What is playtranslate?

PlayTranslate is a free Android app that translates game text in real time as you play, without leaving the game. It reads text directly off your screen using optical character recognition, then shows you the translation as an overlay, you never have to switch apps or take a photo. It supports reading game text in 21 languages and displaying translations in 59 languages. The app is designed for two audiences: language learners who want to play Japanese or other foreign-language games while picking up vocabulary, and casual gamers who simply want to enjoy a game that never received an official translation. Key features include an automatic mode that translates as dialogue changes without any tapping, a floating dictionary lens you can hover over individual words for definitions, and furigana or pinyin reading hints displayed above characters in real time. You can crop the capture area to just the dialogue box so it ignores the rest of the screen. For language learners, there's built-in Anki flashcard export, it saves the original text, translation, word list, and a screenshot directly to AnkiDroid. The app works offline using on-device ML Kit models, with optional higher-quality translation via a free DeepL API key. It also supports dual-screen Android devices like the Ayn Thor handheld and physical hotkey configuration for hold-to-preview translation. Installation requires sideloading the APK since it's not on the Play Store.