manga. The anime is streaming on Crunchyroll.

The post Bocchi the Rock Side Story Manga Is Great for Kikuri Hiroi Fans appeared first on Siliconera.

I enjoy seeing what independent developers can achieve with smaller projects. There might be unusual takes on genres or experimentations with genres and ideas. Chronomon is one of these types of titles, as Stone Golem Studios is attempting to fuse popular genres such as Pokemon style creature capturing and Stardew Valley sorts of farming. It’s still early days, and of course there’s clunkiness in such small things, but the idea seems like a promising one. 

Chronomon begins with our avatars awaking in a bunker. Someone else living there, named Kyral, lets you know that some creatures ended up being successfully trapped last night. After choosing a “starter” and using a CIM card to get its data, the worst happens. of the Epoch Syndicate show up and force a retreat. Worse, since they might breach the underground base, Kyral helps you escape, as well as learn how to use a Chronomon to flip switches to escape. Fortunately, a farm has been prepared. It’s dilapidated and in need of repairs, but we have a chance to regroup, establish ourselves, make connections with villages, and perhaps start to rebuild and fight back. Granted, since this is early access, we don’t have all of that yet, but we can make a start. 

I really like the initial approach in Chronomon, and it does feel like a mix of Pokemon monster-raising JRPGsand Stardew Valley style life sims in a way that similar sorts of games like Moonstone Island doesn’t. There’s a very dark atmosphere that fits the dystopian tone, yet also a sense of hope since we are fighting back and connecting with other people and a village. The look is pretty strong at the moment, especially with farming, though I do think improved controls will help that in time. It also pulls from games like Marvelous’ Rune Factory in that every type of action you’re undertaking shapes your character and progress, so it feels like choosing to farm, fish, or battle with monsters each carries weight. Farming comes down to clearing land, tilling soil, planting crops, and waiting to harvest. Monster battling and catching entails heading out into the world and going through turn-based fights.  

As an early access title, I did notice some elements of Chronomon do feel like they need a bit of touching up. The thing that initially bothered me most, so much so that I ended up restarting, is during the first selection of your monster ally, the execution, controls, and menu meant that I selected a character I didn’t want when I was just attempting to check the stats. Said control issues are currently a problem throughout my sessions, as I went through it on a Legion Go and couldn’t try and go with a mix of switching to keyboard and mouse if I found things weren’t ideal. This is compounded by, at the moment, the UI being a bit cumbersome. Considering how heavy of a focus crafting and character management is, I wish it was a bit clearer and easier to parse. However, keep in mind this is a game isn’t even one month into early access as I write this and, on May 13, 2025, Stone Golem Studios created a Steam Discussions thread specifically looking to address the controls issue. 

Another early issue has to do with balance in Chronomon. Which, again, I think we will see addressed over the coming weeks and months. At the moment, I feel like the goal is to really make this feel like a post-apocalyptic adventure with odds stacked against you. It takes a while for your creatures to level up, even when they’re under level 5 or 10. Enemy creatures can be incredibly strong. If you die, you’re both losing items in your inventory and money. I found it quite daunting, especially in the first three hours I played. I’m not sure if the answer is implementing some difficulty options or eventual balancing patches or adding items that adjust earned experience and influence stats. But again, it’s early on and things could change. 

I do think the one thing I’d like most from Chronomon is something that we might not see happen over the course of development. The game and its concept possess a really strong identity, and you can see that from the outset. Stone Golem Studios seems like it has a really strong idea of what it wants to do, the story it is going to tell, and an approach to pairing farming and a life sim with monster catching and battling. However, I feel like sometimes it visually doesn’t always match that. I wish the character designs for the monsters, NPCs, and our avatars stood out a bit more. Especially since there will be a relationship element with friendship systems. I’d love to see the major NPCs look more unique and some of the Chronomon stand out more as development continues. I even feel like this ties into the UI issue I mentioned earlier. Some adjustments to define the game’s visual identity so it leaves the same sort of impression as the gameplay concepts would be great.

Chronomon could be an indie to keep an eye on. The concept behind pairing a Pokemon like with Stardew Valley is sound. The initial loop is encouraging, and it seems like Stone Golem Studios is trying to use the idea of a post-apocalyptic world to explain its gameplay and narrative in a cohesive way. There are some minor issues at the moment, and I would love to see more defined character and UI designs to help it stand out. However, you have to expect that from an Early Access title. It might be worth watching in the weeks and months to come. 

Chronomon is in early access on PCs via Steam. 

