Welcome to our weekend segment, where we showcase recent or upcoming Japanese indie titles that share a specific theme. This weekend, take a load off and indulge in some relaxing games. While video games are generally relaxing by nature, these ones are especially good at setting your mind at ease.
Kemono Teatime
If you ever wanted to run your own tea café, then Kemono Teatime might be up your alley. Run by a pair of sisters, the limited-time café serves as host to several Kemomimi (an anthropomorphic race possessing animal characteristics like cat ears and tails), each with their own tea tastes.
Over the course of 21 days, you will learn about your customers as well as their personal drink and snack preferences. As an example, some prefer fragrant teas while others want specific herbs in their drinks. With 9 black teas, 15 herbs, and several secret ingredients to choose from, you are free to mix and match to find the perfect blend for each customer.
That’s nothing to say of the desserts, which comprise another category altogether. Both the teas and desserts require ingredients to make, which you can purchase from vendors using currency you earn from running your business.
Though Kemono Teatime sounds like it has you pressed for time, its gameplay and overall vibe make you want to take things slow. From the immersive café ASMR to the cozy shop tunes and unique music for each customer, this is one title that will make you want to brew a cup of tea orcoffee of your own as you play it.
Developed by Studio Lalala, Kotoneiro, and WHO YOU, Kemono Teatime is available for Windows (Steam). A free demo is also available.
Her Trees: Puzzle Dream
For those who want things to be as simple as possible, Her Trees: Puzzle Dream is a point-and-click puzzle game where you drag objects to solve puzzles in your dreams. With over 40 unique challenges to complete, the game strips things down to a monochrome aesthetic, minimalist soundtrack, and satisfying ASMR.
Some of the puzzles are more difficult than others, but they are not unsolvable. Intuition and careful observation are your key tools here, as there is no need for note-taking or number crunching. Should you find yourself stuck on a puzzle for too long, hints and the complete solution will eventually present themselves after a set amount of time has passed.
Her Trees: Puzzle Dream is the third game in the series, following Her Trees: First Puzzle (available for Windows on itch.io) and Her Trees: The Puzzle House (available for Windows on itch.io and Steam). Despite this, it can be played as a standalone title. It is a relaxing way to keep your mind sharp and only takes roughly 1 to 2.5 hours to complete.
Developed by Stone, Her Trees: Puzzle Dream is available on Windows (Steam). A free demo is also available.
Medetashi Medetashi
A traditional Japanese phrase that roughly translates to “All’s Well That Ends Well,” Medetashi Medetashi is a cozy point-and-click game/visual novel told from the perspective of the reader. Knowing that the novel ends in tragedy, you assume the role of a cat and insert yourself into the story to avert the grim outcome.
The novel seems to be allergic to proper nouns, as all of the characters (including the protagonist’s feline self) have generic titles such as “Cat”, “Auntie”, and “Girl”, instead of actual names. This is an intentional choice, however, as the game wants you to grow attached to their personalities as the narrative unfolds.
There is also a fair amount of point-and-click exploration and puzzle solving, which engage you in the world and characters. Despite Medetashi Medetashi’s simplicity (it takes roughly 1 to 2 hours to complete all 4 main chapters and an extra secret chapter), its story raises some interesting questions regarding loneliness, trust, and self-expression.
Developed by Takeno Nono and published by VNka, Medetashi Medetashi is set to release in the second quarter of 2026 for Windows (Steam). A free Steam demo and web browser version are also available.
Mimikaki Collect
Mimikaki Collect is inspired by Japanese “mimikaki,” which translates to ear cleaning but doesn’t only account for the practical side of cleaning out your ears, but rather a soothing experience meant to give you tingly sensations. Using a traditional Japanese cleaning apparatus, you’ll clear out various types of gunk inside customers’ ears for money.
Different customers have different-shaped earlobes, as well as various types of gunk inside them just waiting to be cleaned out. Thankfully, Mimikaki Collect’s cute art style offsets the otherwise disgusting nature of your work.
Being an ear cleaner must be a lucrative profession, as you can purchase tools, furniture, and even upgrade your home with the income you earn. Customizing your workspace and living quarters is just as important as ear cleaning, as it adds a sense of personalization.
Developed and published by Studio Mimosa, Mimikaki Collect is set to release on March 19 for Windows (Steam).
Thaw
Underneath its icy exterior, Thaw is a cozy, atmospheric visual novel-slash-mining game about three noble brothers looking to earn their place as the king of Isenvindar. After a brutally long winter covers the lands, Vinda (the eldest and a wanderer), Isbrand (the middle child and a fine swordsman), and Aska (the youngest and kindest), must gather the ore needed to make the crown and decide who shall take the throne.
Thaw has you controlling the three brothers as they make their way to the bottom of the local mine. As they dig deeper, they acquire important resources for the crown and upgrade materials for their gear. The story also progresses further down, with the brothers recalling forgotten memories and strengthening their bonds with each other.
While the idea of digging in a mine seems like endless tedium, the game’s calming music, satisfying digging and collecting sound effects, and personal storytelling keep you company until you reach the bottom. Thaw isn’t incredibly long either, and can take you roughly two hours to complete.
Developed and published by Paochanz, Thaw is set to release on February 27 for Windows and macOS (Steam).
Those were five Japanese indie games that will help you kick back. Though not all of them feature ear-tingling ASMR, these titles have their own way of making you feel at ease, be it through room redecoration or ear cleaning.
