Nippon Ichi Software has revealed the official title of a game formerly known as Shinigami Hime: Shinigami Hime to Ishokan no Kaibutsu. It’s scheduled to release in Japan on April 30, 2026, for PlayStation 5, the new Switch 2 console, and the original Switch.
Here is the announcement trailer:
And here are the first details:
■ About
- Title: Shinigami Hime to Ishokan no Kaibutsu
- Genre: Fairy Tale-Destroying Adventure
- Platforms: PlayStation 5 / Switch 2 / Switch
- Release Date: April 30, 2026 (Japan)
- Players: 1
- Price:
- PlayStation 5 / Switch 2: ¥8,200 (¥9,020 with tax)
- Switch: ¥7,200 (¥7,920 with tax)
- Publisher: Nippon Ichi Software
- Director / Scenario: Kento Jobana
- Character Design: Sayaka Oda
- Main Theme: Akiko Shikata
- Background Music: Takeshi Matsumoto (G-angle)
- CERO: TBD (Pending Review)
- Official Website: nippon1.jp
- Official X: @usotsukihime
- Official Hashtag: #シニガミ姫
- Copyright: ©2026 Nippon Ichi Software, Inc.
Nippon Ichi Software’s newest game, Shinigami Hime to Ishokan no Kaibutsu, continues the story-driven tradition of titles like The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince and The Cruel King and the Great Hero, focusing on the relationships between people and monsters. Sayaka Oda once again handles character design and the game’s overall world, while Kento Jobana, who has worked on games like Disgaea 7 and Bar Stella Abyss, wrote the story.
The game follows Mono, a girl on a desperate journey to save her sister from a deadly illness called the “Shinigami Disease.” She travels to the Ishokan medical facility, where she encounters Melhendia, a creature who wants to use her, and other girls tragically transformed by the disease. It’s a story about the bonds between people and the hope for redemption.
The series’ signature style – charming, hand-drawn illustrations – is back, but this installment feels different. A striking use of black and white creates a unique atmosphere that’s both unsettling and surprisingly lovely.
Players can play with the world of the picture book, changing or even tearing it apart, for a brand new and exciting way to play.
■ Story
Mono is a young, lonely girl with a hidden heritage – she comes from a family of celebrated opera singers. However, she was abandoned by her parents and now lives a quiet, isolated life in the theater’s attic, where she’s forced to work as a servant.
Her older sister used to come to her room and teach her singing and dancing, but now she’s disappeared.
One day, Mono discovers the whereabouts of her sister.
Her sister is currently staying at Ishokan, a place where people who are sick with the Shinigami Disease are being cared for.
Shinigami Disease is a frightening illness that transforms living creatures into books, which then become monsters. The country has stopped searching for a way to treat it.
“My sister is gonna turn into a monster… No way! I don’t want that!”
Unable to sit back and do nothing, Mono visits Ishokan.
To venture into the monster-infested Ishokan and uncover the disturbing stories hidden within the picture books that transformed the girls, Mono makes a pact with the powerful monster Mel.
“Please protect me, Mel.”
“Yahaha… I’ll protect you. Let’s get along well, human.”
Despite knowing Mel intends to get revenge on humanity, Mono is resolved to rescue the only family who’s ever shown her love.
■ Characters
Mono Brightman (voiced by Rena Motomura)
A Girl Trying to Save Her Sister
A young girl lives a solitary life in the attic of an opera house. Her famous opera singer parents neglect her, so she supports herself by doing various tasks around the theater from her small room under the roof.
Despite being shy and lacking confidence, she strives to be as compassionate as her sister. She has a strong urge to help anyone in need, regardless of whether they’re human or monstrous.
Melhendia (voiced by Makoto Koichi)
A Monster-Eating Monster
↓
Known as Mel, this monster is feared throughout Ishokan. He was imprisoned and forced to wear a cursed collar after hurting a human. Mel possesses a unique ability called “Papereater” – he grows more powerful by absorbing the energy of other monsters and those afflicted with Shinigami Disease. He hopes to regain his full strength and break the curse, and believes Mono can help him achieve this.
A sarcastic creature who despises humans, he constantly clashes with the good-natured Mono.
Birdler (voiced by Mayumi Shintani)
Mono’s Charming Servant
This creature, once a bird-like being, was rescued by Mono and Mel after a painful transformation made him frightening and aggressive. He enjoys human company, considers himself Mono’s loyal assistant – a ‘butler’ of sorts – and uses his extensive knowledge to help her throughout her journeys.
Anciel Brightman (voiced by Reina Kondou)
A Talented “Future Grand Actress”
My older sister was a really talented opera singer – everyone thought she’d go far. She was the only one in my family who was actually nice to me, always there for me when I needed someone. But then she got really sick, developed something called Shinigami Disease, and had to be taken to Ishokan. It was awful.
■ A Game Set Inside a Picture Book: An Evolved “Playable Picture Book”
Shinigami Hime to Ishokan no Kaibutsu is an adventure game focused on collecting items hidden within each level.
The game takes place in Ishokan, a facility where people are treated for Shinigami Disease, and within the separate, self-contained worlds found inside picture books scattered throughout the facility.
