The team behind the Yomawari series, known for blending adorable aesthetics with bone-chilling horror, is pivoting to something entirely different. They are bringing us 'Hono Kurashi no Niwa,' a slow-life simulator set in a remote village where gas and electricity are unavailable. It can be roughly translated as 'Garden of Simple Living.'

Nippon Ichi Software unveiled this new title during the Nintendo Direct on the 31st. It is a rural life simulation game set in a village. The story follows a protagonist who, after wandering into the mountains as a child, is taken in by the local villagers. You will spend your days helping them and cultivating the village, with the freedom to customize your character's appearance to suit your personal style.

While the visual style might remind you of the Yomawari series, the gameplay is the polar opposite of a horror title. Expect the full suite of farm-life activities: sowing seeds, watering crops, tending to livestock to produce dairy, and exploring the wilds for foraging and fishing. You can take the materials gathered through these tasks to craft tools, furniture, and decorations to spruce up your home.

Interacting with the local residents is a core pillar of the experience, offering various events to deepen your bonds with the villagers. You can even commission the local carpenter to upgrade your cabin. With changing seasonal landscapes and time-limited events, it essentially combines the distinctive art style of Yomawari with the gameplay loop of farm management sims like Stardew Valley.

Hono Kurashi no Niwa is slated for release on July 30th next year for PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2. Details regarding a formal domestic release or support for the Korean language have yet to be confirmed.