Nihon Sumo Kyokai Kounin: Nihon Oozumou Gekitou Honbashohen

I was worried this would be too complicated, but the balance between realism and pick-up-and-play controls is just right. The way the rikishi react to your inputs actually feels like a real match.

Took me a few matches to get the timing down, but the throws feel weighty and the roster has real personality. It’s maybe not the deepest sim, but it nails the satisfying *thump* of a good hip toss without burying you in menus.

I’ve been playing this for a few hours and the simple button-mapped throws actually capture the feel of a real bout. The weight class differences visibly affect movement speed and power, which keeps each match tense. It’s exactly the kind of arcade-style sumo I was hoping for.