There is no secret that there are perhaps hundreds of games in Japanese that never get localized or translated into English. Maybe one game caught your fancy and you want to play it, but the language barrier blocked you from actually playing and understanding the game. This guide will recommend three primary programs I use to translate games into English and should provide a robust toolset to translate virtually any game.
Tools
While there are many translation services such as Google translate or DeepL, translating a game from Japanese will require programs to extract the text and translate them. This makes the job ten times easier if you apply the program correctly to your game. Below I will go over the programs I use for translating games.
Translator++
Translator++ is a unique program developed by Dreamsavior because he too wanted to play Japanese games. With this program, you can not only machine translate the game, but also modify the translations manually. Furthermore, it has many translator services available, including DeepL if you contribute to his Patreon.
Downsides
The program is only really useful in my opinion when it can work with the specified game engines it can modify. You can check their documentation, but the program is indeed limited in that regard. Furthermore, DeepL is not released in the public version yet... but it does have a plethora of other translating services available. So in the end, this program might not work for everyone. Especially if the game is over a decade old. So... what next then?
Textractor
This program is similar to Translator++ in the sense that it pulls and extracts text from the game that is running. However, this program works with pretty much all games in translating dialogue. So visual novels are a really good fit for this program.
Downsides
This program, like Translator++ can extract dialogue fairly easily. However, if the game has many buttons, icons, or menu labels that need to be translated, it often won't get picked up in the program, or would be difficult. So, if there are a ton of items to translate, what's the last option?
Universal Game Translator
This program is a bit different from the previous two. While the previous two directly translated by extracting the text from the game, this translator extracts and translates using images. Basically, you screen capture the text you want translated, and then it will return a translation in its place. The great thing is that this works on any text you select, so it can be applied to other mediums other than games. News articles, websites, literature.... many things. But this program fills in the gap and need for translating menu items in games where there might be many buttons to translate.
Downsides
While it does a decent job, it can be tiring to use if there are tons of dialogue. Furthermore, it only accepts a google API key or google translation service. It should really be used in a limited capacity.
Example of Using this Toolset
Recently, there was a game I wanted to play. However, as you may have guessed, it is only in Japanese. So, lets go through my journey of translating it to finally play the game.
If your curious...
1. Try Translator++
Translator++ is usually the first program I try to use since it has much more customization options and capabilities when it comes to game translations. Furthermore, it has many translating services available. However, it is limited in the fact that it can only be used on so many game engines.
The game I want translated in this example makes the job harder, since I have no idea what game engine this game uses. So, I checked the store page. However, the fact that this game was distributed only through DVD is not a good sign.... Furthermore, the game was released in 2010.... So, translating with Translator++ is probably not going to work.
2. Try Universal Game Translator
Because the game had some buttons in the menu I didn't understand, I wanted to try and use the universal game translator to translate some of the buttons. The program isn't perfect, but it works.
3. Textractor
Although I say last resort, this program is still good. It just has a ton of windows when it opens. But it works with practically any game I have used so far. Although, I have to say, even this program had some trouble extracting some of the text in the beginning... Luckily, it worked out.
Conclusion
These three programs will definitely aid you in your quest to play many Japanese games in the future. Especially games where it is unlikely they will ever be translated. Heck, the game I was trying to translate isn't even being sold anymore. Well, hopefully this helped you translate the game you wanted to play. Have fun!
Download Links
Translator++
Textractor
Universal Game Translator
Basic Guides
Translator++
Textractor
Using DeepL in Textractor
DeepL:
Devtools DeepL:
Tools
While there are many translation services such as Google translate or DeepL, translating a game from Japanese will require programs to extract the text and translate them. This makes the job ten times easier if you apply the program correctly to your game. Below I will go over the programs I use for translating games.
Translator++
Translator++ is a unique program developed by Dreamsavior because he too wanted to play Japanese games. With this program, you can not only machine translate the game, but also modify the translations manually. Furthermore, it has many translator services available, including DeepL if you contribute to his Patreon.
Downsides
The program is only really useful in my opinion when it can work with the specified game engines it can modify. You can check their documentation, but the program is indeed limited in that regard. Furthermore, DeepL is not released in the public version yet... but it does have a plethora of other translating services available. So in the end, this program might not work for everyone. Especially if the game is over a decade old. So... what next then?
Textractor
This program is similar to Translator++ in the sense that it pulls and extracts text from the game that is running. However, this program works with pretty much all games in translating dialogue. So visual novels are a really good fit for this program.
Downsides
This program, like Translator++ can extract dialogue fairly easily. However, if the game has many buttons, icons, or menu labels that need to be translated, it often won't get picked up in the program, or would be difficult. So, if there are a ton of items to translate, what's the last option?
Universal Game Translator
This program is a bit different from the previous two. While the previous two directly translated by extracting the text from the game, this translator extracts and translates using images. Basically, you screen capture the text you want translated, and then it will return a translation in its place. The great thing is that this works on any text you select, so it can be applied to other mediums other than games. News articles, websites, literature.... many things. But this program fills in the gap and need for translating menu items in games where there might be many buttons to translate.
Downsides
While it does a decent job, it can be tiring to use if there are tons of dialogue. Furthermore, it only accepts a google API key or google translation service. It should really be used in a limited capacity.
Example of Using this Toolset
Recently, there was a game I wanted to play. However, as you may have guessed, it is only in Japanese. So, lets go through my journey of translating it to finally play the game.
If your curious...
You must be registered to see the links
1. Try Translator++
Translator++ is usually the first program I try to use since it has much more customization options and capabilities when it comes to game translations. Furthermore, it has many translating services available. However, it is limited in the fact that it can only be used on so many game engines.
The game I want translated in this example makes the job harder, since I have no idea what game engine this game uses. So, I checked the store page. However, the fact that this game was distributed only through DVD is not a good sign.... Furthermore, the game was released in 2010.... So, translating with Translator++ is probably not going to work.
2. Try Universal Game Translator
Because the game had some buttons in the menu I didn't understand, I wanted to try and use the universal game translator to translate some of the buttons. The program isn't perfect, but it works.
3. Textractor
Although I say last resort, this program is still good. It just has a ton of windows when it opens. But it works with practically any game I have used so far. Although, I have to say, even this program had some trouble extracting some of the text in the beginning... Luckily, it worked out.
Conclusion
These three programs will definitely aid you in your quest to play many Japanese games in the future. Especially games where it is unlikely they will ever be translated. Heck, the game I was trying to translate isn't even being sold anymore. Well, hopefully this helped you translate the game you wanted to play. Have fun!
Download Links
Translator++
You must be registered to see the links
Textractor
You must be registered to see the links
Universal Game Translator
You must be registered to see the links
Basic Guides
Translator++
You must be registered to see the links
Textractor
You must be registered to see the links
Using DeepL in Textractor
DeepL:
You must be registered to see the links
You must be registered to see the links
Devtools DeepL:
You must be registered to see the links
Last edited:
