Nie no Hakoniwa

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In "Nie no Hakoniwa," you play as Yasaka Kurou, a young man adopted into the prestigious Shiki family to become its heir. As Kurou, you navigate complex social dynamics while harboring hidden powers within you. The game's story unfolds as you interact with Shiki Kyouko, the eldest daughter of the Shiki family, and other characters, eventually revealing a dark secret on your wedding day. Your choices and emotions will determine the fate of this world, filled with surreal landscapes and mysterious creatures.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

43%

Audience ScoreBased on 19 reviews

story11 positive mentions

The game features stunning visuals and a well-executed soundtrack that enhances the immersive experience.
The story starts strong with intriguing world-building and character development, particularly the dynamic between the main couple.
The voice acting is high quality, adding depth to the characters and overall presentation.

The narrative devolves into extreme and gratuitous content, losing the emotional attachment to characters established in the beginning.
There is a lack of interactivity, making it feel more like reading a book than playing a game, which may disappoint some players.
The uncensored version requires a separate purchase, which can be frustrating for players expecting a complete experience.

story
35 mentions
31 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The story begins with a promising setup, featuring intriguing characters and a captivating exploration of dark secrets within a supernatural context. However, it quickly devolves into gratuitous violence and torture porn, undermining the initial character development and narrative depth, leaving many players feeling disillusioned and repulsed. While some appreciate the unique premise and pacing, the extreme content and one-dimensional character arcs ultimately detract from the overall experience.
- “This is what a horror visual novel should be. The story beats are enormously satisfying, and there are twists and turns you won't see coming.”
- “The story has a way of hooking you in, exploring your curiosity just thinking about the dark secrets of the seven houses by giving you small pieces little by little.”
- “I have now finished the story, and I believe the mystery reveal was well executed.”
- “The first few hours set up a promising story but it just devolves into gore porn interspersed with actual porn every so often, with one-dimensional characters and a twist seemingly thrown in just to say there is one.”
- “All of the development between Kyouko and Kurou, and all of the ominous build-up with the seven families, is thrown out the window as the story takes a hard swerve into being a torture porn revenge fantasy, where Kyouko and Kurou work together to murder all the important men on the island, and rape and murder all of the important women after Kyouko was humiliated and abused by them on her wedding day.”
- “The story might revel in dark content, but it all feels gratuitous and porny, and the sex scenes slow the pacing down to an agonizing crawl where nothing happens for hours at a time.”
music
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its atmospheric quality and engaging soundtrack, complementing the stunning visuals and polished presentation. Reviewers highlight the opening theme as particularly impressive, enhancing the overall immersive experience, though the game may not be suitable for those who are easily unsettled.
- “The art, as you can tell from the screenshots, is gorgeous, the OST is very atmospheric, and the story does a good job grabbing your attention.”
- “Also, the soundtrack and opening are amazing.”
- “Art, sound, music, interface, and everything feel polished, as does the translation.”
graphics
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The graphics are widely praised for their stunning visuals and high production values, with many users highlighting the gorgeous artwork that enhances the overall experience of the visual novel, particularly in relation to its historical horror theme rooted in Japanese urban legend.
- “Stunning visuals.”
- “I was initially interested in this visual novel because of the gorgeous artwork, seemingly high production values, and the promise of a historical horror story based on a Japanese urban legend.”
emotional
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game starts strong with engaging world-building and character attachment, but this connection diminishes significantly midway as the narrative takes a chaotic turn, leading to a loss of empathy for the characters.
- “The world-building initially draws you in, creating a strong emotional attachment to the characters, but as the story progresses, the chaos unfolds, leading to a loss of that connection.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters is captivating, making you feel invested in their journeys and struggles throughout the game.”
- “This game masterfully evokes a range of emotions, from joy to heartbreak, leaving a lasting impact long after the credits roll.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its stunning art and atmospheric original soundtrack, which together create an engaging and immersive experience that captivates players through its compelling story.
- “The art, as you can tell from the screenshots, is gorgeous; the OST is very atmospheric, and the story does a good job of grabbing your attention.”