Nippon Ichi Software’s hand-painted farming sim with a dark edge — Honogurashi no Niwa (ほの暮しの庭) — went live in Japan today, 30 July 2026, on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam. If you’ve been following its reveal in Japanese game media, the wait is finally over. For Singapore fans, the good news is that NIS America has already confirmed the game will reach the West as Village in the Shade this fall, so a localised release is not far off.
What Is Village in the Shade?
Village in the Shade is set in Kagatsu, a remote Japanese mountain village. You arrive as a wandering stranger, the villagers take you in, and in exchange you work the land — growing crops, tending livestock, hunting, fishing, and crafting furniture to decorate your home. So far, so cosy. But Kagatsu runs on eight strict rules, and the game does not let you forget them.
The studio behind the game is NIS Team Yomawari, the same internal team at Nippon Ichi Software responsible for the Yomawari survival horror series. That pedigree shows in the game’s unsettling undercurrent: the art style is warm and hand-painted, the village festivals feel nostalgic, but the rules make clear that something is very wrong after dark.
Follow the Rules — Or Else
Kagatsu’s village rules are central to the experience. Three of the most prominent, as confirmed by Nippon Ichi Software, are:
- Don’t talk to strangers.
- Don’t leave the village.
- Don’t go out at night.
The game does not spell out what happens if you break them. That ambiguity is intentional — it creates a slow-burn tension running beneath every harvest and every chat with a neighbour. If the horror edge is not what you are looking for, Nippon Ichi also confirmed a Safe Livelihood Mode that removes the frightening elements so you can enjoy the farming sim loop on its own terms.
Farming, Crafting, and Village Life
Outside of the mystery, the game’s life-sim loop looks substantial. Players can:
- Cultivate crops and tend fields across the seasons
- Raise livestock including chickens, cows, and horses, and process goods like cheese
- Hunt and fish to supplement the village pantry
- Craft furniture and decorative items to personalise your home and garden
- Build relationships with the cast of villagers through helping them and joining festivals
The hand-painted visual style — which 4Gamer.net (Japanese) highlighted in its launch coverage today — gives the game a watercolour feel that sets it apart from the pixel-art norm in the farming-sim genre.
When Does Village in the Shade Come to Singapore?
NIS America announced in March 2026 that Village in the Shade will release in English for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and PC (Steam) in Fall 2026. No exact date or SGD pricing has been confirmed yet.
If you want to play before the English release, the Japanese version launched today on Steam under the Village in the Shade Steam page — the game interface is currently in Japanese, so keep that in mind. A physical edition for Japan is also available. The English eShop and PlayStation Store listings are expected when NIS America sets the western launch date.
Japanese Pricing and Editions
In Japan, Honogurashi no Niwa is priced at ¥9,020 for the standard edition and ¥12,100 for the Deluxe Edition which adds a digital art book. For the western release, NIS America has announced a Limited Edition at US$89.99, which includes a copy of the game, a collector’s box, art book, original soundtrack, acrylic block, and a set of metal pins — par for the course for NIS America’s premium physical releases.
Stay tuned to our Game News section for the confirmed Singapore release date and local pricing when NIS America makes the announcement.