After 21 years, Japan's most beloved cozy game is finally playable in English
Nov. 2, 2023We can finally play Boku no Natsuyasumi 2 in English
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The beloved PS2 classic, Boku no Natsuyasumi 2, has just been translated into English for the first time thanks to fans.
Boku no Natsuyasumi, which translates to something along the lines of ‘My Summer Vacation,’ is a series of what might best be described as cozy games from an era before that was even considered a genre. You play as a young boy enjoying a summer vacation in rural Japan as you explore the countryside, get to know the locals, and take part in activities like bug battles. The game takes place over the course of a single month, so you have to choose how to prioritize your activities in each of those 31 days.
The original game, developed by a studio called Millennium Kitchen and published directly bySony, hit PS1 back in 2000, and pretty quickly became a cult hit. These days, a game about just hanging out during a summer vacation could easily slot into aWholesome Directshowcase, but at the time of Boku no Natsuyasumi’s release there were few options for low-stakes gaming outside of, say, Harvest Moon or various dating sims.
Despite Boku no Natsuyasumi’s success in Japan, no mainline entry in the series was ever released in English. A few other titles from Millennium Kitchen and director Kaz Ayabe with similar themes - Attack of the Friday Monsters and Shin-chan: Me and the Professor on Summer Vacation - did get official translations, but the most attention the main series ever got from English-speaking gamers came courtesy of anextensive video essaypublished last year which, for my money, might just be the best thing onYouTube.
I’m thrilled that Boku no Natsuyasumi finally has a chance to reach players who’ve never had a chance to dig into it - like me - and I remain forever in awe of the fan translators putting in the work to bring old classics to new audiences.
While you’re breaking out the emulator, check out our guide to thebest PS2 gamesof all time.
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