Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse developers reveal that they made it less scary in response to feedback from the first game. Find out more about the sequel’s subdued approach to horror and its key differences from the original title.
Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse Lessens Outright Horror Elements
No More Jump Scares, Just the Abyss Gazing Back
Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse developers at Xeen and Square Enix shared how they eased the horror elements of the sequel after receiving numerous comments about the first game being "too scary." They decided that, to let more players experience the game, they would remove jump scares and move to a brighter locale.
Series director and scenario writer of Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse, Takanari Ishiyama, told Game*Spark via machine translation that "in the first place, the main focus of the story is the mystery". He added that he didn’t intend for the horror elements, which he considered as "seasoning" to the game anyway, to steal the spotlight.
This was in stark contrast to their approach with the first Paranormasight title, The Seven Wonders of Honjo, where they chose to do horror because Ishiyama thought that "it would be most suited for livestreams".
In response to being asked whether they considered fans drawn to the first game’s horror elements, producer Kazuma Oushu clarified that the horror elements were still there, just softened to draw more attention to the game's occult atmosphere.
Ishiyama also stated that while The Mermaid’s Curse is set in the vibrant summer sea, the darker vibes of its underwater sections offer an element of the unknown, which he believes could be stimulating for fans of horror.
From Night to Day, From City to Sea
Ishiyama confirmed that they decided early on to focus on a mermaid legend as the next case for the sequel, shifting the focus away from the nighttime scenes of its predecessor, The Seven Mysteries of Honjo, to daytime scenes to better portray a coastal location.
The director determined that "mermaids would be easier for overseas players to understand than (their) previous work," which was based on the Seven Wonders of Honjo, a collection of ghost legends from what is now modern-day Sumida, Tokyo. For The Mermaid’s Curse, they chose the coastal region of Ise-Shima and Toba City in eastern Mie Prefecture as their main location.
Takayama shared his growing interest in the "ghost story called ‘Tomokazuki,’ where someone encounters another version of themselves underwater." which he thought could work well for the mermaid-centric story they’re trying to tell. In Japanese folklore, the Tomokazuki is a sea yōkai or spirit that targets "ama," divers who are predominantly women and are famous for collecting pearls, by drowning them.
As Ise-Shima is the center of ama culture, it felt natural to set the sequel there, noted Takayama. By using a protagonist who was intimate with this practice, they could also organically introduce elements of underwater exploration.
Independent From Its Predecessor
The developers also commented that Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse was not a direct follow-up to The Seven Mysteries of Honjo by design. Ishiyama disclosed that they believed that it would be unsustainable for the series to "constantly try to surpass" every title that came before. As a result, a new cast of characters was introduced, and they pivoted away from the first game’s hardcore horror to focus on a coming-of-age ensemble mystery.
Ishiyama did point out, however, that there are a few revelations from the previous Paranormasight game that make it a better experience to play it first. He referenced advice given by the guide at the beginning of The Mermaid’s Curse, where, upon saying that it is the player’s first game, he will cryptically say that they "may simply find there is one less surprise in store" for them if they choose to proceed.
With that said, Oushu encouraged players to choose which of the two games they find interesting and start there first, as both were tailored as standalone experiences. "If you look at the key visual and feel that ‘this one looks more interesting,’ it's perfectly fine to start with this work."
Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse was released on February 19, 2026, for the Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, and Steam. For a further dive into the supernatural horror-mystery visual novel, check out our article below!
Sources:
Game*Spark interview with Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse developers
Paranormasight Interview - talking overseas reception, development stories, and the pout with the creative staff
Info on Tomokazuki