Mono is searching for her sister, who was mysteriously turned into a picture book because of a strange illness. Along the way, she and her friends discover other girls have suffered the same fate. Together, they journey into the worlds within these picture books, hoping to find out what’s causing the transformations and restore everyone to normal.
Each picture book holds a haunting black and white world representing a girl’s inner pain. You’ll need to figure out puzzles within each book to move forward.
Ishokan is a settlement for many different monsters, and it serves as the home base for Mono and her friends.
Mono and her friends journey through the imaginative worlds found within different storybooks, all in an effort to help girls who have experienced trauma.
As you explore each story, you’ll collect “Memory Bookmarks” that reveal the difficult pasts of the characters. By uncovering their stories and defeating the boss at the end of each chapter, you can rescue the girls who have been transformed.
Sayaka Oda illustrates and narrates the stories of the girls who have become picture book characters, presenting their tales in the form of a picture book itself.
■ Interfering with the Worlds of Picture Books: Papereater
In this game, you can “interfere” with the monochrome worlds inside picture books.
Mono’s companion Mel can eat and “destroy” the monochrome worlds created by the Shinigami Disease.
He doesn’t just eat paper obstacles – he can destroy rocks, trees, dead ends, and even monster messages! Basically, anything shown in black and white is fair game for him to eat and eliminate.
—Chomp through the obstacles blocking your way! You can even carve out new paths by eating them!
So, I found out that if I get rid of those weird, black and white messages, they actually disappear! And get this – clearing them out can open up new paths. Pretty cool, right?
—Only Mel can eat the picture book worlds. Instruct him as you proceed through each world.
Eat Too Much and Mel Will Go on a Rampage
When Mel consumes Papereater, he transforms. The more he eats, the stronger and more aggressive he gets.
—If he eats too much, Mel will undergo a dramatic transformation.
—A giant Mel can chomp down even massive monsters with ease.
As Mel’s power increases, so does the range of his ability. But if he gets too carried away, he risks losing control and becoming stuck, which could put Mono in a dangerous situation.
You’ll need to decide carefully what Mel should eat so that he doesn’t go berserk.
—If Mel grows too big and too ferocious, he’ll start ignoring Mono’s instructions…!
■ Interfering with the Worlds of Picture Books: Turn Over
As you play, you’ll learn skills beyond just eating and breaking things. One skill, called “Turn Over” and used by Mono, lets her interact with colored areas that Mel can’t destroy.
—When you Turn Over a spot where the page is slightly lifted…
—Part of the background will flip open with a whap! revealing hidden passageways and items!
—You can even slip into the shadows behind a turned-over background to evade giant monsters.
You can rotate sections of the game’s world to reveal hidden routes underneath, or even use the reversed side as cover from enemies. The game offers lots of ways to play with these paper worlds beyond just breaking them apart.
■ At The End of Each Stage, You Will Fight a Completely Changed Girl…
As you advance through the game, you’ll collect story fragments called “Memory Bookmarks.” These reveal the tragic past of a girl who has become a “Shinigami Princess” due to her trauma. By defeating the Shinigami Princess, you can help her overcome her past.
■ The First Stage’s Shinigami Princess
Shepherdess Girl / Ookami Princess (voiced by Tsunomaki Watame)
A girl who has transformed into a giant, sheep-like monster known as the “Ookami Princess.”
Growing up as the oldest child in a family of shepherds, she was a dedicated and hardworking young woman who loved her family. Despite facing poverty, she found joy and contentment in her life through her efforts.
Her flaw is that she pushes herself too hard.
One day, in the brief moment she took her eyes off her little sister, the girl disappeared…
“Koyou no Mori” is the world that embodies the shepherdess girl’s trauma.
Eerie, lifelike trees fill the dense forest, where man-eating wolves wander.
■ When You Save a Girl, The World Vibrantly Changes
Defeating a Shinigami Princess helps her overcome her past pain, bringing vibrant color to what was once a dull and lifeless world. This shows she’s healed and ready to begin a new chapter.
■ Box Art
—PlayStation 5
—Switch 2
—Switch
■ Nippon1.jp Shop Limited Edition
The limited edition version from Nippon1.jp will cost ¥24,000 (¥26,400 with tax) for both the PlayStation 5 and Switch 2, and ¥23,000 (¥25,300 with tax) for the standard Switch. This price includes the following items:
- A copy of the game
- Mel plushie (size: W200mm x H200mm x D200mm)
- Mel and Birdler plushie mascot set (total length: 10cm—including ball chain)
- Illustrated card set
- Wooden broach set (x3) (size: W40mm x H40mm x D5mm)
- Art book (A5 size, 32 pages)
- Soundtrack CD (23 tracks including background music and songs)
Pre-Order Bonus
If you pre-order the game from any store, online retailer, or the Nippon1.jp Shop, you’ll receive a special wooden bookmark designed by Sayaka Oda. Be sure to pre-order by February 9, 2026, to get yours while supplies last!
View the first screenshots at the gallery.
Screenshots
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2025-11-20 11:05