Psychological Horror ADV 'Wasabi' Announced for PC, Set in 1990s Nagano
Phoenix Game Productions, a studio founded by a PlatinumGames veteran, shifts from cyberpunk action to a psychological horror ADV with a distinctive 'wasabi' power mechanic, marking a notable genre pivot for the developer.
Reporting from 4 sources: 4Gamer.net, Denfaminicogamer, Automaton, Game Spark.
Phoenix Game Productions announced the psychological investigation horror adventure 'Wasabi' on June 24, 2026, opening its Steam store page and releasing a gameplay trailer. The game is set in Azumino City, Nagano Prefecture in the 1990s. Players take on the role of detective Ryuhei Kuroshima, investigating a series of bizarre murders. The game features two main axes: crime scene investigation and suspect interrogation. Players collect evidence such as weapons, personal effects, and body condition, and must notice subtle inconsistencies. In interrogations, players read suspects' facial expressions, gestures, and silences, using motion-captured animations. A key mechanic is the mysterious 'wasabi' power, which reveals hidden truths. The game includes eight suspects, six episodes, over 10 hours of playtime, and multiple endings. It uses Unreal Engine 5 for photorealistic visuals. Phoenix Game Productions was founded in 2019 by German developer Daniel Hedjazi, a former PlatinumGames and CyberConnect2 employee who contributed to 'Resident Evil RE:4' and released the cyberpunk action game 'Tokyo Underground Killer' in 2025. 'Wasabi' is the studio's second original title. A playable demo is planned. The release date is to be announced.
The game's eight suspects include a woman in landmine-style fashion and a man with a mohawk and leather jacket, as shown in the trailer. Interrogation scenes use motion capture to create realistic facial changes and gestures. Players must gauge suspects' psychological states and avoid pushing them too hard, while the 'wasabi' power can expose secrets hidden deep in their hearts. The story eventually involves a cult and supernatural elements, blending realistic criminal investigation with horror. The developer, Phoenix Game Productions, is an Osaka-based studio founded in 2019 by German Daniel Hedjazi, who gained experience at PlatinumGames and CyberConnect2. The studio contributed to 'Resident Evil RE:4' and released its first original work, 'Tokyo Underground Killer', in 2025. 'Wasabi' is their second original title, a significant genre change from cyberpunk action to psychological horror. The game supports Japanese, English, and multiple other languages. A playable demo is scheduled for distribution soon. The Steam store page is now live, and the release date is to be announced.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 4 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- 4Gamer.net 1990年代の長野を舞台にした心理捜査ホラーADV「Wasabi」，Steamストアページがオープン。最新トレイラーも公開
- Denfaminicogamer 1990年代の長野県で連続殺人事件の真相を追う、テレビドラマ風ホラーゲーム『Wasabi』Steamストアページが公開。刑事として事件現場に行き、証拠を集めて容疑者を尋問
- Automaton 田舎オカルト事件ホラー『Wasabi』発表。“ワサビが秘める霊的パワー”に頼る怪事件捜査、実力派尖りゲームスタジオが贈る
- Game Spark 平成初期の長野県安曇野市で連続殺人事件を追う心理ホラーADV『Wasabi』Steamストアページ公開―謎の力“ワサビ”を駆使して真相を暴け