The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa: F.R.E.E.'s Enigmatic Imprint

The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa is one of those hidden experimental efforts that makes the indie gaming scene such a treasure trove of daring ideas. Granted, many indie efforts tend to be poor pretenders, but every once in a while, something unquestionably novel emerges. The game is described by its sole developer 'yeo' (based in Russia) as an "existential open world game about Japanese delinquents" and this moniker isn't just a premise; in a way, it also describes the unique genre this game has created for itself and its subsequent spiritual successors. Still, as innovative as this game may appear to be, it is very much inspired by two video games that are just as unique: River City Ransom and Shenmue.

The River City Ransom comparison is perhaps the more apparent one, and it's almost easy to take for granted just how groundbreaking that game was when it was first released on the NES back in 1989. It was a brawler about Japanese delinquents that took place in an impressive (for its time) interactive open world where players could visit shops and interact with - well, mostly punch - other characters. It was a brawling role-playing game which succeeded in giving players a sense of immersion and freedom, completely unlike anything that video games were offering during the 80s. 

The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa retains most of the gameplay (brawling) elements and interactive game world mechanics and takes things further by infusing them with strong existential themes when it comes to game design, particularly in the narrative and pacing. In River City Ransom you're meant to take on the game world with fists swinging, but in The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa, you're meant to ponder the big questions between carefully approached brawls.

When Shenmue first landed on the Dreamcast in 1999, it took the gaming world by surprise, describing itself with a uniquely coined genre term "Full Reactive Eyes Entertainment" (F.R.E.E). Shenmue pioneered many things we now take for granted in modern gaming, but what it also did was to make players go through a halted pace which often had no real rhyme or reason. The game launched with much hype, anticipation, and even some critical acclaim, but slow sales and the dip in the popularity of SEGA's console simply meant that most players at the time hadn't understood the game, which speaks largely to how far ahead of its own time the experience was.

At that point in history, Shenmue was the most expensive video game ever created and would have needed to sell at least three copies per Dreamcast console on the market just to break even. Needless to say, those sales goals were not met, and by the time Shenmue 2 was released the Dreamcast was already on its way out, with SEGA opting to port the title to Microsoft's Xbox to reach more players.

Then in 2025, something remarkable occurred: the prestigious BAFTA Awards published a list of the ten most influential games in history, and out of all the other heavy hitters, Shenmue placed #1. BAFTA has deemed Shenmue the most influential game ever created, outranking the likes of Doom and even The Legend of Zelda. The recognition is well deserved and long overdue; the sheer attention to detail and realism that Shenmue introduced via its cinematic storytelling gave us the production values we take for granted today.

Although Shenmue did have an overarching plot, the vast majority of the game was what happened between major story segments, the mundane and aimless grind of getting through a day of existence. This is precisely what The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa also achieves right from the outset, thrusting players into a pace and progression that can be as purposeful or purposeless as they wish. Unlike Ryo Hazuki however, there is no grand destiny or prophecy for Ringo Ishikawa to fulfill; his life as a delinquent in 1980s Japan is simply to float through the transitory period between youth and adulthood. That being said, a player could decide to have Ringo relinquish his Yakuza aspirations and instead have him excel in physics.

In The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa, you could choose to work on fighting stats and pick fights with other youth gangs... but you're not really obligated to do so despite the game's apparent focus on combat development. You could instead approach the game as a life simulator by focusing on studies, making simple memories with friends, or even saving up for manga and that elusive video game console. This game is about carving your own routine and just immersing in the simple yet memorable town filled with little surprises hidden right under your nose. There is something unusually cathartic about taking a stroll at 1 a.m. for no real reason, and surprisingly it's the best time to not run into other youth gangs.

What brings all the different parts of the experience together as one cohesive game is its soundtrack. The music is an atmospheric, consistent jazz score which really fits with the aimless yet melodious flow of how things pan out. There is no real destination in this adventure, but much like the comforting jazz soundtrack, there are moments of brilliance hidden even in the most mundane moments. This is an existential open-world game unlike any other, and a rare instance of art imitating life in a video game.

On social media, you can find insightful musings from yeo on the highs and lows of being an indie developer, especially with some of the red tape and other hurdles to navigate. The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa was not an immediate commercial success, but years after its initial launch it has been the biggest draw for the developer. The game was followed by Arrest of a Stone Buddha, which was the least successful in sales despite taking daring steps into more mature content and introducing firearms into the combat. The next title was Fading Afternoon, which brought together all of the ideas and concepts from the prior two games into an existentially aimless yet action-packed journey. Through the three games, you witness an evolution of an underlying game design spirit, uniquely crafted by its creator.

These games may not be top sellers now, but perhaps like Shenmue, there's always the possibility of this unique trilogy becoming cult classics in their own right, generating a fanbase years after the fact.