← all stories

Hono Kurashi no Niwa

Hono Kurashi no Niwa, the life simulation from the Yomawari series staff, is out now on PS5, PC, Switch 2, and Switch, and as of September 7, 2026 a PlayStation Plus Premium game trial lets subscribers play up to 5 hours with save data carrying over to the purchased version.

Synthesized from 5 Yomimono stories · updated Sep 11

Nippon Ichi Software's Hono Kurashi no Niwa launched July 30, 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Steam and Windows, priced at 9,020 yen for the Switch 2, PS5, Steam and Windows versions and 7,920 yen for the Switch version. The game is a life simulation set in the rural village of Kagetsu Village, where players farm, raise livestock, fish, hunt and build relationships with villagers. It is developed by staff of the Yomawari horror series, with planning and game design by Yuu Mizokami, and carries a CERO C rating for ages 15 and up.

The horror side of that pedigree shapes how the game is presented. Five gameplay videos released July 6 to July 10 covered different play styles, among them walking the night village, and singled out the night exploration content: a main scenario, late-night exploration, a skill tree and a library. Review coverage after release described the combination of farming and horror as the game's defining feature, noted early-game restrictions and interface issues, and recommended Honokurashi Mode for players who want to avoid scary events.

In Japan the game has sold 200,000 copies. It placed third in Steam's Japanese sales rankings in early August, behind Street Fighter 6 and Beast of Reincarnation. On September 7, 2026 Nippon Ichi Software began a PlayStation Plus Premium game trial through the PlayStation Store: up to 5 hours of the full game, with save data carrying over to the purchased version.

Key facts

Release date
July 30, 2026 ↗
Platforms
Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Steam, Windows ↗
Price
9,020 yen for Switch 2, PS5, Steam and Windows; 7,920 yen for Switch ↗
Development staff
Staff of the Yomawari horror series, with planning and game design by Yuu Mizokami ↗
Rating
CERO C, ages 15 and up ↗
Setting
Kagetsu Village, a rural village where players farm, raise livestock, fish, hunt and deepen relationships with villagers ↗
Comfort option
Honokurashi Mode for players who want to avoid scary events ↗
Sales in Japan
200,000 copies ↗
PS Plus Premium trial
Up to 5 hours of the full game, with save data carrying over to the purchased version ↗
Steam Japan sales ranking
Third place in early August 2026 ↗

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.

Claim activity

When a claim about Hono Kurashi no Niwa was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.

  • Confirmed game July 30 Sep 15 · source
  • Debunked platform: Steam; region: Japan Sep 11 · source
  • Confirmed platform: PlayStation 5; region: Japan Sep 11 · source
  • Confirmed platform: Nintendo Switch 2; region: Japan Sep 11 · source

All coverage

Sep 7

Hono Kurashi no Niwa Game Trial Launches on PS Plus Premium

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

Game Spark Review: Honokurashi no Niwa Blends Slow Life With a Cursed Village

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

Street Fighter 6 Tops Steam Sales, New Titles Follow

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

This Week's New Games: Halo Remake, Xenoblade 2 Switch 2 Edition, and More

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

Hono Kurashi no Niwa Releases Five Gameplay Videos Ahead of July 30 Launch

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.