We Love It's Guide to…

So to Speak

Can you learn Japanese by solving puzzles? So to Speak is a game about wandering in Japan, looking at signs, overhearing conversations, and using context clues in the environment to figure out what it all means. No background in Japanese is assumed.

98%
of 121 reviews
$12.59
$17.99
-30%
Released: Mar 31, 2025  •  Developer: Erik Andersen  •  Publisher: Erik Andersen

The Developer Says...

Have you ever wanted to learn Japanese? Have you tried studying but feel like you aren't getting anywhere?

In So to Speak, you use context clues to guess the meaning of what you see and hear. Unlike other games and tools, meanings aren't revealed immediately. Every word is its own puzzle - to proceed, you must connect it to nearby objects or text with the same meaning. For example, you can drag a Japanese sign for "entrance" onto an actual building entrance located nearby or the English word "entrance" in the game's description of the entrance.

The game is a love letter to the Japanese language and the experience of wandering alone in another country. There are no drills, no fights, no minigames, and no distractions. The entire game is a series of situations, and each one helps you discover the meaning of something new.

Features:

  • Learn more than 650 words covering topics such as travel, nature, family, colors, numbers, time, and directions.

  • Explore cities, rural areas, gardens, and temples filled with signs and conversations to decipher along with clues to help you.

  • Grow your knowledge from simple words like "car" and "tree" to complex sentences like "The parking lot is for convenience store customers only."

Awards and Kudos

Back of the Box Details

Steam Deck

Playable

DLC

None

DRM/EULA Notices

None

Achievements

None

Ratings

None

Metacritic

None

Content Notices

None

Controller Support

None

Reviews

98%

Overwhelmingly Positive

Based on 121 reviews


Individual reviews are not available yet.