Understanding Ojipockle

Sometimes, Japanese developers make weird games. It’s why we see titles like Hatoful Boyfriend, Mister Mosquito or Katamari Damacy. That sort of creativity is appreciated, because we’d never get to date pigeons, be one with a mosquito or make celestial bodies out of junk otherwise. This sort of creativity has resulted in a number of trends that may otherwise be difficult to understand, like Finding Ojipockle, which is known in Japan as Mitsukete! Ojipokkuru.

For those who haven’t seen the game, which appeared on mobile devices and the Nintendo 3DS in Japan and, amazingly enough, was even localized, Finding Ojipockle is a rather simple simulation. The Ojipockle are fairies that look like chubby, older gentlemen. They hide in plain sight, sharing the same space as us. It’s only if you take the time to really search a room that you’ll see the little guys enjoying themselves, exploring or maybe using a cup of coffee as a hot tub.

It’s a lot like Neko Atsume, actually, in that it’s more of a non-game. When you get bored, you check around the room for Ojipockle. In the free version of the game, you get one room to search. More of the little guys appear as you restore their powers with fairy water and gain their trust, though people can pay real money to get an instant point boost so every character will appear.

The Nintendo 3DS version of Finding Ojipockle, known as Mitsukete! Ojipokkuru+, ups the ante. The original game offered around 40 fairies to find and one location. You have to pay 600円 for the handheld version, but it also offers additional rooms to explore and 54 fairies. This version feels like a slightly more elaborate hide-and-seek adventure than the original game..

Basically, Finding Ojipockle is a weird game for people who enjoy odd things. Its characters tap into the kimokawaii trend, where creatures that are ugly are somehow considered cute. And really, the simplicity isn’t too off-putting. Personally, I like to liken it to Elebits. You’re hunting down imaginary critters in both games, after all. The ones here happen to be a little older and less traditionally attractive than the ones in the Konami game. It still has its charms.

Are these little guys starting to grow on you? Think you’d want to start finding and collecting your own fairies? Mitsukete! Ojipokkuru+ is immediately available on the Japanese eShop, if you’re into the importing scene. If you’re not, then you can get Finding Ojipockle for your Android or iOS device right now. The translation is actually pretty well done, and it’s an entertaining distraction to enjoy when you have five or ten minutes to kill.