Like a Ghibli movie: Cozy market builder launches with 98% positive reviews on Steam

Oboro no Ichi takes place in a mysterious realm between worlds inspired by Japanese folklore. Here, lost souls wander in search of peace and memories. Amid autumn landscapes, traditional wooden houses and glowing lanterns, players are tasked with creating a place where spirits can feel at home. At times, the whole setting looks like something straight out of a Studio Ghibli film such as Spirited Away. Rather than embarking on a grand adventure themselves, however, players focus on creating a cozy gathering place for wandering souls.

To do so, they build market stalls and production facilities, lay out paths and produce various goods to sell to their supernatural visitors. The resulting income can be used to unlock new buildings and decorations. Not everything has to revolve around maximizing profits, though. Those who prefer can focus entirely on design, decorating their marketplace with lanterns, fences, plants and other ornamental elements.

All kinds of cute and mysterious yokai roam between the market stalls. Some have special abilities or small stories that gradually reveal more about the magical world. Instead of complicated economic systems and constant time pressure, the game focuses on one thing above all: providing a relaxing, cozy experience.

Oboro no Ichi was developed by solo developer TheLaba and entered Early Access on Steam on November 9. The first reviews are already looking very promising, with 98% of approximately 50 user reviews being positive so far. Players particularly praise the fairy-tale atmosphere, atmospheric music and extensive customization options. However, there has been some criticism of the occasionally fiddly building placement and limited gameplay depth. The amount of content is also still fairly modest, with most features reportedly unlocked after just a few hours.

That is expected to change during Early Access, however. TheLaba plans to add more buildings, additional spirit interactions and new events, among other things. The full release is expected to take another six to twelve months.

The building game normally costs just under $12.99 on Steam. Until November 16, however, a 15% launch discount brings the price down to $11.04. Oboro no Ichi is rated "Playable" for the Steam Deck.

The following trailer offers a closer look at the atmospheric Japanese spirit market: