Japanese-Style Games Dominated, But Wa Had Diverse Interpretations! Results Announced For The 26th Famicom National Vote: "What Game Comes to Mind When You Think of 'Wa'?"

Students who held back from gaming to study for exams can finally catch their breath now that the Common Test for University Admissions is over.
That being said, your next steps depend on those test results, so letting your guard down is your ultimate enemy.
You still need to watch your health and make sure you don't get too hooked on gaming, so diving into a massive blockbuster title right now might be risky.
That makes retro games the perfect fit, since many of them feature casual gameplay that's great for short sessions—and when it comes to the quintessential retro console released across various platforms, it has to be the Famicom!
Celebrating its 40th anniversary in July 2023 with various projects underway, the latest episode of Famicom Talk Shop Kobayashi Toy Store dropped on Thursday, January 18, 2024!
Along with the familiar faces of Kendo Kobayashi and Susumu Imadachi of Eleki Comic, this episode features Imadachi's comedy partner, Ichiro Yatsui of Eleki Comic, as the part-time clerk! Their seamless chemistry as a duo is a must-see!
Plus, the weekly excitement continues as the results for the latest 26th Famicom National Vote, "What Game Comes to Mind When You Think of 'Wa'?", are finally out!

Japanese-Style Titles Rule! 26th Vote Results Are Out!

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The results for the 26th Famicom National Vote, "What Game Comes to Mind When You Think of 'Wa'?", are out, and the top 20 rankings are now live on the Famicom 40th Anniversary Campaign Site!
Perhaps because most voters envisioned the traditional Japanese "Wa," Japanese-style titles heavily dominated the rankings.
Taking a proud first place among them, Ganbare Goemon! Karakuri Dōchū captured 16.6% of the votes!
This marked the very first entry in Konami's Ganbare Goemon series, which later grew into a massively popular franchise. Goemon himself stands as one of Konami's flagship characters, naturally appearing in Konami's all-star game, Konami Wai Wai World, as well.
Along with its memorable characters and gameplay, the music is famously incredible and catchy, perfectly evoking that traditional "Wa" atmosphere.
Fitting the "Wa" theme, many titles featuring kanji characters made the list. Notably, many games from the 15th vote, "What Game Comes to Mind When You Think of 'Titles Written Only in Kanji'?", ranked high here too, including Momotaro Densetsu: Peachboy Legend in 3rd place, Getsu Fūma Den in 6th, and Genpei Tōma Den in 7th.
One particularly eye-catching entry is Donkey Kong Jr. Math at 19th place! Since the result of addition is called a "sum" (pronounced "wa" in Japanese), this title absolutely fits this round's theme!
By the way, Ikki, which the author voted for, took 4th place! If you haven't played it yet and feel curious, you should definitely give it a try—preferably completely blind without looking anything up!

After "Wa" Comes This! Voting Begins for "What Game Comes to Mind When You Think of 'Yo' (Western Style)?"

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The end of the 26th vote means the 27th vote has officially begun.
Voting for the 27th Famicom National Vote opened on Thursday, January 18, 2024, featuring the theme, "What Game Comes to Mind When You Think of 'Yo' (Western Style)?",!
It only makes sense for "Yo" to follow "Wa"! A lot of Western-style titles will likely make the cut this time.
But wait! Much like how Donkey Kong Jr. Math subverted expectations for "Wa," the possibilities open up immensely depending on how you interpret "Yo"!
Cast your precious vote for the title closest to your heart from among the countless games that bring "Yo" to mind!
Just like before, you can vote by logging into your Nintendo Account and visiting the Famicom National Vote page on the campaign site.
Don't worry if you can't remember the exact title; simply typing a portion of it brings up suggestions.
The voting period for the 26th "Famicom National Vote" runs until Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at 11:59 AM, and Nintendo will announce the results on Thursday, January 25, 2024!
The author initially thought about choosing Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse (Akumajō Densetsu) for its dark Western "Yo" vibes. However, because it proved too difficult to beat back in the day, the vote went to the slightly more casual spin-off, Kid Dracula (Akumajō Special: Boku Dracula-kun)! The Game Boy version is a blast too!