The post Preview: Chronomon Blends Pokemon and Farming Life Sims appeared first on Siliconera.

Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping brings us back to the world introduced in Duck Detective: The Secret Salami and, well, it’s exactly what you’d expect the adventure game to be. This is a short, bite-sized adventure with colorful characters, and it ends it feeling rather cozy due to it being a rather laid back approach to sometimes low stakes mysteries. It’s a good thing! Not every title needs to be a 40-hour epic, and Happy Broccoli Games again created a captivating story to savor over the course of an afternoon.

Eugene McQuacklin, who I’ll just go ahead and call Duck Detective from here on out since everyone else does, is down on his luck as the sequel begins. He’s living in Freddy Frederson’s spare room, still is addicted to bread, and his ex-wife wants nothing to do with him and won’t return his calls. He can’t wallow, however, as Freddy is dragging him on a glamping trip with his new girlfriend to grounds near a potentially haunted asylum. (He already paid for it!) Forced along, the detective finds either ghosts or haunting the area, or there’s a decidedly more dastardly explanation for unsettling behavior. It’s up to us to investigate again.

Aside from Freddy, the alligator that got Duck Detective goat’s in the first game, tagging along, Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping proceeds pretty much identically to the first game. A mystery will arise. You’ll need to put together deducktions, based on observations, interviewing people, and interacting with the environment, to get topics to feed into a Mad-Libs style statement figuring out what happened. Solving one mystery opens up the next, advancing the story and granting access to new areas.

What I loved about Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping that is unique to this entry is honestly the increased interactions with Freddy. The Duck Detective is a prickly sort of character that feels plucked from a noir novella and dumped into what is, at a glance, an adorable world that includes a lot of quirky characters. By adding Freddy as a more present foil, we get to appreciate the ways in which this more goofy, nerdy, and typical person interacts with this serious investigator.

However, I also appreciate that despite being cozy, The Ghost of Glamping continues the tradition of Duck Detective actually including some dark and mature themes just like The Secret Salami. While it’s played for laughs and silliness since it is just bread, the titular detective does have an addiction. His relationship with his former lover is an issue. There are not-great people here trying to take advantage of and hurt others. 

Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping offers more of the same and, in the case of this series, that’s exactly what Happy Broccoli Games should be doing. It’s a welcome addition to our gaming libraries! The characters are still incredibly entertaining. The gameplay is sound. The narrative is engaging. It feels like another episode of something we all already agreed that we enjoyed, and I appreciate the relief of knowing there’s a consistent series that will regularly deliver a certain type of enjoyable adventure for an evening.

Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping is available for the Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. 

The post Duck Detective: The Ghost of Glamping Builds on the Original Game appeared first on Siliconera.

Labubu basically ended up being the pop culture fad going into 2025, with Kasing Lung’s The Monsters designs resulting in different kinds of merchandise based on the characters, and shockingly enough One Piece is a part of it. While the only one with plush elements are the 400% and 1,000% Mega Labubu of Chopper, with the hat being soft fabric, Pop Mart also released PVC, ABS figures of the Straw Hat crew. While I do think the ideal target audience for the collection is going to be people already interested in Labubu, the design and execution is such that I think people who love One Piece might be interested it for the depiction of some of the cast.

Okay, so to start, the Pop Mart The Monsters One Piece collection is a blind box situation, but it is possible to avoid getting repeat characters by making sure you only get Labubu figures from the same box. This is because each unopened box includes a full set of 12. However, the caveat is that this set is actually made up of 13 total, as the secret one is a Gear 5 version of Luffy. Odds of getting it are 1/144. So most likely someone will just get the full, standard crew of Straw Hats or those considered allies in a box. It basically covers up through the Whole Cake Island Arc, if you don’t count the Gear 5 figure. 

In of style and size, the characters are all very uniform. This does mean they aren’t realistic and to scale in any way. Like Chopper being the same size as Franky sort of proves that. However, there is about the same care and effort put into each one, which I appreciated. Their poses all seem realistic and based on attacks or actions in the anime and manga. The standard Luffy one is about to unleash Gomu Gomu no Mi. Sanji is in the midst of a Diable Jambe attack. Nami comes with a (removable) Clima-Tact in the midst of an electrical attack. There are special uses of glossy paint or transparent parts for certain effects, such as Franky and Robin’s sunglasses. Also, when characters arrive, the packing involves foam for more delicate parts, such as Usopp’s slingshot, Jinbe’s ponytail, and the neck of Brook’s guitar, to ensure they aren’t damaged in transit. All of the bases are also individual Berry coins with specialized parts to ensure they grip characters properly. So while Zoro’s coin has no parts, there are pegs on ones for folks like Sanji and slats that fit into Jinbe’s geta. 

