Castle of Shikigami 3 coming to Switch in late April 2026 in Japan

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In simple terms, the game “Castle of Shikigami 3,” developed by Alfa System, is scheduled to be launched on Nintendo Switch by Cosmo Machia in late April 2026, according to their recent announcement, and it will initially be available only in Japan.

As a die-hard fan, I’m thrilled to share that Castle of Shikigami 3 made its arcade debut in Japan back in February 2006. Fast forward a few months and it was available on PC by September 29, 2006. The exciting journey continued with releases on Xbox 360 and Wii on December 13, 2007, except for the Wii version which broke new ground as the only one to hit the western markets, landing in North America on May 13, 2008. Lastly, a long-awaited PC re-release took place on Steam, all the way on March 13, 2025.

Here is an overview of the game, via its Steam page:

About

The third installment in the “Castle of Shikigami” series, initially released in arcades in 2006, is now available on PC as “Castle of Shikigami 3.

A culmination of character shooting games set in a unique worldview!

A wide variety of newly added playable characters!

Supports online rankings and various achievements!

Controls

Control the character with an 8-way lever and two buttons (shot, bomb).

Character Selection

Characters with distinct regular attacks, spirit attacks, unique abilities, and varying speed levels can be chosen by the players.

Alternatively, you have the option to select either the first or second style of attack, each offering distinct results based on individual characters, thereby providing a range of attack strategies to employ.

The game allows for two-player action, enabling you to engage in competition worldwide against other Shikigami users remotely!

Every character possesses their unique history, and a demonstrative segment showcases this backstory right at the onset of gameplay, as well as before and following the commencement of each level.

When you choose different character combinations for a two-player game, the narrative and setting adjust accordingly.

Various Attacks

There are three types of attacks: normal attacks, shikigami attacks, and special attacks.

  • Normal Attacks (Shots)
    • A rapid-firing attack. Since it can attack a relatively wide area, you can ensure your own safety by focusing on this in battle.
    • Also, when the Tension Bonus System is at its maximum, it becomes a high tension attack, and the firing speed and power increase.
  • Shikigami Attack
    • In exchange for a slower movement speed during the attack, this attack automatically collects the coins that appear.
  • Special Attack
    • A so-called bomb. You can use as many bullets as you have, and your ship becomes invincible while using it.

Tension Bonus System

A system unique to “Castle of Shikigami,” commonly known as T.B.S.

If you manage to eliminate an opponent when they, or their projectile, are near the heart of your vessel (this triggers the hit detection), you’ll receive a bonus.

In simpler terms, the nearer your targeting is to an enemy’s bullet or hit, the greater the bonus reward you receive, reaching a maximum of 8 times. With regular attacks, the points earned increase, while coin drops increase even further during a Shikigami attack.

High Tension MAX System

Equipped with a new function that satisfies your insatiable passion for shooting games!

A system that uses a unique attack to become invulnerable for a brief moment. During this period, the character is immune to damage. A red meter will appear at the top of the screen for a set duration, during which the “T.B.S. judgment” remains high (indicating a state of heightened tension), and the number of coins collected increases by 1.5 times.

Watch a trailer below.

Switch Announce Trailer

Japanese

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2025-09-10 17:05