Japanese solo developer Kyamei launched the Steam store page for their latest game, Naniwa Underground,on August 26. Described as a life simulator set in a fictional Osaka where public order has collapsed, the game lets players do as they see fit in a city gone wild. A trailer was also posted by Kyamei’s YouTube account, coinciding with the game’s store page reveal.
The protagonist of Naniwa Underground is described as a recluse in society, having been unemployed and freshly evicted from their apartment after repeatedly falling behind on paying rent. Having lost a roof to live under, players can choose how they will eke out a living in the crime-ridden streets of Osaka, whether that’s to work for honest pay or to turn to crime themselves.
After deciding between a male/female protagonist (Senri Namba or Minami Senri), players will quickly need to find ways to make ends meet by earning money, collecting food, and finding a place to sleep. The Steam store page warns that sleeping in the streets can “leave you vulnerable to nighttime attacks,” so in desperate situations, breaking into somebody else’s home is even presented as a viable option.
The different ways you can commit crimes in Naniwa Underground run the gamut from subtle offenses like pickpocketing to bolder offenses such as drug dealings. The trailer footage for the game shows players being able to hold up a convenience store by pointing a gun at the store clerk and ordering them to open up the cash register.
Any NPC you harm in town gets sent to a hospital, where they remain for a certain period. Humorously, you can be pardoned for any wrongdoings if you visit their bed and simply apologize, allowing you to remain on good terms with them. Alternatively, players can choose to “finish them off” by killing them permanently.
The developer, Kyamei, has stated on their project’s Ci-en page that development for Naniwa Underground began in 2025, citing the Grand Theft Auto series as the game’s main influence. Kyamei goes on to explain in the post that their goal was to make a crime simulator set in the city they were born and raised in, which is why many of the in-game locations are modeled after actual places in Osaka. Past posts on X also reveal that an additional option for all NPCs to speak in “a strong Kansai dialect” is also in the works, showing how committed the game is to authenticity.
Naniwa Underground is set to release on PC via Steam. The release date for the game is TBA. Please note that English support for the game still hasn’t been confirmed.
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