Mononoke no Kuni is an upcoming action-adventure game about a boy journeying to recover the soul of his Shiba Inu companion. As part of TGS 2026, we had a chance to interview producer Seiji Nanase to learn more about the game.
Mononoke No Kuni looks like it has a cute and heartfelt premise. What inspired your decision to pair an action-adventure story about purifying yokai with the premise of a boy trying to save his dog?
At the heart of the game is the feeling I have from living with my own black Shiba Inu—the desire to protect this little companion of mine. I wanted that feeling to become the player’s own motivation for embarking on the journey. Rather than asking players to first understand some huge threat facing the entire world, we thought they might find it more natural to connect with the simple desire to help the companion right in front of them.
We also wanted to bring together the contrasting emotions of cuteness and fear, because we believe that having them coexist makes each feeling even more powerful. The peaceful atmosphere of the village makes the frightening areas outside feel even more intimidating, while having Musashi by your side gives you a sense of reassurance. And after going through a difficult adventure, the time spent together in the village feels even more precious. We placed a lot of importance on creating those emotional contrasts throughout the game.
Taiki sets out to save Musashi, but along the way, he also comes to encounter the sorrow carried by the yokai. His feelings for one small, familiar companion gradually grow into a deeper understanding of others, and we tied that progression directly into the game’s purification-focused action.
The Mononoke village stands out compared to the rest of the game due to its cute, animal-like villagers. What role will the village play in the full game?
The village is a place where players can return between adventures to spend time with Musashi and the mononoke. At the same time, it’s where Taiki can truly come to understand who he is trying to help in this world.
The villagers once served as messengers of the gods, tasked with purifying the impurity that flowed into their world from the realm of humans. However, they have since forgotten that duty. Through conversations with these characters, who have values very different from those of humans, we wanted to bring a sense of cuteness and humor, while also offering a perspective on the human world from the outside.
At first, Taiki is completely focused on saving Musashi, but as he gets to know the villagers, he gradually finds that he can’t simply leave them behind either. The relationships he builds in the village become an important part of his growth and give him further reasons to continue his journey.
What does restoring the village entail? Will there be side quests and other optional activities?
What we consider most important about the village’s development is the relationship between the player and its inhabitants. As Taiki’s adventure progresses, the way the villagers interact with him and the conversations they have gradually change. The boy who was initially an outsider slowly becomes accepted as a member of the village. We want players to feel the impact of their actions through even the casual remarks they hear when they return.
In addition to small side quests, we also have a flying disc area where players can play with Musashi. Players can throw disc-shaped items they find along their journey and have Musashi retrieve them, essentially letting them enjoy a dog-sport activity together.
These moments of relaxation, where the tension of the adventure begins to fade, are an important part of the game as well. We hope that returning to the village itself will become something players look forward to between their adventures.
Finally, if there’s one thing you want to make sure our readers know about Mononoke No Kuni, what is it?
The one thing I really want readers to know is that at the heart of this adventure is a very simple and relatable wish: “I want to save my beloved dog.”
Musashi is not only a companion who helps Taiki in combat and exploration, but also the reason Taiki finds the courage to venture into a dangerous world. As players spend time playing together, helping each other, and overcoming frightening places, we hope Musashi will become an irreplaceable companion for them as well.
At the same time, each of the yokai who stand in their way has their own circumstances and sorrows. As players journey to save Musashi, we hope the way they see these creatures will gradually change as well. With the wish “To go home with you one more time” in their hearts, we hope you’ll join Taiki and Musashi on their journey.
Mononoke no Kuni is set to be released in 2027.
