Toei Animation and Toydium shared new information on NOROI KAGO: the Grudged Domain. The game will release an Early Access build on Steam on January 23, 2025. They have also released a new video that showcases the new “Abandoned Hospital” level and a new yokai called Hyakume.
Developed by Toydium, NOROI KAGO: the Grudged Domain is a survival co-op horror game based on yokai. Supernatural beings from traditional Japanese folklore, the yokai, are central to the game’s horror because your goal is to escape them. NOROI KAGO’s co-op allows for up to four players whose aim is to escape from an enclosed space in which yokai roam.
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Per the game’s Steam page, the developers at Toydium were inspired by Shigeru Mizuki, the creator of “GeGeGe no Kitaro.” NOROI KAGO features heavy use of contrasting light and shadow to create a distinctive atmosphere reminiscent of Japanese horror manga.
Introducing: The Abandoned Hospital
The game’s prologue sets up the invents you’re about to settle into. In 1964, an article about a hospital that closed due to bankruptcy was quietly published in the corner of a local newspaper. Before its closure, the hospital had a strong reputation for having low fees and high-quality treatment. But, like many hospitals in the horror genre, that wasn’t the entire story.
While high-quality treatment was advertised, there were also rumors of disturbing treatments being administered to unknowing patients. Soon after its closure, people whispered about the shadow of a young boy. Many speculate that it is the ghost of a patient who died in the hospital, but the truth remains hidden. Now, you’ve now woken up at this very hospital and have to find a way out.
As the video shows, the Early Access will include the Abandoned Hospital stage. Here, you’ll escape from its haunted hallways where the Hyakume resides. If you’re unfamiliar, the hyakume is a yokai with eyes all over its body. It is capable of sending out its eyes to wander. If you’re discovered by those eyes, it’s probably too late.
Highlights & Features of NOROI KAGO: the Grudged Domain:
PERFORM THE RITUAL: Explore the domain, looking for powerful items during your attempt to escape. The ritual of lifting the seal is long and dangerous, but you only have so much time before the domain consumes you. While it is possible to escape alone, bringing friends can open new opportunities.
ESCAPE: In order to escape, you must complete the ritual to break the seal. However, the items necessary for the ritual are hidden in different locations each time you play. Fortunately, some items scattered around the domain can aid you in your escape in other ways. Manage your resources wisely, and you might be able to live to see a new day.
MANAGE YOUR OWN CURSE: An agonizing curse mutilates your body into becoming a half-Yokai yourself. While the curse on its own won’t take your life, managing the curse is key to escaping the domain alive. Just be careful – your friends might not recognize you at first.
About NOROI KAGO’s Development:
Toei Animation Co., Ltd. ranks amongst the world’s most prolific animation production studios and has influenced pop culture since 1956. The company’s operations include animation development and production, as well as worldwide marketing and program licensing. As the publisher of NOROI KAGO, Toei is working with developer Toydium, a game development studio founded in 2019 and based in Akihabara. The team comprises several industry veterans with extensive game development experience and are driven by the slogan, “Let’s Make Toys.”
Noroi Kago: the Grudged Domain releases in Early Access on Steam, January 23, 2025
