Ikumi Nakamura's Kemuri Turns Co-Op Into a Paranormal Ritual
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Unseen Inc has shared a fresh look at Ikumi Nakamura's Kemuri, detailing a yokai-hunting co-op experience where players divide duties into ritualistic roles across a sprawling vertical city.
Ikumi Nakamura captured the gaming world's attention with her infectious enthusiasm at E3 2019, and now her independent studio, Unseen Inc, is pulling back the curtain on her next major project. Titled Kemuri, the third-person action game drops players into a sprawling vertical city filled with hidden yokai, drawing clear thematic inspiration from her previous work on Ghostwire: Tokyo. Players use a gesture called a foxwindow to track down these supernatural entities, defeating them to unlock wearable supernatural gear tied to distinct combat roles. As reported by Rock Paper Shotgun, the title is currently slated for a 2027 release on both PlayStation 5 and PC, giving cross-platform players plenty of time to build hype.
What makes Kemuri stand out in a crowded landscape of cooperative titles is how it structures multiplayer sessions. Rather than having a squad of identical characters mindlessly clearing out map markers, the three-player co-op is designed as a structured ritual. Nakamura describes the dynamic as a trifecta where one player discovers threats, another guides the team, and a third delivers the final blow. There are also intriguing hints about asynchronous multiplayer features in single-player, suggesting that players might sense the ghostly presence of other hunters as they navigate the vertical urban environment.
For modern players who treat co-op games as primary social hubs, this emphasis on complementary roles rather than carbon-copy class builds is a refreshing design philosophy. The addition of subtle discrepancies between individual player sessions adds a layer of mystery that could make community discussion and streaming content especially compelling. While we wait for more deep dives into the game's progression systems and digital economy details closer to launch, Unseen Inc is shaping up to deliver an atmospheric playground that values distinct player experiences over generic action loops.
Original reporting by Edwin Evans-Thirlwell over at Rock Paper Shotgun.
Tags: Kemuri, Unseen Inc, Ikumi Nakamura, Co-Op Gaming, PC Gaming, PS5
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun