New Fan Translation Lets You Play 3DS Digimon RPG in English for the First Time

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Like many anime from the early 2000s, Digimon has had an inconsistent history with international releases. While the franchise has seen numerous video games, not all of them were released in Western countries. However, that’s starting to change with upcoming global launches of games like Digimon Up and Digimon Alysion. For fans wanting to play older titles, a language barrier could be a problem. Fortunately, dedicated Digimon fans have now translated one 3DS game into English for the first time.

The 3DS game Digimon Universe: Appli Monsters came out in Japan in 2016 and is based on the anime series of the same name. The anime, which updated the Digimon world with smartphones, never received an English dub or aired outside of Japan. As a result, the game largely stayed within the Japanese market. However, for dedicated Digimon fans eager to play every game available, a new fan-made patch now translates Digimon Universe: Appli Monsters into English.

Yearlong Fan Project Brings Digimon Universe: Appli Monsters to English-speaking Audiences

Digimon Universe: Appli Monsters has a charming, retro look reminiscent of 3DS-era Pokémon games, and that’s a good thing! While it shares the Digimon world, it feels distinct from the RPGs Western fans might be familiar with. Instead of a Digivice, this game centers around Appmon – creatures that live inside smartphones. The gameplay focuses heavily on battling as you strive to become the champion of the Cyber Arena. Although set in the same universe as the anime, the game features a completely original story and characters.

The game didn’t achieve significant success in Japan. While the shift towards Appmon characters may have turned some fans off, the biggest issue was its release timing. It came out in October 2016, directly competing with the popular Pokemon Sun & Moon. Also, because the anime series had just started, the game didn’t have a strong, pre-existing fanbase. Players who did try it generally liked it, but it was never released in English, meaning most fans in the U.S. haven’t had the chance to experience it.

Playing the original Digmon Universe: Appli Monsters is tough if you don’t read Japanese, since the game relies heavily on on-screen text. This new fan translation is great news, as it will finally allow many Western fans to experience the game. The translation is free to download and can be installed on a modified 3DS or through an emulator, but you’ll need to know a little about how to use ROM files.

Since the 3DS game Digimon Universe: Appli Monsters didn’t sell well in Japan and is now over a decade old, an official English version is unlikely. This fan translation is probably the best way to play it. However, Digimon is becoming popular again in the West, and with so many older games being re-released, there’s still a small chance it could happen.

As a Digimon fan, I’m super excited about this new translation! And it’s not just that – we have a couple of new games coming out in 2026! There’s Digimon Alysion, which is a digital card game app, and Digimon Up, a mobile RPG. Plus, Digimon Story: Time Stranger is doing really well, so I’m hoping we’ll hear about even more games soon!

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2026-05-16 16:10