Exploring Alternate Histories through Historical Strategy Games

History fans often find themselves pondering ‘what if?’ scenarios, imagining how slight changes could have influenced world events. Video games that delve into these hypothetical situations typically fall into the grand strategy genre, allowing players to lead a faction and dominate their enemies through manipulation or force. One prominent developer in this genre is Kou Shibusawa, a division of Koei Tecmo known for producing exceptional historical strategy titles since the days of the original NES. We had the opportunity to speak with the studio’s heads to learn more about their history in the genre and what draws players to their games.

The Origin of Kou Shibusawa

If the name Kou Shibusawa sounds familiar, it’s because it holds great significance in the gaming industry. Originally, it served as a penname for Yoichi Erikawa, one of Koei’s co-founders in 1978 and the current CEO of Koei Tecmo. Over the years, Erikawa produced games under this alias to differentiate his role as the company’s head from that of a game developer. In 2016, when Koei decided to rename the division responsible for their historical strategy games, they adopted Kou Shibusawa as the brand.

“From the early days of series like Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Nobunaga’s Ambition, ‘A KOU SHIBUSAWA PRODUCTION’ appeared at the start of the game,” says Ito Yukinori, the studio’s head and producer of Romance of the Three Kingdoms Hadou. “While some players might not know the true identity behind Kou Shibusawa, they were likely familiar with the name.”

This decision to establish Kou Shibusawa as a separate entity within Koei Tecmo seems to have significantly influenced the studio’s focus. Romance of the Three Kingdoms XIV producer Echigoya Kazuhiro explains, “Each member of our development staff has become more aware of our intellectual property. Previously, console and online/web games were developed separately, leading to a sense of disconnection. But now, we all perceive ourselves as guardians of the IP, committed to further developing and expanding it. This shift has made it simpler for us to introduce new characters and focus on their development.”

Kou Shibusawa, as a team, is responsible for creating some of the longest-running series in Koei’s collection. Franchises like Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Nobunaga’s Ambition give players the opportunity to explore a history that remains unwritten, maintaining the legacy of these deep strategic games filled with larger-than-life characters.

A Rich Legacy

Koei has been porting PC games for as long as Nintendo has been producing home consoles. In the Nobunaga’s Ambition series, players assume the roles of daimyos or Oda Nobunaga himself during Japan’s Warring States period in the 15th century. On the other hand, Romance of the Three Kingdoms—spawning the popular Dynasty Warriors franchise—loosely adapts the events of the earlier Chinese Three Kingdoms period. By the time the division officially became known as Kou Shibusawa in 2016, both series had already seen over 25 mainline releases. However, not all of their games have achieved significant success in the Western market. Uncharted Waters, for instance, revolves around Europe’s events during the 15th and 16th centuries but has struggled to find an audience beyond Asia.

“The series’ theme originated in Europe, so we genuinely hope players in Europe and North America will appreciate it as well,” reveals Shoji Yuhei, producer of Uncharted Waters Origin, the series’ 2023 reboot. It seems that the lack of Western exposure isn’t due to any specific opposition, but rather a matter of demand.

In addition to their historical titles, Kou Shibusawa has also engaged in collaborative projects. Pokémon Conquest, for example, merges the Nobunaga’s Ambition and Pokémon universes into a turn-based strategy RPG for the DS. Additionally, the team collaborated with Intelligent Systems on Fire Emblem: Three Houses in 2019.

“Koei Tecmo had an existing relationship with Intelligent Systems through the development of Fire Emblem Warriors, so they approached us to work together,” explains Ryu Michi, producer and director of the upcoming Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening. “Since Kou Shibusawa primarily focuses on simulation games, we were assigned to develop the title. Although these collaborations are relatively rare, they have resulted in unique and enjoyable games that diverge from our usual portfolio.”

Paying Attention to Detail

Unlike the Civilization series with its anachronistic tone, Kou Shibusawa games never fail to emphasize attention to detail while exploring flexible historical events. Factors such as the price of grain can determine the fate of entire empires, and allowing ambitious individuals to grow too powerful can lead to new rivalries. These intricacies are central to the gaming experience, as this studio is unafraid to challenge players.

“In Nobunaga’s Ambition: Haouden, released in 1992 (Japan-only), we implemented a system that closely reflected real historical facts, where officers received commendations and dominions,” shares Ryu Michi when asked about the games that struck the best balance between detail and accessibility. “Although this text-based game was challenging to visualize given the technical limitations of the time, it garnered significant player interest. Some players might consider it an enthusiast title. With our newest release, Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening, we are making another attempt to strike a satisfying balance.

“When it comes to achieving balance, it’s difficult to identify a definitive answer, as it depends on the criteria used for judgment,” Ryu Michi adds. He cites the critical success of Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence as a game that potentially achieved the desired balance.

Switching the Course of History

Since its early days, Koei has centered its games around the idea of a malleable history. Titles like Nobunaga’s Ambition: Awakening offer players the opportunity to explore alternate historical paths. How might events unfold with different leaders at the helm? Will Nobunaga realize his dream of a unified Japan? Who will be the first to subdue China’s fragmented landscape?

“History, including Japan’s Warring States period, is commonly seen as unchangeable, but what we know is merely a fraction of the whole story,” Ryu Michi explains. “New discoveries and interpretations continue to emerge even today. This is why our knowledge of Japan’s Warring States period, the setting of Nobunaga’s Ambition, inspires our creativity and fuels our desire to explore further.”

Although matters of state may seem serious, Kou Shibusawa games occasionally adopt a whimsical approach when delving into these alternative timelines. Sometimes, this means removing certain historical figures or assigning players the task of assisting a different warlord in achieving their goals. In the case of Nobunaga’s Ambition: Sphere of Influence, which was exclusive to Japan, the game used the Switch’s IR technology to offer an innovative experience.