As we all know, Youkai Watch is EXTREMELY popular in Japan. With every game it seems to become even more popular. Heck, we have confirmation that the game is coming to the US holiday 2015. But something seems to be odd. Nobody is talking much about it. I am aware that little was shown of the game but it is releasing in around 5-6 Months and hype seems very little for this title. I mean, I know Youtube isn't a qualifier for how well a game will do but the views on any Youkai Watch videos outside of Japan are rather small.

Nintendo is betting on a "Pokemon-like" debut in the US, but I doubt it'll obtain that status. I don't think it will do well in the US at all even with the Anime and toys. It just seems a bit left field for the US gamer in terms of the cultural barrier. I don't know, maybe I'm wrong. And I would love to see it succeed, I will buy it just because it is something new and Level 5 is responsible for the game but what do you guys think? Will it fail outside of Japan? Please, discuss.

Its possible. I'm pretty sure a lot of persons doubted Pokemon before its debut in the west.

Very much so but remember, we were in the 90's. JRPGs and Anime were running wild at the time. That set the stage for Pokemon. I just don't think it has the same qualities of Pokemon that made the original so enjoyable.

Yo-kai Watch didn't do well in Japan either before the anime aired.

Yes, like a fish.

But wasn't the Pokémon anime the reason Pokemon became a huge hit in the west?

Well said. The original Youkai Watch didn't sell that well, it wasn't until Youkai Watch 2 and around the Anime that the series took off. Maybe the Anime will do the trick like the Pokemon Anime did for the game. But I won't bet on that just yet.

It really depends on how popular the anime gets. If it works, the games will be popular, if not, they're going to flop veeerrrry hard.

Yes, and by flop I mean it won't break 1m in the west.

Regarding the anime, I am not a child so have absolutely no idea how that will go down when it is eventually released over here lol.

It might just be me growing up or something but the Anime didn't really catch my interest. I watched some subbed episodes but I just couldn't get into it. Like I said, maybe kids will love it. I hope the Anime does well enough to capture consumer interest or like you said, it'll flop like a Magikarp.