JAPAN GAMING & ENTERTAINMENT Cumulative domestic sales of the life simulation game Village in the Shade topped 150,000 units about 11 days after its Japanese launch. Also featured: a deck-building roguelike that incorporates blackjack rules, and a horror adventure from someone who moved into game development after studying biology — new releases from Japan’s independent and small-scale developers.
Village in the Shade Tops 150,000 Domestic Sales About 11 Days After Launch
Cumulative domestic sales of Village in the Shade have topped 150,000 units, reaching the milestone about 11 days after its July 30 launch (Japan time). The game is developed and published by Nippon Ichi Software, Inc., and features staff who worked on the Yomawari series. Set in the remote mountain village of Kagatsu, it has players farming, raising livestock, fishing, and hunting to make a living. It is available on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5, and PC (Steam). Physical copies remain out of stock, with restocking planned for the PS5 version in mid-August and for the Nintendo Switch 2 and Nintendo Switch versions in early September.
Source: inside-games (August 10, 2026)
Blackjack Deck-Building Roguelike MEGAKO☆PUNCH! Launches on Steam
MEGAKO☆PUNCH! launched on Steam on August 11, Japan time. If the total cost of the cards played exceeds 21, the player busts, while stopping exactly at 21 earns a special-move card. The game has 64 card types in total, along with 15 items that trigger special moves. Planning, programming, and graphics for MEGAKO☆PUNCH! were all the work of a single person: Mononobe Monoko (@mononobe_monoko).
Source: Game*Spark (August 10, 2026) / Denfaminicogamer (August 10, 2026)
Interview With The Dream Of A Cockspur Developer roccay Published
An interview with roccay, the creator of the horror adventure game The Dream Of A Cockspur, has been published. roccay studied molecular cell biology and pathology before turning to game development full-time. The point-and-click horror game is set on a remote island; roccay said it was made with a surrealism-influenced “sense that the structure of everyday life is crumbling” in mind (translated from Japanese). The game launched on Steam on July 22, 2026, Japan time, and is roccay’s first full-length work.
Source: Game*Spark (August 10, 2026) / 4Gamer.net (July 15, 2026)
Dungeon RPG S.O.L School Of Labyrinth, Where School Clubs Determine Your Job, Launches on Steam August 13
S.O.L School Of Labyrinth will launch on Steam on August 13, Japan time. Developed by SUSHI Lab and published by SUISHIN, the game has players exploring a 50-floor otherworldly realm beneath an old school building with a four-person party. It features school clubs such as the archery club and the newspaper club, and its job system changes each character’s role — front-line fighter, healer, or knowledge specialist, among others — depending on which club they belong to.
Official site (English): sol.sor-legends.com/en
Source: 4Gamer.net (August 10, 2026) / Steam (publication date unconfirmed)
Kyoto-Set Deck-Building Visual Novel The Black Lily Blooms in Her Eyes Launches Free on Steam
The Black Lily Blooms in Her Eyes launched for free on Steam. It was developed by a single person, Saku Bougetu (@absence0433). Ichito Tokimiya, the protagonist, wakes from a dream holding a mysterious bell and battles other summoners carrying the same kind of bell in card duels. Battles use an auto-battle format in which each side summons a main card and a support card, and the first side to defeat three of the opponent’s main cards wins.
Source: Game*Spark (August 10, 2026)