Toei Animation, the studio behind many iconic anime series such as Dragon Ball AND A piece — has just revealed the first teaser trailer for an upcoming multiplayer horror game inspired by Gegege without Kitaro series.
NOROI KAGO: The Resentful Dominion is a multiplayer indie horror game that will be released on PC via Steam, developed by Tokyo-based studio Toydium and published by Toei. Up to four players work together to try to escape a haunted house before being cursed and transformed into half-demons, a sort of Japanese cross between Phasmaphobia AND Dead in the light of day.
Toei Animation Reveals First Trailer for Indie Horror 'Noroi Kago: The Grudged Domain'
In order to escape the haunted house, players must find four items and perform a ritual to break down a barrier surrounding the house. The items are located in random locations, and the house is filled with yokai, monsters from Japanese folklore. Players can also find items to stop the yokai or revive fallen teammates. The game is scheduled for release in 2024, with its first demo to be shown at the Tokyo Game Show from September 26 to 29, 2024.
Noroi Kago will be much scarier than Gegege no Kitaro
Noroi Kago It is based on the Gegege without Kitaro series by Shigeru Mizuku. The long-running and frequently revived franchise first aired from 1960 to 1969 in Weekly Shonen Magazinewith Toei Animation producing its most recent adaptation in 2018. While the original series has a more lighthearted depiction of yokai, Noroi Kago It has a decidedly darker, grungier atmosphere and aesthetic, more reminiscent of Mizuku's other non-shonen works.
The game comes on the heels of a resurgence of Gegege without Kitaro projects, starting in 2022 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Mizuku's birth. Other projects have included a Gegege without Kitaro film and a new adaptation of his other work, Akuma-kunreleased on Netflix late last year.
Source: Toei Animation via YouTube