Honogurashi no Niwa Gets English Localization
Village in the Shade: English Localization Confirmed for the Supernatural Farming Sim!
Gamers have been incredibly excited about Honogurashi no Niwa, a unique game that perfectly blends relaxing farming simulation with supernatural mysteries, developed by Nippon Ichi Software. Today, western publisher NIS America has officially confirmed that the game is getting an English localization under the brand-new title Village in the Shade.
While international fans will have to wait a little longer than the original Japanese release scheduled for this July, the English version is officially locked in for later this year!
About Village in the Shade
Set in the heartwarming, lush countryside of Kagatsu Village, this life simulation game allows you to grow crops, raise animals, fish, and build relationships with the local villagers at a comfortable, unhurried pace. Every season brings new festivals and charming stories to experience. The game also features a highly intuitive tool menu, allowing you to seamlessly swap items and maintain a fast, fluid gameplay experience.
Your journey begins when you move to the countryside to take over an old, rundown cabin with a heavily overgrown garden. You plan to live a pure, nature-filled life. However, things take a mysterious turn when the locals strictly warn you never to leave your house after dark. This eerie warning marks the beginning of your search for the village’s deep, ghostly secrets!
Play Your Way: Safe Living Mode & Physical Editions
While the core narrative heavily involves elements of the afterlife and various Yokai interacting with the protagonist, the developers have thoughtfully included a Safe Living Mode. This optional feature ensures that no spirits or Yokai will appear, allowing players who prefer a purely relaxing experience to simply enjoy farming, mining, and rural living without any spooky interruptions!
For collectors, the English version will feature physical editions loaded with goodies:
- Limited Edition: Includes the physical game, a stunning artbook, a sticker set, and the original soundtrack on CD.
- Deluxe Edition: Comes with a mini artbook and a digital code to unlock the soundtrack on your console.
Platforms and Release Window
Village in the Shade will launch on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. While the Japanese launch kicks off in July, the English version is officially slated for an Autumn release (between September and November 2026). The Steam store page is already live, so you can head over right now to gather more details and add the game to your Wishlist to support the developers!
