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Hono Kurashi no Niwa
Hono Kurashi no Niwa is a life simulation game set in Kagetsu Village, developed by the Yomawari series staff, launching July 30, 2026, for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Steam, and Windows. It placed third in Japan's Steam sales rankings for the week of August 7, 2026.
Synthesized from 3
Yomimono stories · updated
2d ago
Hono Kurashi no Niwa is a life simulation game set in the nostalgic countryside village of Kagetsu Village. It is developed by the staff behind the Yomawari horror series, with planning and game design by Yuu Mizokami. The game launches on July 30, 2026, for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Steam, and Windows. The price is 9,020 yen for the Switch 2, PS5, Steam, and Windows versions, and 7,920 yen for the Switch version. The game carries a CERO C rating, indicating ages 15 and up.
On July 10, 2026, Nippon Ichi Software released five gameplay videos via the official website, each following a different play style. The videos were posted sequentially on the game's X account from July 6 to July 10 before being compiled. The styles are: savoring each day slowly, enjoying DIY, living with animals, walking the night village, and devoting to farming. The night exploration video in particular shows a main scenario, late-night exploration, a skill tree, and a library, hinting at a darker layer beneath the peaceful rural life.
In the latest Steam sales rankings for Japan, Hono Kurashi no Niwa placed third, following Capcom's Street Fighter 6 at first and Game Freak's Beast of Reincarnation at second. The ranking reflects current demand on Steam's Japanese storefront, with the game appearing alongside free-to-play staples and two other new titles.
Key facts
- Developer
- Staff of the Yomawari horror series ↗
- Planning and game design
- Yuu Mizokami ↗
- Setting
- Kagetsu Village, a nostalgic countryside village ↗
- Release date
- July 30, 2026 ↗
- Platforms
- Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Steam, and Windows ↗
- Price
- 9,020 yen for Switch 2, PS5, Steam, and Windows; 7,920 yen for Switch ↗
- Rating
- CERO C (ages 15 and up) ↗
- Steam sales ranking
- Third place in Japan's Steam sales rankings ↗
Timeline
Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself
sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every
fact links the story it came from.
Facts
- Noted
- game trial launched on September 7, 2026 for PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers · 2026-09-07
- Noted
- trial allows up to 5 hours of play · 2026-09-07
- Noted
- save data carries over to the purchased version · 2026-09-07
- Noted
- set in a nostalgic rural village called Kagatsu Village · 2026-09-07
- Noted
- players farm, raise livestock, fish, hunt, and deepen relationships with villagers · 2026-09-07
- Noted
- created by the staff of the Yomawari series · 2026-09-07
- Noted
- village has an old rule, breaking it triggers unsettling events · 2026-09-07
- Noted
- at night the village shows a different face · 2026-09-07
- Noted
- Anshin Kurashi Mode prevents scary events · 2026-09-07
- Noted
- available for PS5, PC, Switch 2, and Switch · 2026-09-07
- Noted
- sold 200,000 copies in Japan · 2026-09-07
- Noted
- trial distributed through PlayStation Store, limited to Premium tier · 2026-09-07
- Noted
- save carryover turns trial into conversion tool for game with 200,000 sales · 2026-09-07
- Noted
- life simulation set in a suspicious mountain village · 2026-08-17
- Release
- game · July 30 · 2026-08-17
- Release
- game · 2026-07-10 · Japan · 2026-07-10
- Release
- game · 2026-07-30 · 2026-07-10
- Release
- game · 2026-08-07 · Japan · 2026-08-07
- Release
- game · week of July 27 to August 2, 2026 · Japan and North America · 2026-07-26
- Licensed by
- Nintendo Switch 2 (Japan) · 2026-07-10
- Licensed by
- Nintendo Switch (Japan) · 2026-07-10
- Licensed by
- PlayStation 5 (Japan) · 2026-07-10
- Licensed by
- Steam (Japan) · 2026-07-10
- Licensed by
- Windows (Japan) · 2026-07-10
- Announced
- gameplay videos · 2026-07-10
Connections
Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/hono-kurashi-no-niwa.
CC BY 4.0.
All coverage
2d ago
Nippon Ichi Software began distributing a game trial for the life simulation game "Hono Kurashi no Niwa" on September 7, 2026, for PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers. The trial lets players play the full game for up to 5 hours, and save data carries over to the purchased version. The game is set in a nostalgic rural village called Kagatsu Village, where players farm, raise livestock, fish, hunt, and deepen relationships with villagers. It was created by the staff of the Yomawari series. The village has an old rule, and breaking it triggers unsettling events; at night the village shows a different face. An "Anshin Kurashi Mode" is available for players who dislike horror, preventing scary events. The game is available for PS5, PC, Switch 2, and Switch, and has sold 200,000 copies in Japan. The trial is distributed through the PlayStation Store and is limited to the Premium tier of PlayStation Plus.
Aug 17
Nippon Ichi Software released Honokurashi no Niwa on July 30. Produced by the Yomawari series staff, it is a life simulation set in a suspicious mountain village. The review praises the story-driven fusion of farming and horror, notes early-game restrictions and UI issues, and recommends Honokurashi Mode for horror-averse players.
Aug 7
Capcom's Street Fighter 6 took first place in the latest Steam sales rankings for Japan, boosted by a 50 percent discount. New releases followed closely, with Game Freak's Beast of Reincarnation at second and Nippon Ichi Software's Honogurai no Niwa at third. The list also includes free-to-play staples and two other new titles.
Jul 26
The week of July 27 to August 2, 2026, sees a slate of major releases across platforms. Leading the lineup is 'Halo: Campaign Evolved', a Unreal Engine 5 remake of the original 2001 campaign, launching July 29 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S at 7,900 yen. It includes 10 original missions plus three new ones, 4-player online co-op with cross-play, and a Campaign Remix mode with randomized modifiers. Early reviews are positive, with Metascores of 81 on PS5 and 84 on Xbox Series X as of July 26, though the lack of competitive multiplayer drew some criticism. Also releasing July 30 is 'Xenoblade Chronicles 2 Nintendo Switch 2 Edition', an enhanced version for the new console. The same day sees the extraction shooter 'Mistfall Hunter' on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, along with 'BLUE REFLECTION Quartet: The Miracle of the Girls' (7,480 yen), 'Culdcept the First', 'Volcano Princess', 'TATSUJIN EXTREME', and 'Honoboshi no Niwa'. On July 31, dark fantasy action RPG 'The Relic: First Guardian' arrives on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The week's releases span genres from FPS and RPG to puzzle and simulation, with several titles also available on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2.
Jul 10
Nippon Ichi Software released five gameplay videos for the life simulation game Hono Kurashi no Niwa on July 10, 2026, via the official website. The videos, each following a different play style, were posted sequentially on the game's X account from July 6 to July 10 before being compiled. The styles are: savoring each day slowly, enjoying DIY, living with animals, walking the night village, and devoting to farming. The game is set in the nostalgic countryside village of Kagetsu Village and is developed by the staff of the Yomawari horror series, with planning and game design by Yuu Mizokami. Hono Kurashi no Niwa launches on July 30, 2026, for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Steam, and Windows. The price is 9,020 yen for the Switch 2, PS5, Steam, and Windows versions, and 7,920 yen for the Switch version. The game carries a CERO C rating, indicating ages 15 and up. The night exploration video in particular shows a main scenario, late-night exploration, a skill tree, and a library, hinting at a darker layer beneath the peaceful rural life.