Developer HumaNature Studios announced that Dancing with Ghosts, a life simulation game themed around finding joy amidst grief, created by game developer Greg Johnson, will launch on Steam Early Access on October 8th for $14.99. The game will support English and Thai. A demo is currently available.
Early Access Release Date Trailer:
Greg Johnson, creator of Dancing with Ghosts and founder of HumaNature Studios, stated in a press release: "Dancing with Ghosts aims to deliver an experience of pure joy. We all go through grief because it is part of being human—I had to find a way to rediscover joy, and I hope this game can help others find their own path to happiness while celebrating the Thai culture that guided me toward joy."
Here is the game overview provided by HumaNature Studios:
Dancing with Ghosts is a labor of love for Johnson, who previously served as lead designer for the Toejam and Earl series, Starflight series, and Heart of the Universe. The game was born out of the tragic passing of Greg's 28-year-old daughter, as well as the devastating losses his family suffered in the 2023 Maui wildfires.
Greg found solace in the Thai culture and traditions introduced to him by his wife, Selena, which provided him with a way to move past his grief and regain his strength. This philosophy, combined with his exceptional game design talents, resulted in a heartwarming game that celebrates joy and Thai culture, featuring art, programming, animation, and voice work from Thai talent both within Thailand and abroad.
In Dancing with Ghosts, a tragedy takes the lives of 15-year-old Mai's parents, forcing her to rebuild her life in the riverside Thai village where she grew up. As Mai struggles to cope with the grief of losing her loved ones, she encounters a friendly young ghost named Pim. Pim can barely remember anything from her past life, but she is delighted to discover that Mai can see and talk to her.
Help Mai and Pim transform their tragic circumstances into positive forces by helping others to overcome difficulties. This stems from the Thai concept of "utit suan boon kusohn" (making merit), which involves performing good deeds to help the deceased. Players can engage in mini-games such as delivering goods by boat and motorcycle, cooking delicious Thai dishes, helping villagers with daily tasks, and accumulating merit for Pim.
Accompanied by original music performed by Genevieve Goings (from Disney Animation's Soul Train) and internationally renowned reggae artist Konkarla, Mai will learn dance moves from her late mother and use sketches in her diary to sort through her deep-seated emotions. As Pim, players can inhabit the bodies of villagers, listen to their innermost thoughts, and collect Heart Light to help them escape the pursuit of shadow spirits.
