Level-5 has released a fresh trailer for Holy Horror Mansion, the studio's upcoming ghost craft RPG that's being positioned as the next major concept in the Yokai Watch lineage. According to Noisy Pixel, the game was originally revealed back in September 2024, but concrete details around platforms and a launch window are still nowhere to be found.
The game centers on a young protagonist living in a mansion situated above an apartment complex, which sets the stage for what sounds like a quirky supernatural setup that fits comfortably in Level-5's wheelhouse. The "ghost craft" RPG label suggests some kind of monster-collecting or crafting mechanic woven into the core loop, though specifics on gameplay systems haven't been fully laid out yet.
A new direction for a beloved franchise
Yokai Watch was a genuine phenomenon in Japan and found a solid audience worldwide through its anime and 3DS games, blending monster-collecting with Japanese folklore in a way that felt distinct from the Pokemon formula. Holy Horror Mansion appears to be Level-5's attempt to evolve that concept rather than simply continue it, which is an interesting creative gamble from a studio that clearly still believes in the IP's potential.
Level-5 has been fairly quiet on the global stage in recent years, so movement on any of their major properties is worth paying attention to. Whether Holy Horror Mansion can recapture the energy that made Yokai Watch a cultural moment is the big question, but it's encouraging to see the studio actively developing and promoting the title rather than leaving it in the shadows after the initial announcement.
What we're still waiting on
The lack of platform and release date information this far into the promotional cycle is a little unusual, but not unheard of for Level-5, who tend to operate on their own timeline. Fans hoping to see this land on Nintendo Switch 2 or current-gen consoles will have to sit tight for now. Expect more details to surface as the studio continues rolling out promotional material.
