A new Brain Age game is in the works for the Nintendo Switch. Earlier in September Nintendo announced that Brain Age: Nintendo Switch Training would release in Japan at the end of this year, but made no mention of availability in other regions. A new trailer from Nintendo UK released today that confirms that this brain-building title will be localized for play in the West, or at least in European markets. The game will be known in as Europe Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training, according to the trailer from Nintendo UK.
The change in the name for this new Brain Age game is strange, but there is a precedent. Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training is the original Japanese name of the first game in the Brain Age series, which released there in 2005 for the Nintendo DS. Famous Brain Age floating polygonal head Dr. Ryuta Kawashima is Japanese neuroscientist who theorized that mentally stimulating games could help stave off memory loss and other consequences of old age. Although those claims are considered specious by some, many people agree that these collections of puzzles and brain teasers are really fun either way. The game was brought westward in 2006 as Brain Age: Train Your Brain in Minutes a Day!, which would assign the player a “brain age” based on their performance. Sequels followed up to 2013’s Brain Age: Concentration Training for the 3DS.
The new English-language trailer shows off familiar brain training mini games and exercises in sudoku, quick calculations, and speed counting that aim to keep the brain limber and youthful with mental calisthenics. Physical copies of the game will include a special stylus that will allow for fluid input on the Switch via the touchscreen. The Japanese trailer demonstrates kanji-writing exercises, but the English-language version will use the stylus for the classic Brain Age workouts too.
Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training has new Switch-specific features on offer as well. The latest installment of the Brain Age series makes creative use of the Switch’s infrared sensors on the right Joy-Con to engage players in rounds of Rock, Paper, Scissors or let mathletes answer quick arithmetic by holding up the correct count of fingers.
Additional features of Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training for the Switch include leaderboards, the ability to set training reminders, summaries of the player’s training progress via email, and competitive counting. Will there be secret Discord tech for competitive counters?
The English-language version of Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training is scheduled to release on January 3rd, 2020 in Europe. Nintendo has yet to announce an American-specific release window or title for their upcoming Brain Age game.