City Connection has announced that Higurashi When They Cry: Jan - Remastered Edition will be released in 2027 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Steam. The announcement trailer has been released, and the Steam store page is now live.
This title is a high-definition remaster of the 2009 arcade and handheld mahjong game Higurashi When They Cry: Jan. Set within the world of Higurashi When They Cry, players engage in life-or-death mahjong matches against familiar characters and can use cheating skills to secure victory.
The game includes three modes. "Oyashiro-sama Mode" follows Keiichi Maebara as he uses cheating skills in life-or-death mahjong matches to avoid the Hinamizawa tragedy. "Club Activities Mode" allows players to freely combine club members and decide punishment games through mahjong. The handheld version's additional story mode, "Club Activities Mode Extra: Tile Collapse Arc," also returns.
Original creator Ryukishi07 supervised the original scenarios, and the animated sequences utilize over 7,000 hand-drawn frames. Animations play continuously during mahjong matches, not just during character introductions, special moves, and reward scenes. The game also features an "Auto-Play Mode" where the CPU plays on your behalf, making it easier for players unfamiliar with mahjong rules to progress.
After completing the main story, players can unlock the "Bonus Gallery," where they can enjoy illustrations by guest artists such as Poyoyon Rock while listening to voice dramas. The voice cast reprises their roles from the original drama CDs, including Soichiro Hoshi as Keiichi Maebara and Mai Nakahara as Rena Ryugu.
Higurashi When They Cry: Jan - Remastered Edition will also be featured at Tokyo Game Show 2026, opening on September 17, where it will be available for demo play at the City Connection booth (Hall-2-C03). Players who complete the on-site demo will receive special stickers designed to look like mahjong tiles.