The first time I tried to play a Japanese video game it was a total disaster. If I remember correctly, I bought a cheap PS2 and one of those classic JRPGs with lots of anime-looking characters, spoken dialog, and turn-based fighting.

It destroyed my brain.

I simply wasn't ready for the level and volume of Japanese that was coming at me at that time… which was pretty disheartening, to be honest. So I gave up on that task. Fast forward a couple of years when I realized that I could play Japanese video games on my mobile device, complete with audio and all that lovely goodness. I wrote an article about it here.

I'm not giving a lot of attention to this section of the guide just yet, because I don't really think that Japanese-language video games are effective for improving your Japanese unless you're at a very advanced level already. I'm working on developing some methods for using Japanese games in a way that is entertaining, while remaining time-efficient and easily integrated into a study plan as a whole. If you have any suggestions, please email me. I'm hoping to include this info in the next update of this guide.