Steam launch: New adventure-RPG from Square Enix hits Steam with 95% rating and over 450 glowing reviews

Square Enix's newest RPG is rich with psychological tension like its predecessor (Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo), and it's called Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse. The standalone follow-up to the 2023 sleeper hit dropped on February 19, 2026 for Steam and Nintendo Switch (curr. $325 on Amazon). This new chapter swaps the urban legends of Honjo for the secluded shores of Kameshima island. The game still has the series' unique "brush-stroke" 360-degree investigation style. Players can scan eerie environments in a way that feels more like a cinematic thriller than a simple visual novel.

Set in the Showa era, The Mermaid’s Curse is a slow-burn supernatural mystery that features classic point-and-click puzzles with experimental storytelling. You don't need to have played the first game to jump in, but fans of the original will find the familiar timelines and "dead-end" logic puzzles fully intact. The big change this time is an interactive diving minigame where you play as an ama (pearl diver). You have to scavenge the ocean floor for artifacts while managing your oxygen. This kind of break should add a welcome layer to the long reading sessions.

The narrative starts with Yuza Minakuchi, a young man who returns to his island home only to be dragged into a ritualistic search for a mermaid. Like its predecessor, the story is far from linear; you'll jump between the perspectives of a treasure hunter, a grieving housewife, and a teenage girl. You use information gathered in one timeline to bypass "curse gates" in another. The game's tone is more intimate and grounded than the first game, going by early reviews.

Combat in The Mermaid's Curse is all about information. Basically, you'll engage in "psychic stand-offs" where your primary weapon is the knowledge you’ve gleaned from replaying earlier chapters. The new "Diver Rank" progression system also adds a light RPG element - this lets you upgrade skills like lung capacity and target identification to reach deeper, more dangerous trenches.

The game is exceptionally light and well-optimized:

• Minimum Specs: Intel Core i3-7100 or Ryzen 3 1200 with 8 GB of RAM and just 2 GB of storage space.
• Steam Deck: The experience is "near flawless". Despite being officially "Unverified," players report a stable 60-90 FPS with minimal battery drain, which renders it a perfect title for handheld play.

Early reviews are fantastic, currently clustering around a 95% "Very Positive" rating aggregate on Steam. While a few players do state that the lack of voice acting can make the expository lore-dumps feel a bit dry, most agree that the master-class writing and cinematic framing more than make up for it. The game itself is priced at $24.99. There are currently no launch discounts available, though a "Maritime Mystery Bundle" including the soundtrack is available for those wanting the full atmosphere. You can check out the game's Steam store page here.