While Suing Palworld, Nintendo Allows One Piece Rip-Off Game on Switch
You’ve probably heard about what’s going on between Nintendo and Palworld. Nintendo has been filing patents for gameplay mechanics in an effort to sue Palworld. One of the most absurd outcomes so far was Palworld being forced to remove the ability to fly with Pals—something that exists in many other games!
Yet, while doing all that, Nintendo is allowing games that blatantly copy other famous franchises—like One Piece—to be listed on the Switch store!
While Suing Palworld, Nintendo Allows One Piece Rip-Off Game on Switch
Two new titles are drawing attention on the Japanese Nintendo eShop: Pirate Anime Quest: One Boys’ Journey, A Piece of Island Love and Pirate Anime Quest: One Girls’ Journey, A Piece of Island Love. Both are being called blatant One Piece rip-offs, as you can see from the images.
Despite having different titles, both games have identical descriptions on the eShop, suggesting a story where players must “merge forbidden fruits to capture the heart of your ideal pirate.” The gameplay appears to revolve around interacting with characters that resemble the Straw Hat Pirates, choosing dialogue options, and giving them fruits to unlock secret scenes and alternate endings—some of which are reportedly adult-rated.
There’s also a minigame that closely resembles the hit Suika Game, where you drop fruits into a container to combine them. However, there is currently no actual gameplay footage—only promotional screenshots.
Japanese Reactions to the One Piece Rip-Off Game
The Japanese community quickly pointed out the games’ similarities to Eiichiro Oda’s work and questioned how such titles passed Nintendo’s notoriously strict copyright approval process. Many are calling for tighter screening of games on the Nintendo eShop, while others are amused by the idea of a One Piece-inspired visual novel with what appears to be AI-generated art.
As of now, both games are still listed on the Nintendo eShop and are scheduled for release on May 29. It remains to be seen whether Nintendo or the rights holders of One Piece will take action before the official launch.
