Digimon Story: Time Stranger – ‘Undub’ Mod Guide: Original Japanese Names

This is your complete guide to installing the Japanese Names & Terminology mod for Digimon Story: Time Stranger, a must-have for any purist who wants an authentic, sub-over-dub experience.

Aight, so you’re a true Digimon fan. You know your Piemon from your Piedmon, your Tailmon from your Gatomon. You grew up with the OG Japanese names, and hearing the English “dub” terminology in Digimon Story: Time Stranger just feels… off. Hearing “Rookie” instead of “Child,” or “Pepper Breath” instead of the iconic “Baby Flame”? Big yikes.

If you’re all about that authentic, sub-over-dub experience, then we’ve got the perfect mod for you. Created by Geo, the Japanese Names & Terminology mod is a simple “undub” patch that restores the original Japanese names for Digimon, attacks, and key terms. This guide will show you exactly what it changes, how to install it, and how to uninstall it if you ever want to go back.

What Does This Mod Actually Change? (The Undub Deep Dive)

This isn’t just a few name swaps; it’s a comprehensive overhaul to make the game’s text more faithful to the original Japanese version.

• Digimon Names: Say goodbye to the English dub names you might not vibe with. This mod restores the original names for many Digimon. The most classic example is changing DemiDevimon back to PicoDevimon.
• Evolution Stages: The English localization changed the names of the evolution stages. This mod brings back the OG terms from Japan.
  • Rookie -> Child
  • Champion -> Adult
  • Ultimate -> Perfect
  • Mega -> Ultimate
• Attack Names: This part of the mod is still a work-in-progress, but it aims to change many of the localized attack names back to their original, often cooler-sounding, Japanese versions. Think Baby Flame instead of Pepper Breath.
• Key Terminology: This is a huge one for purists. The mod changes key gameplay terms to their original Japanese counterparts.
  • Digivolve -> Evolve
  • DNA Digivolution -> Jogress
  • Digi-Cross -> Xros

How to Install the Japanese Names Mod (Step-by-Step)

Installing this mod is super easy, but you’re messing with game files, so follow these steps carefully.

Step 0: Back Up Your Files! (For Real)

No cap, do this first. Before you even download the mod, you need to make a backup of your original game files.

1. Follow Step 3 below to find your game’s gamedata folder.
2. Inside that folder, you’ll see a bunch of .mvgl files.
3. Copy all of those files and paste them into a new, safe folder somewhere on your desktop called “Digimon Backup” or something.
4. This will save you a massive headache if you ever want to uninstall the mod.

Step 1: Download the Mod

You’ll need to download the mod files from their official source.

Step 2: Close the Game

Make sure Digimon Story: Time Stranger is not running. You can’t modify the files while the game is open.

Step 3: Find Your Game Folder (The Easy Way)

1. Open your Steam Library.
2. Right-click on Digimon Story: Time Stranger.
3. Go to Manage -> Browse local files.
4. A folder window will pop up. This is your main game directory.

Step 4: Open the ‘gamedata’ Folder

Inside the main game directory, you’ll see a folder named gamedata. Open it.

Step 5: Drag, Drop, and Overwrite

1. Open the mod file you downloaded (it’s probably a .zip or .rar file).
2. You’ll see a bunch of .mvgl files inside.
3. Drag all of those files from the mod’s folder and drop them directly into the gamedata folder you opened in Step 4.
4. Windows will pop up a message asking if you want to replace the files in the destination. Click YES or “Replace the files in the destination.”
5. That’s it! Launch the game and enjoy the original Japanese terminology.

Whoops, I Want to Go Back: How to Uninstall the Mod

Changed your mind? No worries. Uninstalling is just as easy.

• The Easy Way (If You Listened): If you made a backup in Step 0, all you have to do is copy your original files from your backup folder and paste them back into the gamedata folder, overwriting the modded files. Done.
• The Nuke Option (If You Didn’t Make a Backup): If you didn’t make a backup, you can have Steam fix it for you.
  1. Right-click the game in your Steam Library and go to Properties.
  2. Go to the Installed Files tab.
  3. Click the button that says “Verify integrity of game files…”
  4. Steam will scan your game, see that the files are modified, and re-download the original versions.
  5. BIG WARNING: This method will likely remove ALL of your mods, not just this one. So if you have other mods installed, be prepared to reinstall them.

Now go enjoy the game with the authentic experience you were looking for. Happy taming!

by Geo