History Main / DoujinSoft

In recent years, there have also been a very small but growing number of publishers, independent or otherwise, that localize these games outside of Japan and bring them overseas. There are also a few specialty online retailers that can import the original pressings of a doujin game, if copies are available in stock and if shipping the game in question isn't taxing on your wallet. Additionally, some doujin games have been re-released and localized digitally through digital distribution services such as [[Website/DLSite DLsite]], and Platform/{{Steam}} to make things easier for those who could not attend to the events where they were originally released in and alleviate the cost of importing the games overseas. Some games even get some [[UpdatedRerelease quality-of-life improvements]] or even [[RegionalBonus special bonuses]] one way or another for their overseas release, depending on the publisher.

The term "[=doujin soft[ware]=]", also known as "doujin games", refers to a sub-genre of {{doujinshi}} -- essentially, self-published video games. They can be considered Japan's equivalent to an {{indie game}}; while the term "indie" exists in Japan, it is a relatively new concept which refers only to games released through commercial channels.

In recent years, there have also been a very small but growing number of publishers, independent or otherwise, that localize these games outside of Japan and bring them overseas. There are also a few specialty online retailers that can import the original pressings of a doujin game, if copies are available in stock and if shipping the game in question isn't taxing on your wallet. Additionally, some doujin games have been re-released and localized digitally through digital distribution services such as [[Website/DLSite DLsite]], and UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} to make things easier for those who could not attend to the events where they were originally released in and alleviate the cost of importing the games overseas. Some games even get some [[UpdatedRerelease quality-of-life improvements]] or even [[RegionalBonus special bonuses]] one way or another for their overseas release, depending on the publisher.

* ''VideoGame/FightNRage''

* ''Acceleration of SUGURI'' and it's expansion pack

* ''VideoGame/AkatsukiBlitzkampf'' and it's expansion pack
** ''EN-Eins Perfektewelt'' and it's upcoming expansion pack

* ''VideoGame/MeltyBlood'' and it's expansion packs

* ''VideoGame/UnderNightInBirth'' and it's expansion packs

** ''Ultimate Knight Windom XP'' and it's expansion pack

* ''VideoGame/{{DYSNOMIA}}''

** ''acceleration of SUGURI 2''
* ''VideoGame/AkatsukiBlitzkampf''
** ''EN-Eins Perfektewelt''

* ''VideoGame/MeltyBlood''

* ''VideoGame/UnderNightInBirth''

** ''Ultimate Knight Windom XP'' and its expansion pack

* ''Acceleration of SUGURI'' and its expansion pack

Doujin games are generally released for Windows-based computers, and, like doujinshi, doujin soft may offer games based on one or more intellectual properties, or entirely original works. The most frequent genres seen in this category of games are {{platformer}}s, {{fighting game}}s, {{RPG}}s, [[ShootEmUp shoot 'em ups]] (often BulletHell shooters), and {{visual novel}}s. These games are often released at special Japanese conventions, such as the Comic Market (a.k.a. Comiket) and Reitaisai. Depending on the game's subject matter, they can also be considered fan games (e.g. ''VideoGame/GriefSyndrome'' to ''Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica'') or a {{homage}} to another favorite franchise (e.g. ''VideoGame/{{Rosenkreuzstilette}}'' to ''VideoGame/{{Mega Man|Classic}}''). Most of the time, doujin game developers manage to avoid getting {{screwed by the lawyers}} concerning the use of another intellectual property, while a few others aren't so lucky, such ''VideoGame/RockmenR''.

* ''Franchise/TouhouProject'', to this day the undisputed king of doujin videogames in general, thanks to its combination of CuteEmUp with Japanese mythology, massive amounts of fanart and LoadsAndLoadsOfCharacters with plenty of room to adapt to whatever a doujin work needs.

In recent years, there have also been a very small but growing number of publishers, independent or otherwise, that localize these games outside of Japan and bring them overseas. There are also a few specialty online retailers that can import the original pressings of a doujin game, if copies are available in stock and if shipping the game in question isn't taxing on your wallet. Additionally, some doujin games have been re-released and localized digitally through digital distribution services such as [[Website/DLSite DLsite]], PLAYISM, and UsefulNotes/{{Steam}} to make things easier for those who could not attend to the events where they were originally released in and alleviate the cost of importing the games overseas. Some games even get some [[UpdatedRerelease quality-of-life improvements]] or even [[RegionalBonus special bonuses]] one way or another for their overseas release, depending on the publisher.

Doujin video games has been around for a very long time. One of the most prominent (and well-known) long-runners of the doujin scene is the ''Franchise/{{Touhou}}'' series, with its first entry debuting in 1996; since then, it has expanded across 22 official games in the series and a cornucopia of [[FanWorks/{{Touhou}} fan-games]]. That is not to say there aren't other doujin game series that have contended for such a position and legacy. Other doujin series, such as ''VisualNovel/FateStayNight'' and the ''VisualNovel/HigurashiWhenTheyCry'' series, have even migrated into the realm of mainstream anime and manga.

** ''Touhou Sky Arena'' (''Magical Battle Arena''[='=]s spiritual successor featuring various ''VideoGame/TouhouProject'' characters)

* ''Franchise/{{Touhou}}'' (the spin-off [[FightingGame fighting games]] ''Immaterial And Missing Power'', ''Scarlet Weather Rhapsody'', ''Hisoutensoku'', ''Hopeless Masquerade'', ''Urban Legend in Limbo'' and ''Antimony of Common Flowers'')

** [[{{FanWorks/Touhou}} Fan Games (various genres)]][[index]]

* ''VideoGame/FairyBloom''