If you like your puzzle games with surreal vibes and steeped in Buddhist folklore, then Children’s Garden might be up your alley. Inspired by “Sai no Kawara,” the Japanese mythological riverbed of souls (a kind of hell or purgatory), the game will have you stacking building blocks to help a child who has passed away find eternal rest.
A little context before we get into the game: In Japanese Buddhist folklore, there’s a legend according to which children who have died prematurely are sent to Sai no Kawara. As punishment for breaking filial piety, they are forced to stack piles of stones into tall stupas (domed Buddhist monuments) to escape this limbo. Unfortunately, demons repeatedly knock these stupas over, forcing the children to start again. It is only through the intervention of Jizo, a deity who is the savior of souls and protector of children, that the children are saved.
Rather than taking on the role of Jizo, Children’s Garden has you stumbling upon a strange device that connects to a child in the afterlife. After the child pleads with you for help, you’re led to take part in the Reincarnation Ethics Program, which has you stacking onbutsu (traditional, building-block toys that served as precursors to Japan’s modern building blocks) to save the child.
Stacking onbutsu is easier said than done. While the goals in the levels remain largely the same (such as stacking enough onbutsu above a red line or placing a specific number throughout a stage), many of the blocks are irregularly shaped, and the level structure becomes increasingly more complex and abstract.
Completing levels earns you Years, which can be used to uncover blacked-out lore entries on the device you found. By doing so, you’ll unlock more levels and learn more about the world and the child you’re trying to save.
Developed by Wellness Mechanism and published by Kodansha, Children’s Garden is set to release for Windows and macOS (Steam) in 2026. A free demo is set to be released soon on Steam and itch.io.
