When looking at the title “Honogurashi no Niwa”, you might imagine a relaxing work spending time while tilling fields and enjoying the seasons in a peaceful countryside. Of course, it firmly satisfies that expectation. However, the fun of this work is not just there. When you start playing thinking “Is it a heartwarming life simulation?”, you are made aware little by little of a sense of discomfort in the atmosphere hidden in the village. I felt that exquisite modulation is a major charm unique to this game.

The stage of the story is Kakaritsu Village, quietly nestling in the mountains. The protagonist is rescued in the mountains and given a place to live through the kindness of the villagers. However, the condition is to work for the village. What is given at first is only an old hut and a ruined garden, but while neatly preparing it little by little with your own hands, making fields, growing vegetables, and taking care of livestock, a life of your own takes shape. The process of what you can do increasing little by little every day, such as furniture making, fishing, and hunting, is comfortable, and the game design that naturally makes you want to think “What shall I do today?” is impressive.

Kakaritsu Village is by no means a large settlement, but to that extent, each and every scenery and facility has warmth. Places essential to life such as a general store, diner, clinic, and library are available, and seasonal events such as temple fairs are also held, so despite being a small village, the sense of fulfillment in living is sufficient. Japanese-like shifts of the four seasons are also carefully depicted, such as cherry blossoms blooming in full glory in spring and a snowy landscape spreading in winter, making one feel peaceful just by walking while gazing at the scenery. Precisely because it is a work where you can thoroughly savor the beauty of everyday life rather than flashy direction, casual time feels special.

However, in this village, there exist “Eight Rules” passed down since ancient times. Things such as prohibiting going out late at night, that one must not answer voices heard from the mountains, that one must not expose other people's secrets, each and every one is pregnant with meaning, drifting a mysterious sense of tension. At first it seems like just a legend, but the more you continue to play, interest wells up asking “Why are there such rules?”. Because an atmosphere that makes one's posture straighten just a little is mixed within the heartwarming everyday life, you can savor a depth different from a simple slow life game.

The setting where terrifying events may occur by breaking the rules is charming, but people who say “I'm a bit bad with scary developments” can rest assured. In this work, “Safe Life Mode” is prepared, and in this mode, it is specified that you cannot break the rules. For that reason, even people who want to purely enjoy the life in the village itself can play casually. On the other hand, because people who want to play while touching upon the story's tension and mysteries can choose normal play, being able to choose how to enjoy according to your preference is also a pleasing point.

“Honogurashi no Niwa” is not a work that satisfies you only with a peaceful everyday life such as field work, fishing, and furniture making. While repeating interactions with villagers and living while being healed by beautiful nature, you begin to be concerned little by little about the rules passed down in the village and hidden secrets, and before you know it, you want to know the continuation of the story. Isn't the point where this feeling of “wanting to spend time leisurely” and curiosity of “wanting to know the truth of the village” naturally coexist the greatest charm of this work? Not to mention people who like life simulations, it is a work I definitely want people who want to enjoy a slightly mysterious and fantastical story to experience at least once.