Dancing with Ghosts Demo Now Live on Steam: A Heartwarming Thai-Inspired Indie About Life, Loss, and Healing

Dancing with Ghosts, a heartfelt indie game from U.S.-based HumaNature Studios led by Greg Johnson (ToeJam & Earl, Doki-Doki Universe), is launching its free demo on Steam on September 24 during the Indie Fan Fest Online Showcase. Though not developed in Thailand, the game draws deeply from Thai culture and storytelling, inviting players to explore themes of grief, memory, and emotional healing.

Set in a quiet riverside village in Thailand, the game follows Mai, a 15-year-old girl struggling with guilt after losing her parents. Her life changes when she encounters Pim, the ghost of an 11-year-old girl who has lost her memories and is trapped in the human world. Mai is the only one who can see and communicate with Pim, and together they embark on a journey to help both the living and the dead find peace.

Dancing with Ghosts blends interactive narrative storytelling with life simulation gameplay, allowing players to switch perspectives between Mai and Pim:

• As Mai, players assist villagers, collect merit points to help spirits pass on, and participate in Thai cultural mini-games.
• As Pim, players enter people’s thoughts, listen to their inner emotions, and guide positive “Heartlights” to heal their hearts — working together with Mai to bring closure and comfort.

The game’s central theme is about finding happiness amidst grief, weaving a touching story of memory, forgiveness, and emotional connection. Johnson’s inspiration came from deeply personal experiences, including the loss of his daughter and a devastating wildfire in 2023, making the project a deeply emotional exploration rather than just a work of entertainment.

Visuals are brought to life with the help of Bit Egg Inc., the Thai indie team behind Lost and Found Co., who enrich the game with authentic local atmosphere, art direction, and animation.

The demo goes live on Steam from September 24, with a Kickstarter campaign launching on October 7, 2025, ahead of the full release planned for PC and Nintendo Switch in 2026.

Stay tuned for more news on Greg Johnson’s Dev Blog, as well as on Steam and Kickstarter.

Your Blog Development Greg Johnson: https://gregjohnson88.substack.com/archive
Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1352700/Dancing_with_Ghosts/
Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/humanaturestudios/dancing-with-ghosts