Surreal Horror ADV 'Hie: The Dream Of A Cockspur' Launches on Steam July 22
As the debut full-length work from a developer with a molecular cell biology background, "Hie: The Dream Of A Cockspur" offers a surrealist horror experience that contrasts its therapy dog comfort element, carving a niche in the indie horror space.
Key Facts
- PLAYISM will release "Hie: The Dream Of A Cockspur" on Steam on July 22, 2026.
- The game is a point-and-click horror adventure set on a deserted island where the protagonist is stranded after a boat engine failure.
- Developer roccay previously specialized in molecular cell biology and pathology; this is his first full-length game.
- The game features a therapy dog named Nannan that provides comfort to the player.
- The price is 790 yen (tax included).
Reporting from 4 sources: 4Gamer.net, Denfaminicogamer, Automaton, Game Spark.
PLAYISM announced on July 15 that it will release the point-and-click horror adventure "Hie: The Dream Of A Cockspur" on Steam on July 22. The game is set on a deserted island where the protagonist and other investigators become stranded after their boat engine fails while investigating a mysterious crashed object. Players explore locations and items to uncover the horror lurking on the island, with player choices affecting which story aspects are revealed. The developer roccay, who previously specialized in molecular cell biology and pathology, created this as his first full-length game. The game features a therapy dog named Nannan that provides comfort. The price is 790 yen including tax. The released trailer shows stop-motion animation using clay and plaster props. The title was changed from "The Dream Of A Cockspur" to its current form, and the Steam store page quotes a Bible verse from the Gospel of Matthew, suggesting themes of food and supernatural beings. The game supports Japanese language.
Developer roccay, who originally studied molecular cell biology and pathology, has moved into full-time game development with this first full-length title. The game's surrealist visual style is influenced by surrealist art and animation, and the trailer demonstrates stop-motion using clay and plaster props. The Steam store page includes a quote from the Gospel of Matthew comparing humans to grain, hinting at themes of food and supernatural beings. The title was revised from "The Dream Of A Cockspur" to include "Hie:" (barnyard millet), and the store page features blacked-out text that appears rewritten, adding to the mystery. Player choices determine which aspects of the story are revealed, changing how the narrative is perceived. The therapy dog Nannan can be petted and wags its tail, providing a calming presence amid the unsettling atmosphere. The game is priced at 790 yen and supports Japanese language.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 4 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- 4Gamer.net 超現実ホラーADV「稗: The Dream Of A Cockspur」，Steam版を7月22日に配信開始。孤島を舞台に狂気の謎へ挑む
- Denfaminicogamer “高熱のときに見る夢”みたいなホラーゲーム『稗：The Dream Of A Cockspur』が面白そう。Steamにて7月22日に発売。目玉がついた物体が語りかけてくる、理屈ではなく本能でヤバいことだけがわかるPVも公開
- Automaton 何もわからない超現実狂気ホラー『稗: The Dream Of A Cockspur』7月22日配信へ。すべてが意味不明、わんこだけが癒し
- Game Spark “謎の物体”が落ちた孤島が舞台のサバイバルホラーADV『稗: The Dream Of A Cockspur』7月22日Steam配信―不気味で不穏ながらセラピー犬も登場