Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu Enters Early Access on April 17
Developer Onion Soup Interactive has officially announced that Nippon Marathon 2: Daijoubu will enter Early Access for PC via Steam on April 17, 2026.
The sequel to the physics-based racing hit is projected to remain in the Early Access phase for approximately 12 to 16 months as the team refines gameplay and adds features.
Players can expect a significant influx of new content during this period, including additional contestants, marathon stages, and various outfits to customize their experience.
The upcoming release will feature expanded create-a-character options and a comprehensive online mode to facilitate competitive play across the globe.
Fans of the original title will see the return of the turn-based party game known as LOBSTER MODE, which adds a layer of social competition to the zany racing format.
At the start of Early Access on April 17, 2026, the game will include three playable stages: the temple-filled Shika Shika Deer Town, the urban Yolko Harbor, and the upscale Poodle Hill Zone.
The initial roster consists of four eccentric characters including J Darwin, Elizabeth Nishibori, Snuguru Maestro, and Zenbei, each possessing unique statistical traits for recovery and acceleration.
Strategic gameplay is encouraged through a variety of items such as the Heat-Seeking Melon and the new Whirling Cucumber, which allows players to physically strike their opponents.
The scoring system remains unconventional, rewarding players not just for speed but also for audience popularity and their effective use of weapons throughout the race.
Onion Soup Interactive has integrated Japanese Kanji and Katakana into the user interface to maintain the aesthetic of a bizarre Japanese television game show.
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