I also mentioned that certain people feature extra accessories. as accents, and you could honestly sort of pose them with or without them. The One Piece characters with extra parts in this The Monsters Labubu figures line are Law, Nami, Sabo, and Sanji. Out of those, I feel like you could honestly display any without their extra accent or weapon, though with Nami it’s a bit of a stretch. Her Clima-Tact, the fire on Sanji’s foot, Sabo’s pipe, and Law’s Kikoku are all separate parts, in some cases with additional paint jobs or translucent elements. All of them fit well into the figures’ hands, so they are pretty stable once in place for display. They’re nice little accents that set the characters apart, and I sort of wish Robin came with extra hands to showcase her Devil Fruit ability since she is in a pose that suggests she is using it. 

Honestly, the Labubu Robin figure is the only one in the One Piece The Monsters set that I didn’t really like. Yes, it is cool that she has translucent sunglasses on her head. However, her pose isn’t as expressive as other characters, the nature of it means we don’t see as much of her costume as the the rest of the set, and it generally doesn’t feel as detailed. Everyone else has a lot more personality to them, which I appreciated.

The funny thing is, I actually think the Brook one is one of my favorites even though it features no real The Monsters or Labubu accents. There are no signature ears. The skull doesn’t feature the pointy teeth in place of the standard ones. The only thing that suggests he’s part of the line are the proportions. Even so, it really just looks adorable and very true to the character, and I appreciate that.

Okay, scratch that. My actual favorite is Franky. I really don’t care about the character when he shows up in One Piece games or other adaptations. He’s just sort of there. But I do appreciate how the Labubu figure version of him in this The Monsters line features a little bit of articulation. You can move his arms up and down, and I really like that extra bit of whimsy.

People’s mileage may vary when it comes to the Pop Mart The Monsters One Piece figures of characters as Labubu. The designs are well-thought out and made, I will say. And some of them are especially neat due to extra accessories or posing elements. They are quite cute and, since there is the One Piece connection, they’ll be relevant even when the fad wears out. Especially in the case of the extra cute Franky, Brook, or Chopper ones. I do wish maybe some characters had a bit more to them, like Robin, but in general they’re fun.

The Monsters One Piece figures that turn characters into Labubu are available in single blind boxes or in a full box of 12. The anime is streaming on services like Crunchyroll and Netflix. The live-action adaptation is on Netflix. Viz Media handles the manga outside Japan. 

The post The Monsters One Piece Figures Make Characters Labubu appeared first on Siliconera.

I’ve mentioned before how in early Oshi no Ko manga volumes and anime episodes, it seems to focus on Aqua and his development, and it’s only around volume 9 that we Ruby starts to steal the show. The 10th volume builds on that in a way that’s honestly a little terrifying. We see the full extent of her plans from the previous volume to now and the effects of those actions, as well as her brother’s response, and it shows exactly how brilliant, devious, and powerful she can be.

Editor’s Note: There will be minor spoilers for the first few three chapters of the 10th volume of the Oshi no Ko manga below. c6r3q

Things start out with a new episode of the show Dig Deep, which features Aqua as a host and Ruby as a reporter, dealing with the cosplay incident and flaming of the show from the previous volume. Because of the director Tetsu Urushibara’s decisions, a cosplayer was treated abominably, people who were supposed to be on the show had no warning about changes, and approval wasn’t gotten from Abiko Samejima for Tokyo Blade usage. However, while that all went wrong and people’s reputations were hurt and livelihoods threatened, we start with Ruby about to benefit. She orchestrated the proposal for handling it on the show, with her hosting the “interviews” to explain how it all went wrong.

From the outset, it seems like a fantastic way to make amends. The director apologizes. The show explains how it happens. The wronged cosplayer who sicced her thousands of followers on the show and started the hate campaign gets a chance to speak up. Abiko is able to talk about her project and why she’s protective. It seems like everything went right and Ruby gets some attention in the process.

