While it's the Pokemon franchise to which Puzzle & Dragons invites the most obvious comparisons, an upcoming collaboration with Nintendo sees GungHo's mobile phenomenon cross over with another of the firm's iconic series'.
Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition will see GungHo's mobile game – which has garnered more than 32 million downloads in its native Japan, as well as an impressive 6 million in North America – given a Mario-themed lick of paint for a brand new Nintendo 3DS title.
It's interesting to see Nintendo, the old guard of traditional handheld gaming, striking such a deal with GungHo despite its typically sceptical view of mobile.
Old meets new
However, having a game as popular as Puzzle & Dragons in its roster, especially with the combined appeal of gaming's most iconic characters, can hardly do the 3DS any harm – particularly in the Japanese market.
It's also significant that this is a game made on Nintendo's own terms. Not yet prepared to bend the knee to the likes of Apple or Google, Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition is set to be released only on the 3DS, with no in-app purchases either.
Puzzle & Dragons: Super Mario Bros. Edition for 3DS will launch in Japan on the 29April.