Oninaki Apr 2026

Released by Square Enix and developed by Tokyo RPG Factory, ONINAKI stands as a fascinating, somber departure from the developer’s previous nostalgic efforts like I Am Setsuna and Lost Sphear . While those earlier titles sought to replicate the cozy, turn-based magic of the 1990s golden age of JRPGs, ONINAKI pivots aggressively into a darker, action-oriented space. It is a game less interested in replicating the past and more invested in exploring the profound, often uncomfortable intersections of grief, duty, and the cycle of life and death. Through its unique world-building and mechanical marriage of combat with lost souls, the game offers a poignant, if imperfect, meditation on what it means to let go.

In conclusion, ONINAKI is a brave experiment in the modern JRPG landscape. It pushes past the boundaries of mere nostalgia to deliver a story that is genuinely challenging and emotionally mature. By placing the player in the shoes of a character tasked with policing human emotion, it forces a profound reflection on the necessity of grief. It reminds us that to live fully, we must be allowed to mourn, and that true peace comes not from forgetting the past, but from finding the strength to carry its memory forward without being consumed by it. Oninaki Review ONINAKI

This thematic core provides the game with its most compelling asset: a deeply atmospheric and thought-provoking narrative. Kagachi’s journey forces both the protagonist and the player to question the morality of a world that demands emotional numbness. By criminalizing the natural human reaction to loss, the society of ONINAKI creates a sterile, repressed environment where pain is simply driven underground rather than healed. The narrative pulls no punches, presenting tragic scenarios involving assisted suicide, child death, and mass cult fanaticism, all serving as extreme logical conclusions to the world's anti-grief doctrine. Released by Square Enix and developed by Tokyo

Mechanically, ONINAKI expresses its themes through its "Daemon" system, which replaces traditional turn-based menus with real-time hack-and-slash combat. Daemons are the souls of powerful, forgotten warriors who did not reincarnate. Instead of letting them turn into monsters, Kagachi binds them to his own soul, utilizing their memories and weapons in battle. Each Daemon represents a different class and playstyle—ranging from the swift, sword-wielding Aisha to the heavily armored, shield-bearing Zaav. Through its unique world-building and mechanical marriage of