The Friends of Ringo Ishikawa is a 2D side-scrolling beat-'em-up that follows high-school delinquent Ringo Ishikawa as he balances gang fights, schoolwork, part-time jobs and daily life in a stylised retro Japanese setting. Players can brawl with rival gangs, earn money to buy items, attend classes, and explore various locations such as cafés and burger shops, all while building friendships and rivalries. The Switch version adds handheld-friendly pixel graphics and supports Nintendo Switch Online features.