Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe has announced the latest installment of its anime-style soccer series, Captain Tsubasa, for the Nintendo Switch. Titled Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters, the game is expected to release later this year on the Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam, though the exact date remains unconfirmed. Needless to say, the game continues the legacy of the iconic manga and anime that began in 1981.
Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters is being developed by the same team behind the previous game, Tamsoft Corporation. This is promising for fans, as the studio showed it could deliver a fun, action-packed anime sports experience. For reference, Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions holds Mostly Positive reviews on Steam, with 92% of recent players recommending it.
Nintendo Switch 2 Exclusive Co-Op Game Looks Like It Takes Two and Split Fiction, But With an Old-School Anime Twist
An upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 exclusive looks like a perfect fit for co-op fans who love It Takes Two, Split Fiction, and anime.
Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters Reveals First Trailer
A brief teaser during February's Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase introduced the upcoming Captain Tsubasa installment, World Fighters. The trailer was under a minute long and touched only on the game's core features. Luckily, Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe followed up with a longer trailer that dives deeper. Released almost simultaneously with the Nintendo Direct announcement, the extended trailer showcases additional characters and their super moves, while also revealing more of the story, which follows Tsubasa Oozora's quest to win the world championship.
As with the previous iterations, what sets the Captain Tsubasa series apart is its anime-style over-the-top soccer action, which lets players pull off supernatural moves on the pitch. Known as super moves in the game, these techniques can summon divine creatures or even vehicle spirits to manipulate the ball. While inspired by the signature dribbles and shots in the manga and anime series, the game takes them to an even more exaggerated level.
Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters is set to release in 2026, though the exact date has not been announced.
Bandai Namco Wants to Make the Game "Bigger and Better"
Bandai Namco has revealed that the upcoming Switch game will feature never-before-seen characters and a larger roster of teams. The gameplay has been made more technical and complex, introducing new features like goalkeeper action, which enables the defending side to perform special defense maneuvers. Fans of anime-esque action will also be excited by the expanded list of super move animations.
Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters Features at a Glance
- 22 national teams
- 110 playable characters
- 150 super move animations
- New goalkeeper system
- More advanced dribbles, tackles, and blocks
- New rivals and friendships
World Fighters Seems to Be a Continuation of the Previous Game
Many fans have wondered how the new game connects to its predecessor, which followed an adrenaline-fueled story. According to the announcement, Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters appears to be a direct continuation, with Bandai Namco Europe calling it the "next episode" in Tsubasa's saga.
Players will need to create their own unique character to join Tsubasa on his latest adventure. "[We] invite fans to follow their journey to victory by creating their own character and joining Tsubasa on his quest," the official page states, adding that "Players will forge new friendships, fight new rivals, and bring the trophy back home."
Nintendo Switch users can now add Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters to their wishlist, as the game's eShop page is live.
Switch 2 Owners Have Another "Over-the-Top" Soccer Game to Check Out
Nintendo Switch 2 owners might be disappointed that Captain Tsubasa 2: World Fighters is limited to the previous-gen console. Fortunately, another anime-style sports game can fill the gap: Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road. Long regarded as one of the best action-oriented sports series, the latest Inazuma installment features a vast roster of characters and an expanded story, offering Switch 2 players plenty of gameplay to sink their teeth into for months.