Banzuke Shoushin

Banzuke Shoushin is a sumo‑wrestling career simulation where the goal isn’t to win individual bouts but to follow a rikishi’s life over many years. Each playthrough represents a full calendar year, compressing the six official tournaments (basho) into a single 45‑match event. At the start of the year the wrestlers train, improving one or two of five core stats – endurance, strength, weight, speed and technique – plus a sixth stat, spirit, which the oyakata (stable masters) influence. When the basho begins, each bout is resolved by a chosen tactic and a dice roll, letting players line up their strategy with their strongest attribute or the opponent’s weakness. After the tournament the banzuke (ranking) is updated, wrestlers age, and some retire, either forced or voluntarily. The game supports 1‑3 players, though it works best with 2‑3; up to six is theoretically possible but slows the flow. A single year takes 45‑60 minutes, so a ten‑year career can stretch to ten hours, but the state can be saved between years, making short sessions easy. All components are print‑and‑play, requiring only paper, pens and a few dice to step onto the dohyo. Despite its straightforward mechanics – action points, dice rolling and career simulation – the game delivers a genuine sense of progression, perfect for fans of character development and combat‑sport themes.