Yo-Kai Watch Shadowside is set 30 years after the adventures of Nate (known as Keita in Japan), the main character from the previous Yo-Kai Watch games. Nate has long since lost his ability to see Yo-Kai, so his daughter, Natsume, and son, Keisuke, take the starring roles this time around. In Shadowside, Yo-Kai can switch between their “lightside” and “shadowside” forms, which change their appearances, personalities, and abilities. Shadowside is also notable for its shift in art style, which is darker and creepier than the previous art style of the franchise.
The anime series is a sequel to the movie Yo-Kai Watch Shadowside: The Return of the Oni King, which released in Japan on December 16, 2017. The Shadowside anime series will premiere on April 13, 2018.
All previous Yo-Kai Watch games have launched on the Nintendo 3DS, but it’s currently unknown which systems the Shadowside game will launch on or if it will follow the story of the anime series.
The previous Yo-Kai Watch games, Yo-kai Watch 3: Sushi and Yo-Kai Watch 3: Tempura, released in Japan on July 16, 2016. An updated version titled Yo-Kai Watch 3: Sukiyaki released on December 15, 2016. Yo-Kai Watch 3 has not yet been confirmed for Western release, but all other main series Yo-Kai Watch games prior to Yo-Kai Watch 3 have released in North America and Europe.