Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid is Getting a Western Release in 2024

Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid is getting a Western release for both Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam after launching last year in Japan.

More than two decades ago, director Kaz Ayabe and his game development studio, Millennium Kitchen, debuted its Boku no Natsuyasumi, which translates to My Summer Vacation. The series is about nostalgic, day-in-the-life adventures through Japan.

Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid

The franchise, alongside Animal Crossing and Harvest Moon, practically kickstarted the "cozy" boom that many players see today. And while the original series did not ever get global localizations, the latest entry is preparing to have a proper worldwide launch.

The game's publisher, Spike Chunsoft, along with its developer, Millennium Kitchen, announced that Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid will receive an English translation on Aug. 6, 2024. Also on July 30, 2024, players will be able to get their hands on a Nintendo Switch demo for free.

But for the people who may already own the game's Japanese version on Steam, they will get a free update that will simply patch an English option on Aug. 6, 2024, according to GamesRadar.

The cozy game may not be a proper part of the My Summer Vacation franchise that players have been asking for a port for, but it still shares many of the same elements. It is basically a game in the series in all aspects except for its name.

Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid is filled with chirping cicadas, open-ended exploration adventures, fishing, and bug-catching mini-games all set in a sunny town. The latter serves as both a nostalgic escape and a reminder of lost childhood that players will be able to recover.

A press release for the game explained that a "circus troupe comes to Yomogi Town, a rural town in Japan situated between mountains and the ocean." In Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid, players take control of the circus ringmaster's son.

A Classic Cozy Series

The main protagonist's name is Satoru and he will meet many people and have amazing experiences in the game. You will be able to take him to swim in the sea, climb up a mountain, and take a train to the neighboring town, said NintendoLife.

You will be able to have fun interacting with both people who live in the town and your fellow troupe members. As you make your way through your summer days, you will eventually be tasked with directing the circus itself.

The summer days that players will be able to experience in Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid are always filled with various activities. These include fishing at the river and catching rare bugs in a field.

The key features of the game include stunning 3D visuals in an immersive world that includes life-like recreations of quaint shopping districts and charming single-car trains.

It also has a dynamic environment with time passing by and changing weather conditions that add depth and authenticity to players' experience.

On top of these, Natsu-Mon: 20th Century Summer Kid will let you reconnect with the childhood joys of exploration and create new memories in a world that is brimming with possibilities, according to Gematsu.