Return to your ancestral castle as Kento, a warrior bound by duty, and confront the force corrupting your clan. Battle possessed enemies in fast-paced combat focused on timing, dodges, and counters. Solve puzzles, explore cinematic spaces, and uncover the truth behind the curse threatening all.

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Coming Soon To Early Access

The developers of this game intend to release as a work in progress, developing with the feedback of players.

Note: Games in Early Access are not complete and may or may not change further. If you are not excited to play this game in its current state, then you should wait to see if the game progresses further in development. Learn more

What the developers have to say:

Why Early Access?

“Nohmen: Blood Rites is a non-profit academic portfolio project that showcases the talents of our team and the dedication poured into its development. Launching in Early Access, we seek to engage with the community, gather feedback, and enhance the player experience.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“We expect to complete the project during this calendar year.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“The game is in an Alpha and early access state at the moment. However, the gameplay mechanics have reached an advanced stage, and the character designs and mechanics already present in the game are considered final. There is room for improvement based on feedback. Now, where the 'early' keyword really matters is in the quantity of content and player progression, as well as in polishing systems such as the UI and visual feedback.

In the current version, you can:
- Partially explore the rooms and corridors of the corrupted castle.
- Fight your enemies in close-range combat, defending yourself with your katana.
- Exterminate the demons and cursed souls, once your family and personal army, haunting the castle and its corrupted grounds.
- Explore the Damned Dojo, a twisted training ground filled with danger, secrets, and the lingering presence of past warriors.
- Enjoy an original soundtrack.

In the final version, we expect to:
- Add special achievements for experienced players.
- Unlock secret rooms and blocked sections of the levels.
- Add new enemies.
- Polished version of UI.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The game is in an Alpha and early access state at the moment. It means it has a full demonstration of its main features. All of them are in an advanced state that will be enjoyable for players.

In the current version, you can:
- Partially explore the rooms and corridors of the corrupted castle.
- Fight your enemies in close-range combat, defending yourself with your katana.
- Exterminate the demons and cursed souls, once your family and personal army, haunting the castle and its corrupted grounds.
- Explore the Damned Dojo, a twisted training ground filled with danger, secrets, and the lingering presence of past warriors.
- Enjoy an original soundtrack.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“Nohmen: Blood Rites will be free throughout Early Access and upon its official release. We focus on demonstrating the skills of our team's work and use this game as a portfolio.

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“We intend to engage with the community through X, Bluesky and Steam forums, actively soliciting and incorporating player feedback to refine the game before its official release.”
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This game is not yet available on Steam

Planned Release Date: June 2026

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About This Game

Kento, a warrior of the Kozuki clan, returns home after war to find his family’s sacred Nōmen mask shattered and an ancient evil unleashed upon his bloodline. As corruption spreads through the castle, he must fight possessed allies, uncover hidden relics, and restore the seal that has contained “The Nohmen’s course” for generations.

Bound by duty and guilt, Kento’s final mission may require the ultimate sacrifice to prevent the darkness from consuming the world.

The experience:

A third-person action experience where you follow Kento as he returns to his cursed family castle, now overrun by a dark force. You’ll fight your way through possessed enemies using fast, close-range combat based on timing, dodges, and well-timed counters.

Exploration is shown through a cinematic camera that changes angles to build tension and guide your attention. Between battles, you’ll solve environmental puzzles that slow the pace and uncover pieces of the story behind the curse.

Especial Features:

  • Cinematic Fixed Cameras SystemA unique blend of fixed cinematic camera angles inspired by classic survival horror and dynamic spline-based camera movement. The system is designed not only to frame the action, but to actively shape tension, exploration, and combat readability.

  • Samurai-Inspired Close CombatFast-paced melee combat inspired by Onimusha Warlords, built around combos, dodges, and parries. Combat is designed to feel aggressive and responsive, while still maintaining deliberate control and timing.

  • Rhythmic Gameplay Structure

    A carefully balanced loop of combat, exploration, and environmental puzzles. Inspired by classic survival horror pacing, puzzles are used as intentional breathing spaces that enhance atmosphere and narrative tension between encounters.

Mature Content Description

The developers describe the content like this:

The main character sacrifices himself in order to save the world. He will also fight against demons to restore the balance of his home.

System Requirements

    Minimum:
    • OS: Windows 10 / 11 x64
    • Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-6400 CPU @ 2.70GHz 2.7 GHz
    • Memory: 16 MB RAM
    • DirectX: Version 12
    • Storage: 1 GB available space
    Recommended:
    • OS: Windows 10 / 11 x64
    • Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-7700K CPU @ 4.2GHz 4.2 GHz
    • DirectX: Version 12
    • Storage: 1 GB available space
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