There are several things I would confidently label as not for me: skydiving, trying whatever mystery dish shows up in late-night infomercials, and attempting to finish a game of Monopoly without someone flipping the table. For years, visual novels lived on that same list. Much of that hesitation stemmed from how the genre was framed online throughout the 2000s, especially in the West, which was often marketed as an even more excessive extension of anime culture. As a result, I largely avoided the format altogether. That changed in 2016 with Doki Doki Literature Club, which proved the format could weaponize its own conventions. Later, the Danganronpa games pulled me in even more as they left the PS Vita and reached wider audiences. Even then, I approached visual novels cautiously, not eagerly. So, when Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse surfaced during last week’s Nintendo Direct as one of the few genuinely intriguing announcements, I went in with measured expectations. And from the outset, it was clear this wasn’t just another visual novel. Instead, it bills itself as a hybrid experience that melds traditional narrative with point-and-click exploration and light puzzle mechanics. I didn’t realize going in that The Mermaid’s Curse was connected to an earlier title, Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo (2023). While it stands alone story-wise, both entries share a fascination with folklore and the way myth seeps into everyday fear. This iteration is set in the remote region of Ise-Shima, Japan, with much of the early story unfolding on Kameshima Island through the perspective of pearl diver Yuza Minakuchi. The plot then expands outward, weaving together the lives and secrets of multiple characters who find themselves entangled in cursed rituals tied to the local legend of the Mermaids of Ise.
What immediately sets Paranormasight apart is how grounded its supernatural horror feels. Rather than leaning on spectacle or crude jump scares, the game builds tension through folklore, implication, and consequence. The “Mermaid’s Curse” here isn’t a single boogeyman, but a connective thread linking disparate lives—each with their own motives, regrets, and unanswered questions. The narrative structure is intentionally fragmented, encouraging the player to piece together what happened rather than passively absorb it. This approach turns every new perspective into a revelation and every revelation into a cause for reexamination. Mechanically, Paranormasight occupies an interesting space between visual novel and point-and-click adventure. Dialogue choices influence how information is uncovered, but not in the branching “multiple romance endings” typical of the genre. Choices here feel investigative, sometimes even confrontational, representing how you choose to approach truth rather than who you choose to romance. Failure is possible and, in many cases, expected: missteps often lead to abrupt deaths or narrative dead ends that rewind time and subtly teach the player what clue or choice they overlooked. These failures don’t feel punitive; they reinforce the game’s themes of fate and consequence, making trial-and-error a narrative tool rather than a mere gameplay loop. The game’s reliance on Japanese folklore and cultural shorthand can initially feel alienating, especially for Western players unfamiliar with specific urban legends or societal context. I found myself with a browser open more than once, chasing down local myths or rituals mentioned in passing. Yet rather than breaking immersion, this created a sense of trespassing into a belief system that doesn’t exist to explain itself. That quiet friction, between what you know and what you’re learning, generates a subtle unease that traditional horror games often miss.
Visually, Paranormasight opts for restraint. Character portraits are expressive yet grounded, and backgrounds favor muted realism over stylized abstraction. The real visual standout comes during supernatural encounters: lighting and shadow are used not as spectacle but as atmospheric punctuation, heightening mood without relying on flashy effects. The game also includes 360° backgrounds and exploration segments, further blurring the line between static visual novel and exploratory adventure. Sound design deserves similar praise. The soundtrack is sparse and measured, allowing ambient noise, creaking floors, distant water, and low winds to carry tension organically. When music does intervene, it’s deliberate and unsettling, marking emotional or narrative pivots rather than looping unthinkingly. Occasional voice work, used sparingly, amplifies key moments; silence becomes part of the game’s language, often speaking louder than any composition could.
Thematically, the game digs deeper than typical folklore horror. Beneath the curses lies a meditation on resentment, guilt, and the desire for control in an unjust world. Characters aren’t driven by cartoonish evil, but by desperation and unresolved pain. The supernatural in this game feels like an extension of human emotion rather than an external force invading it, making both the horror and the humanity feel more resonant. That said, the game isn’t without limitations. Players expecting heavy puzzle complexity or constant mechanical variety may find portions of the experience repetitive. Some dialogue sequences, while rich in thematic weight, can weigh down pacing, especially early on. But these are conscious design choices—trading constant engagement hooks for a more measured, contemplative rhythm.
By the time the credits roll on Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse, it feels less like a game you played and more like a story you experienced. It’s a rare visual novel that doesn’t ask you to love the genre in order to appreciate its craft. Instead, it invites skepticism, then quietly dismantles it, piece by piece. For someone who once dismissed the format outright, that alone makes Paranormasight one of the most surprising and rewarding narrative adventures of the year.
Score: 7 out of 10
Reviewed on Nintendo Switch 2