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Shiokawa’s Old Gods Have Some New Company, and None of Them Are Friendly
The one-bit nightmare that turned an MS Paint passion project into a cult favorite just got a lot bigger. Publisher Ysbryd Games and developer Panstasz have pushed out version 1.2, “As Below So Above,” a free update that expands the game by roughly a fifth, and Gematsu has the details. It’s live now on PC through Steam, GOG and itch.io, while PlayStation 4 and Switch players will get it in 2027.
The headliners are two brand-new manifestations of the Old Gods. One is Ikt-Yosis, the First Nightmare, a colossal being slumbering in a chamber under the mountains whose awakening rituals gradually warp the town above and stir up unnatural weather. The other, The War for Shiokawa, throws four cults at the town at once, each racing to summon its own eldritch patron.
Three more playable characters join the cast, among them Kiriko, a tarot reader whose cards may decide the town’s fate, and Satoshi, a hiker who knows the surrounding mountains better than anyone. A new Scenario Mode adds standalone prequel stories, starting with Forest of Fear / Tapes of Tragedy, in which school AV club member Makoto sets out to make a documentary about the forest’s oldest legend and learns firsthand why some footage should stay lost. Modders get expanded Steam Workshop tools for building their own enemies, events and mysteries, and the patch also folds in fresh items, spells, curses and injuries along with balance tweaks, quality-of-life additions and bug fixes.
Developer: Panstasz
Publisher: Ysbryd Games
Platforms: PC (Steam, GOG, itch.io), PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch
Release Date: Available now on PC; console versions in 2027
Source: Reporting and confirmation via Gematsu.