But we see that Aqua understood what Ruby orchestrated, and he brings up up after the episode recording in Oshi no Ko. He can tell she had a hand, but asks when she started it all. It’s then that, like a James Bond villain, we see exactly how brilliant she is. She realized she didn’t want to wait for the assistant director Shun Yoshizumi to climb the ranks so she could get more work. So she used the flaws she observed in Dig Deep, formulated a plan to ruin the direct, pulled in a cosplayer known for leaks and unleashing a toxic community, and put everything together to force a situation where the already established director Urushibara owes her. She forces her way up the ladder quickly, rather than the more gradual and slow way Aqua did. He looks more and more shocked as she explains, and we get this greater sense of appreciation of how observant she was, how she watched people, the decisions she made, and how she ensured she had the cosplayer, director, assistant director, and audience all on her side by the end.

The thing it comes down to is collateral damage. When Aqua schemed in Oshi no Ko, it felt like it ended up being more targeted endeavors. During the Love for Real incident with Akane, he convinces people to work together for a good cause. When he’s taking part in the Tokyo Blade stage play, it’s to reach one specific person and get information from people tied to a certain group. His climb through the ranks of the entertainment industry isn’t about his personal gain, really. It’s about getting clues and insight to find Ai’s killer. His climb doesn’t tear anyone down and, while he does get Akane on his side along the way, the relationship he builds don’t seem to involve exploitation.

With Ruby, she’s more ruthless once she decides she learned what happened to Gorou Amamiya and sets her sights on advancing as quickly as possible. She’s willing to manufacture situations to play people to her advantage. Yes, in this instance she does “fix” things in the end. But the only person who is better off at the end is herself. Also, in so doing, it gives the impression she’s somewhat alienating herself from others. While Aqua did detach from Kana, which he established is a purposeful action to ensure what happened to Ai never happens to her and protects her, he also didn’t set things up to benefit. Ruby is cunning, enraged, and determined enough to do that.

In a way, I think only now getting to see Ruby in this way in Oshi no Ko, especially after Aqua did much of his scheming in early volumes, makes for a more interesting comparison. It makes the lengths she went to and the way she behaved as a mastermind more impressive and terrifying than it might have been otherwise. Likewise, seeing Aqua’s response to the realization that Ruby is willing to go so far is a major moment.

Oshi no Ko volume 10 debuts on May 27, 2025, and Yen Press will release volume 11 of the manga on August 26, 2025. The anime is on Hidive. 

The post Ruby Can Be Scarier Than Aqua in Oshi no Ko appeared first on Siliconera.

I love Playdate games that don’t use the crank. Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate titles that do use it in inventive ways. But I also like when developers experiment with the limited palette, screen dimensions, and size of the system to approach other genres in unusual ways. Most notably, I’ve really appreciated the range of adventure games showing up on the Playdate over the last year, as the range of options gets diverse, engaging, and inclusive.

I first realized how much I enjoyed the various adventures that did show up on Playdate once I played the game Echoes of Emergent. It’s a gorgeous visual novel from RNG Party Games that essentially accomplishes miracles with the limited color palette of the handheld. The post-apocalyptic story follows a woman named Ayumi as she comes to with what happened and what’s next. I was stunned by how gorgeous and the realism the developer accomplished with it, as well as the touching story. It’s so engaging, and the minimalism helps make the tale stand out even more.

This feeling of the handheld working well with the genre ended up solidified with Terratopia: March of the Demon King. Kodiak Games’ adventure feels like a hybrid of the old school, first-person RPGs and point-and-click adventure games, given its perspective and approach. You assist a princess in preparing to defend a kingdom. This means investigation, interacting with people around you, learning more about the world, and training so you can fight back. It’s clever and I felt encouraged to explore, especially since it features such a fun script.

As I mentioned earlier, some of these Playdate adventure games seem to be getting extra inclusive too. One of the most obvious examples being Julie and Anders Bjørnskov’s Escape the Boardgame. It’s an escape room adventure that involves getting out of board games after being mysteriously shrunk down to the size of their pieces. It’s a follow-up to their previous title Escape the Arcade, and both tie together nostalgia, family-friendly situations, and puzzles that anyone of any age and skill level can enjoy. 

But all this is really exemplified by just how much is showing up to enhance the library of adventure games on the Playdate as of late. I picked up Wegiout of curiosity, even though I’m usually not as interested in horror adventures, and found Pixel Addict Games and Keith Baker, and found it even darkly funny sometimes! Hundred Rabbits’exploration and puzzle game Oquonie caught my eye because it is so detailed and features such unique characters and rooms, and I loved finding a way through a world where I didn’t know the language. Even though Hablet, from PiousPigeon, is more of a simulation, I also feel like the nature of visiting daily and interacting with The Concierge as I build up the town almost feels like I’m on my own adventure when I play. 

