Awarded gamesGames of the Year
Award for excellencePARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid's Curse
General Description
| Title | PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid's Curse |
|---|---|
| Release | 2026/02/19 |
| Price | 2,480yen(tax included) |
| Platform | Nintendo Switch / Steam / iOS / Android |
| Distributor | SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. |
| Publisher | SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. |
| Developer | SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.／xeen Inc. |
| URL | https://www.jp.square-enix.com/paranormasight/file38/ |
| Copyright | © SQUARE ENIX |
Award for excellence Reason
Set in the Ise-Shima region during the late Showa era, this ensemble occult mystery adventure game traces the fates of those caught up in the riddles and curses surrounding a mermaid legend.
While inheriting the system, with favorable reviews of the Seven Mysteries of Honjo, this entry features a completely fresh cast of characters.
Players unravel the hidden agendas and secrets of multiple characters by shifting between their perspectives to close in on the truth behind the incidents.
Produced in collaboration with Mie Prefecture, the game introduces a “spherical background design” that replicates authentic landscapes captured via 360-degree cameras, alongside numerous new systems including a free-diving fishing mini-game.
The title received overwhelming support and earned this award thanks to its intricately woven foreshadowing, unpredictable plot twists, a unique world blending the supernatural with mystery, and the deep internal conflicts and bonds of its characters.
Work Introduction
Kameshima, an isolated island in Ise Bay.
Yuza Minaguchi, an ama diver living there, has a supernatural experience encountering another version of himself on the ocean floor when he dives with his best friend, Azami Kumoi.
Following the experience, a succession of curses struck Kameshima...
An unidentified girl, a foreign treasure hunter, a mysterious housewife investigating a drowned body---
Their speculations intertwined, eventually leading to the mermaid's secret buried in the depths of eternal histories.
Comment of the game producer
It is often said that the 2nd work is more important for a new IP.
If we receive only one award, it could just be a fluke.
Luckily, PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo, our previous work, won the Grand Award/Award for Excellence at the Japan Game Awards 2023.
Then, what should we do for such an important 2nd work?
To take safety measures, it would be best to carry over popular characters and design them to feel more like a proper sequel to a new horror title.
We, however, focused on expanding the scope of the franchise and chose to take a challenge: refreshing the characters and toning down the horror elements.
As a result,
Following the first game, we won the Award for Excellence at the Japan Game Awards 2026!
Last time, we felt “Unbelievable!” and jumped for joy. This time, we are filled with a deep sense of relief.
To be honest, we were scared to death.
We cannot thank everyone involved and all our supporters enough.
We really appreciate it. We are about to cry.
We will use this opportunity to keep on doing our best to create better games.
Takanari Ishiyama, Director / Scenario Writer