Kemuri, A Stylish Yokai-Hunting Action Game From Ikumi Nakamura

It has been quite a while since Ikumi Nakamura first introduced us to Kemuri—her new studio Unseen’s debut project—during The Game Awards in 2023. Since then, the title has remained largely under wraps, living up to the studio’s mysterious name. However, the wait is finally over; during today’s State of Play, Kemuri made a spectacular return with a vibrant new gameplay trailer and a confirmed 2027 release window. You can watch the reveal below.

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In Kemuri, players step into the role of a hunter tasked with tracking down Yokai—whimsical, ethereal entities that remain hidden from the average person’s sight. The key to navigating this hidden realm is the “Fox Window,” a unique ability that unveils these elusive spirits. The combat showcased in the trailer is frantic and fluid, encouraging players to possess Yokai to harness their supernatural powers. These abilities also serve as vital traversal tools, allowing players to glide through the city skyline with feathered wings or swing through the urban environment using a frog-like tongue.

With three distinct archetypes to choose from—the katana hunter, the bow hunter, and the shaman—the game is explicitly designed to support up to three-player online cooperative play.

Nakamura, widely celebrated for her artistic vision at Tango Gameworks and her work as the creative director on Ghostwire: Tokyo, is firmly in the director’s chair for this project. Her signature style is immediately apparent, and the game’s aesthetic already shows immense promise.

Following the trailer, Nakamura appeared to confirm that Kemuri is still actively in development, with a projected launch target of 2027. While we are eagerly counting down the days to join the hunt, we are hopeful for a more precise release date in the near future.