I feel like the adventure games on the Playdate really highlight other creative things developers can accomplish with the handheld. We know the crank is fun and can do neat things. But with various adventure games showing up on the handheld, we see how folks are taking advantage of its other unique features to tell stories in unusual ways.

Panic’s Playdate is available now, and Season 2 of games for it debuts on May 29, 2025. 

The post Playdate Is Proving to Be a Home for Adventure Games appeared first on Siliconera.

One of Square Enix’s most recent releases is On and Off: Work-Life Imbalance, a slice-of-life manga series that explores identity and relationships while also celebrating people expressing themselves through fashion. It’s interesting from the outset, with the first volume both establishing how Akira Hanku and Sotaro Amata express themselves at work and at home and showing their possible relationship. They even respect each other completely, each appreciating the other’s style! It seems promising, but what I think I’m starting to appreciate most is Shinnosuke Kanazawa’s art.

Editor’s Note: There will be minor spoilers for volume 1 of the On and Off: Work-Life Imbalance manga. 4m69q

The thing about On and Off: Work-Life Imbalance is that it is both a celebration of two people unabashedly embracing styles they like, dressing in ways that make them feel comfortable, and being proud of that in their personal lives. Because they each embrace a different aesthetic, it means Shinnosuke Kanazawa gets to go all out on Rococo style Lolita dresses and elaborate punk designs. 

We see Sotaro’s Lolita style first, and it’s handled with so much care in both the initial introduction and all ensuing ones. First, we get a shots of specific elements of an outfit, like the detailed heels with matching stockings, a bonnet with a pigtail hairstyle, and lace on the cuffs of a dress’ sleeves. When the full-body shot appears, there’s focus on every ruffle and insert s highlighting bows. Different angles are presented, so we can appreciate how the outfit is put together. And because Sotaro is shopping, we also get to see additional pieces. Even proper terminology and slang is used, with “Cha-Lolita” used for Classic Lolita during a daydream about a new look.

With Akira, it means the moment the character is off-work, we see how a put-together look masks someone who rocks a wolf cut, wears multiple piercings, and would look as comfortable in Vivienne Westwood, street punk styles as ska or skater attire. The first “look” emphasizes a fake neck tattoo, ear piercing with a chain that connects to one through a lower lip, a studded choker with chains dangling off of it, and multiple rings. There are rivets in the black, pinstripe pants, with a black belt with chains that match the necklace. There are deliberate tears in the pants and a white, oversized shirt. I could swear the shoes look like T.U.K.’s two-tone Viva Mondo Creepers. There are fingerless black gloves with zippers on them, and a oversized jacket with belts. Whenever Kanazawa draws the character, the art is clearly pulling from the progression of the fashion movement over the decades.

I even appreciate the care with which Shinnosuke Kanazawa depicts the professional attire for both Akira and Sotaro. That’s how we see each of them for the “work” sides of their lives. In each case, they also seem to perfectly suit them and still somehow seem as detailed as the clothes they’re most comfortable wearing. The first time we see Sotaro, he’s in a three-piece suit. Kanazawa used shading techniques that somehow make it look expensive, and the tie has a pinstripe pattern. Attention is called to accessories, such as what seems like it would be a gold watch with a black face that ends up being the focal point of some close-up s. Similar attention is paid to his loafers. He is designed to look the part of a professional, but there are hints at a bit of flashiness.

With Akira, we see how formal she looks in the On and Off: Work-Life Imbalance manga, but Shinnosuke Kanazawa’s artwork also emphasizes practicality for her. She wears black vest and pencil skirt with white button-up shirt. It’s impeccable, with every part in place. Her hair is tied back in a no-nonsense ponytail with a basic hair tie. Her shoes are black with a Cuban heel style, a short heel with a wide base designed for comfort instead of fashion. We can tell that she commits and is direct, making choices that emphasize that. In each case, these looks say a lot about the people.

I really appreciate the thought we can see Shinnosuke Kanazawa put into the design of the On and Off: Work-Life Imbalance characters, with the art in the manga looking extremely fashionable, realistic, and suited to each individuals. Their home life looks are incredible and intricate, showing elements of who they really are and how they feel comfortable. Their professional ones get the job done, but also offer hints at elements of their personalities even though they’re obviously following office dress codes. I can’t wait to see what each of them wear next.

Volume 1 of On and Off: Work-Life Imbalance is available now, and Square Enix will release volume 2 of the manga on September 16, 2025. 

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