From the Developer
This week's update expands PLAYNESE's Library system with the addition of new long-form reading content, including classic Japanese literature and religious texts.
A major improvement behind the scenes is a new text-based book system, allowing larger novels and books containing thousands of pages to be added efficiently without requiring large image files. This will make it much easier to continue expanding the Library over time.
The goal of the Library is to give Japanese learners a place to discover stories, history, and different types of writing while studying Japanese naturally.
Thank you as always for your suggestions, Steam reviews, and continued support during Early Access. :)
Library Expansion
New Adult Content Notice
The Steam Store Page for PLAYNESE now includes an adult notice.
As the Library grows, some stories may include:
Dark themes
Religious themes
Horror elements
More mature topics
Most of these works will be aimed around JLPT N3–N1 reading levels.
Before reading a story, players will be shown:
Information about the work
The type of content included
A recommended reading age
This is to help players choose content that fits their interests and reading level.
Religious Works in the Library
Religious books around the world will also be included over time.
These will be treated the same way as any other library book:
Available for players who want to read them
Focused on the original text and language learning
No preaching or beliefs being forced onto players
PLAYNESE's Library is designed like a real library: providing access to different types of writing and allowing players to choose what they want to explore.
New Books Available
Three new books have been added to the Library:
The Bible
Japanese Bible (口語訳 / Kougo-yaku 1954/1955)
Complete Japanese text added with some translations
More English translations will continue to be added over time
こころ = Kokoro = Heart
夏目漱石 (Natsume Souseki) - 1914
A famous Japanese public domain classic exploring themes of:
Human relationships
Isolation
Morality
The changing society of Japan
竹取物語 = たけとり ものがたり - The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter
Japan's oldest known fairy tale (10th century).
A classic Japanese story and one of the foundations of Japanese literature.
・In these books you have some options, such as bookmarking the page.
Expanding the Library System
The Library now has a clearer separation between:
JLPT Reading Content
Shorter learning-focused materials designed around Japanese study levels.
Long-form Books
Complete novels and historical works with their own book formats.
Not every book will include English translations.
Many Japanese translations are still copyrighted, and even when an original work is public domain, the translation may not be.
I have contacted multiple publishers to request permission to include more Japanese works in PLAYNESE.
If you know of Japanese public domain resources (with proof of public domain status), especially ones containing Japanese and English together, please let me know!
The long-term goal is to include as many interesting stories and books as possible so learners can find something they enjoy while improving their Japanese.
New ONLINE Game
Japanese Tower Defense
A new online multiplayer Tower Defense game has been added to the Game Center.
Answer Japanese questions to earn money and build defensive towers against waves of enemies traveling along randomly generated paths.
Features
Answer Japanese questions to earn Japanese Yen
Build towers to stop enemy waves
Available Levels:
Kana
JLPT N5
JLPT N4
JLPT N3
JLPT N2
JLPT N1
Anki Idle Updates
JLPT N5 Auto Idle Anki Completed
The complete JLPT N5 vocabulary set has now been added.
New:
332 vocabulary cards added
Total cards increased from 900 → 1,232
Players can now continue learning N5 vocabulary automatically through the Anki Idle system. Still to be added to the Anki cards with sentences and audio.
Improvements
・Updated loading screen artwork and text:
・Single-player and Co-Op multiplayer games are now grouped together in the Game Center
Bug Fixes & Typos
Thank you to everyone reporting bugs and typos!
Fixes:
Fixed around 100 JLPT N5 Anki Idle cards that were showing placeholder text
よろしくお願いします！
As always, thank you for supporting PLAYNESE during Early Access.
Your feedback, suggestions, Steam reviews, and bug reports continue helping shape the game.
See you next weekend! :>
ライト = Light 🎮