Yomawari: Lost in the Dark

Yomawari: Lost in the Dark is a Japanese survival horror adventure by Nippon Ichi Software. A girl wakes up with no memory in a dark forest and learns that a curse is on her. To break it, she must recover her lost memories in a town haunted by ghosts.

Instead of fighting the creatures with weapons, she explores streets, buildings and forests, collects clues and tries to avoid dangerous encounters.

The PC version was released on Oct 25, 2022. PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch followed in Germany on Oct 28, 2022. Since Nov 5, 2026, the game has also been available natively for PlayStation 5 in Germany.

The PS5 edition is a separate release and not just the PS4 version running via backward compatibility.

Yomawari: Lost in the Dark was released natively for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. The Windows version is available on Steam, and the console versions through the respective platform stores.

Nintendo Switch 2 can run the Nintendo Switch version in compatibility mode. This does not result in a separate Switch 2 version.

Night exploration is the core of the game. The girl moves through a Japanese small town from a slightly elevated perspective, examines places and searches for items that open up new paths and memories.

Eerie apparitions cannot simply be defeated in combat. Those who watch their movements and find cover in time survive encounters that would end quickly in direct confrontation.

On PC, you need at least Windows 10 or 11, an Intel Core i3-3225 with 3.3 GHz, 4 GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 4000, DirectX 11 and 4 GB of storage space.

A Core i5-4670 with 3.4 GHz and a GeForce GTX 570 are recommended. The technical details apply to the Windows version.

A flashlight reveals hidden ghosts and clues in the darkness. The character's heartbeat also warns you when a dangerous apparition is approaching.

The key trick is closing your eyes: in certain situations, the girl can use this to avoid the gaze of hostile ghosts. Then she must use other sounds and clues to keep moving.

The search for memory items leads through streets, forests and other places left deserted at night. Small discoveries help you understand the curse and the events before the heroine awoke.

Hiding spots and carefully planned routes matter more than attack strength. The game rewards patience when watching ghosts and examining the surroundings.

In Lost in the Dark, you can change the look of your character. Different hairstyles, hair colors, clothing and accessories allow for your own style.

The customization is a new feature of this installment and does not change the basic survival horror principle.

The tension comes from the contrast between the small, drawn heroine and the unpredictable creatures in the dark. Street lamps, flashlight beams and large shadows make the surroundings hard to judge.

Sounds and the audible heartbeat do more than set the mood. They are also clues to dangers lurking outside the visible area.

The PC version offers on-screen text in English, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified and Traditional Chinese. A German translation is not included.

Lost in the Dark is a single-player adventure. There is no regular co-op or competitive multiplayer mode.

On Steam, alongside the main game, there is a separately available digital mini artbook. The material complements the illustrations and design of the game, but does not include any additional story chapters.