Shinonome is a new Edo-era haunted house game from veteran Japanese gamedevs

New Japanese indie studio WODAN has announced Shinonome, a new Edo-era roguelike game set in a haunted house.

Shinonome is launching for Windows PC (via Steam) in early access, on November 11th. WODAN is a newer studio founded by veteran gamedevs Kenichi Iwao (Resident Evil series, Einhander, and Final Fantasy XI) and Tatsuya Yoshikawa (Breath of Fire series, Devil May Cry 4).

The early access release for Shinonome will include three game modes, each with similarities but they will become more unique over its early access development:

HARAE – Fixed maps with more emphasis on solving specific puzzles
MISOGI – A more casual mode, focused on escaping from randomly generated maps
GYOU – A more hardcore random map mode with greater emphasis on survival

Most of the core gameplay elements are in place with these modes, which include over 40 items. The plan is to add more unique elements to each mode like stronger bosses for HARAE, more unique rooms and enemies in MISOGI, and more unique items for GYOU.

Here’s a rundown on the game, plus its first trailer:

Shinonome is a roguelike game based around the concept of a haunted house from the Japanese Edo period.

The main character, Yono, in a novice Onyo student. Her main goal is to escape the haunted house alive by escaping from and exorcising the ayakashi (monsters and vengeful spirits).
You don’t need action techniques to do this; you need to observe the clues left by the ayakashi, like trails and sounds, and using them to formulate strategies. Shinonome is a new type of escape game, wherein you use your courage and mind to overcome challenges.

Features

Japanese Horror – Enjoy a unique and terrifying experience as you explore the old Japanese house, which combines rustic beauty with darkness.

Diverse Ways to Play – Draw them in and trap them. Set up a trick and run. Draw in their natural enemies…There are countless ways to take care of the ayakashi.
This game finds its true beginning when you discover your own way to work through it.

Highly Replayable – Overcome to finely detailed haunted house in “Harae”. Escape from a randomly generated haunted house as you work to preserve your tools and food to survive in “Misogi”. Explore the endless dungeons and towers taking short breaks at stores and kitchens inside them in “Gyou”. Each of the games three modes will keep you coming back for more.