Takara Tomy, maker of Beyblade and Transformers, launched Enjoyn Games this week as its new indie game publishing label. The initiative aims to apply the toy company's product design experience to game development, with an initial focus on multiplayer titles that play like board games.
The first two releases arrive later this month. Stack and Sus, a three-to-six player social deduction game where players divide into staff and spies trying to make or sabotage a burger, launches November 10. Sloppy Forgeries, a competitive party painting game where players recreate classic art without undo options under time pressure, releases November 14. Little Cheese Works, a four-player puzzle-platformer where mice use voice chat to coordinate while grabbing cheese and avoiding cats, is expected in December.
Enjoyn Games marks the fifth Japanese gaming initiative announced in the last year. Sanrio Games, set up by Hello Kitty parent company Sanrio, plans 10 games over three years. Toei Games, launched by the movie studio, combines film experience with indie publishing. PARCO Games, a division of major Japanese department store PARCO, officially launched last summer. Pocketpair, developer of Palworld, also opened a publishing label.
Beyond established companies, indie growth continues. Studio Sasanqua founder Kenji Ozawa, director of Visions of Mana, moved into indie publishing with Afantasia. Established publishers Playism and Shueisha Games also operate in the space. Many of these labels pursue transmedia potential, seeking games that could expand into other mediums, following examples like The Exit 8.