Stray（2022）
Developer: BlueTwelve Studio
Compatible platforms: PS5/PS4/Xbox/PC
A stray cat unravels the mystery of a mechanical town
This adventure sees you as a cat separated from your family, trying to escape from a cyber city inhabited by robots. It's a one-of-a-kind experience, seeing a neon-lit future world from a cat's perspective, where humans have disappeared. Hiding in cardboard boxes, jumping onto high places, and using your wits and ingenuity, you'll make your way back to the surface.
"The player character's movements are thoroughly realistic and cute, both lovable and strong. This is a title I would recommend to all cat lovers. Plans for an animated film based on this game are also currently underway." (Yamada Shuka)
Outer Wilds（2019）
Developer: Mobius Digital
Compatible platforms: PS5/PS4/Xbox/PC
What will you know in the end in a world that will disappear in 22 minutes?
The protagonist is an astronaut about to embark on his first space flight. However, the planets on which the game is set are destined to be destroyed by a solar explosion 22 minutes after the start of the game. Players must explore the universe, gather information, and discover what is happening in this world by repeatedly playing the game until the 22-minute mark.
"It's a work set in a magnificent universe that has been likened to James P. Hogan's novel 'Inherit the Stars.' If you're a sci-fi fan, you should definitely check it out." (Sawayaka)
Subnautica（2018）
developer：Unknown Worlds Entertainment
Compatible devices: Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox, PC
A 360-degree view of the ocean. A life of survival begins in overwhelming adversity.
The planet where the protagonist makes an emergency landing is a planet with almost no land, covered only by ocean. Naturally, there is no fresh water or food, and if the oxygen level drops to zero in the ocean, he will drown. This is a game in which you are suddenly thrown into such a place and forced to survive. It's interesting to see how you can gradually increase the number of things you can do by making your own oxygen tanks and knives.
"It's an open-world game where you travel around a vast world, but the only places you can go are the ocean, which is a unique twist that made it popular. The mysterious story also draws you in." (Sayawaka)
Sable（2021）
developer: Shedworks
Compatible platforms: PS5/Xbox/PC
It's like a Moebius painting. You'll encounter fresh and vivid scenery.
The game is set on a desert planet. You control a masked girl who embarks on a solo journey as a coming-of-age ritual. While small in scale, the open world gives you a sense of the scale of the world. Its greatest feature is the graphics, which are a recreation of the style of French comic artist Moebius.
"Moebius is a favorite of many Japanese manga artists, including Katsuhiro Otomo and Hisashi Eguchi. You can feel like you've jumped into the world of his drawings. I was impressed by the hoverbike that glides across the vast desert, tracing a trail." (Sayawaka)
Enjoy Family Restaurants (2022)
developer: Monthly Wetlands
Compatible models: PC
Even if it's forever, as long as there's a drink bar, it's fine
The protagonist is trapped inside the "eternal family restaurant," Moon Palace. Using point-and-click to find topics, he converses with people who are also trapped inside the restaurant and searches for a way to get out.
"The tranquil atmosphere of a moonlit night, the quirky and lovable characters, the eternity of time, and the drink bar all blend together to create a magnificent sci-fi story. The browser version available on itch.io is free to play, so be sure to give it a try and get lost in the Moon Palace." (Yamada Shuka)
