You cannot fight. Yet, you must confront your fears.
Set to release in late October, Niraya of ■■ is a Japanese horror game with Buddhist aesthetics. Developed primarily by Yuya Yamaguchi, whose past work includes Silent Hill: The Short Message, MGS Snake Eater 3D, and Final Fantasy Type-0 HD. Although largely developed by Yuya Yamaguchi, the game is supported by a team providing art, music, localization, QA, and marketing. His impressive resume includes collaborations on major Japanese titles.
Not Classic Survival Horror
Niraya of ■■ is not classic survival horror, instead it is what I would class as “Helpless Horror” or “run and hide survival horror” it diverges sharply from titles like Resident Evil. There’s no combat, Instead it takes inspiration from games like Clock Tower and Haunting Ground, where avoidance, timing, and vulnerability are at the core of survival.
The game’s tagline, “You cannot fight. Yet, you must confront your fears,” captures its spirit perfectly. You play as Yuni, a defenseless child abandoned in a haunted world. Powerless to fight back, she must learn enemy patterns, manage her stamina, and rely on premonitions to avoid capture. It’s a minimalist experience that builds tension not through firepower, but through sheer helplessness.
Inspirations Behind Niraya of ■■
While Western horror often leans on gore or ruined worlds, Niraya of ■■ draws from more cerebral and cultural roots.
“Kuon was a big influence,” says Yamaguchi, referring to FromSoftware’s 2004 cult classic set in Heian-era Japan.
The game invites players to experience fear from the viewpoint of an ineffectual child—a motif that places it closer to psychological horror, but with the survival mechanics to back it up.
The Premonition and Stamina Systems
Niraya of ■■ builds tension not through fast-paced action or violence, but through strategic evasion and resource management. Central to this is a dual mechanic: the premonition system and a strict stamina gauge that governs your ability to flee.
Before a threat strikes, Yuni receives a premonition—a moment of foresight that reveals the enemy’s next move. This warning gives you a brief window to react, but reacting blindly can be just as dangerous. Every step Yuni takes depletes her stamina, and once exhausted, she’s left completely vulnerable.
Enemies don’t simply chase you—they follow patterns. Survival means observation: learning how enemies move, memorizing escape routes, and finding the right timing to rest, hide, or run. Panic leads to mistakes. Calculated movement leads to survival.
“The stamina limit is quite strict,” says Yamaguchi, “but it doubles the sense of accomplishment.”
The result is a slow-burning horror experience where every encounter feels tense, every escape earned. You’re not solving combat puzzles—you’re surviving them by outthinking the threat.
Coming This Halloween
At 70% completion, the game is slated for a late October 2025 release, just in time for Halloween. Yamaguchi promises:
“It’s a bit eccentric, but just the right game for horror fans—especially those who prefer unknown experiences.”
My final question for Yamaguchi was about the cryptic symbols ■■ in the game’s title:
“You can find out the meaning behind the ■■ after watching the whole story of the game!”
If you’re intrigued by what you’ve seen so far, be sure to wishlist Niraya of ■■ on Steam to stay updated on its release. You can also follow Niraya of ■■ on Twitter/X for development updates, behind-the-scenes content, and more.
