Note : This guide is no longer relevant, since the game finally launched globally!

Overview

I spent a whole day making this game work, collecting scattered bits of information from multiple sources and trying various solutions. Turns out it’s pretty simple, but I couldn’t find any comprehensive guides for the whole process. So, I put this together to help those who want to play Onmyoji Arena before its global release (which doesn’t even have a date yet).

The problem: Onmyoji Arena only runs on Asian servers right now and is only available in Play Store for Asian countries. Therefore, those in the west can’t download it.

The good news: Playing the game isn’t actually restricted by region. Once you have it installed and running, it won’t stop you from playing even if you’re outside of Asia. On top of that, the game is officially translated to English and the translation is airtight.

Note: This guide only covers how to install and run Onmyoji Arena on PC/Android. There are more steps you’re advised take to improve quality of life, such as lowering ping (ex: UU Game Booster) and binding keyboard keys to skills (example video for Mobile Legends, which has a similar UI). I may later post a separate guide covering these topics.

Step 1: Get an Android emulator/device

If you have a real Android device and just want to play Onmyoji Arena on mobile, skip this step.

If you want to play on PC, download and install an Android emulator. I recommend NoxPlayer, the emulator I used. Other emulators may work as well, but Nox is the one I tested.

Step 2: Download the APK

You can’t download the game from Play Store, but here’s how you can get your hands on the game’s APK:

Download the game’s APK from Apkpure to your PC. Download Pure APK Install to your PC. You’ll need it to install the APK you downloaded.

Step 3: Install the APK

First, you need connect your Android to the PC.

If you’re using a real Android device, connect it your PC via USB.

If you’re using Nox emulator, it suffices to boot Nox and let it run in the background. The same probably applies to other emulators as well.

Next, run Pure APK Install and press “Open APK File”. Select the APK you downloaded in Step 2. If you didn’t rename the file, it should be called something like Onmyoji Arena_v3.18.0_apkpure.com.xapk.

Before installing, you need to turn off the “Scan APK before installation” feature. You do so by pressing the little arrow at the top-right of the window. Don’t forget to press “Save Changes”.

Finally, choose to install the game on “External SD Card” and press “Install”.

Step 4: Profit

Once the installation is done – you’re ready to go! Return to your Android device/emulator and boot the game! Simple, right? Can’t believe it took me literally a whole day to get this to work…

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. See you all on the battlefield of Heian-kyō!