Kemuri, a new demon-hunting action game from Ikumi Nakamura, debuted an incredibly slick trailer during PlayStation’s June State of Play showcase. It’s been a while since we last saw one of our video game presenter faves. Nakamura, known for her quirky-cool demeanor and infectious onstage presence, was last seen promoting Kemuri at the 2023 Game Awards. Now she’s back to talk about the project with her new studio, Unseen Inc.
Kemuri has an interesting premise to match its cool-ass trailer. In a brief developer presentation, Nakamura explained that Kemuri takes place in a city where the human and demon worlds clash. A group of yokai hunters are tasked with keeping the city safe from the demons that terrorize it using their mystical powers of possession. Players will track yokai down, possess them, and take on their powers to help them hunt bigger prey. You’ll have three different hunting styles to choose from: hunter, bow, and shaman, each with their own combat powers, and you’ll be able to team up in groups of three for online multiplayer. One of the cooler elements shown in the trailer is the ability to embody the yokai you possess in the clothes your characters wear. The game is replete with Asian streetwear aesthetics and it’s interesting to see that vibe reflected in its gameplay, too. Kemuri doesn’t have a release date yet, but I’ll be looking for it whenever its ready.
