Kyoto-based developer room6 Inc. has revealed its newest suspense adventure game, Itachi: Haunted Abodes Wandering Through 2000s Tokyo Culture. The game invites players to wander through early-2000s Tokyo, diving into its diverse subcultures while uncovering the mystery behind a haunted property and the lingering spirits tied to it.
A Cheap Deal with a Haunted Twist
The story follows Itachi, a college student with nowhere to stay, who accepts a part-time job in a suspiciously cheap property. The job offers free room and board, as well as 100,000 yen, for just a week of inspections alongside the eccentric real estate agent Tanuki. But the building hides a chilling truth: it is home to “Ubusuna,” a phenomenon born from the trauma of the deceased former tenant.
Tanuki’s plan? Use Itachi as bait to lure the spirit into the open and return it to its rightful home.
Two Perspectives, One Mystery
Gameplay alternates between the viewpoints of Itachi and Tanuki.
- Itachi relies on charm and conversation, gathering information from musicians, maids, and lolitas he meets in Tokyo’s subcultural hotspots.
- Tanuki, more withdrawn but spiritually attuned, can perceive the unseen.
Together, their skills are essential to counter Ubusuna’s attacks and uncover the truth behind each haunting.
Subcultural Tokyo Comes Alive
From live houses to maid cafes and Harajuku’s Jingubashi Bridge, the game recreates the chaotic energy of Tokyo’s early-2000s youth culture. Players will confront spirits tied to regrets, lost dreams, and societal pressures through episodic cases such as:
- “Domeki Bassist” – A bassist’s sudden death and tangled love affairs.
- “Oshirasama Maid” – A murder mystery steeped in maid café culture.
- “Mushroom Lolita” – A critique of overwork through Harajuku’s lolita lens.
- “Nanashi Gothic” – A finale tying personal roots back to hometown ties.
Exorcism Through Ritual
During each climax, players must perform “Ubusuna musubi,” a ritual that reveals the ghost’s name, origin, and cause of death. Success means releasing the spirit; failure puts Itachi’s life in danger.
Coming to Tokyo Game Show 2025
A playable demo of Itachi: Haunted Abodes will be available at Tokyo Game Show 2025 (Hall 10 C11). Attendees who wishlist the game on Steam can snag a limited-edition sticker.
