Hyouka Author: "Hon to Kagi no Kisetsu" Becomes a Game

The mystery novel "Hon to Kagi no Kisetsu" by Hyouka author Honobu Yonezawa is being adapted into an adventure game. Shueisha Games will publish the title for Nintendo Switch and Steam in winter 2026; the publisher has not yet announced a specific date.

The game is based on Yonezawa's novel of the same name about two high school students, Jiro Horikawa and Shimon Matsukura, who work together in the school library and are first confronted with seemingly everyday puzzles. According to Shueisha Games, the source material is adapted with colorful illustrations and complete voice acting. Jiro is voiced by Kazuki Ura, and Shimon by Yuichiro Umehara.

In addition, the game version includes "Used Kitan," a newly written episode by Honobu Yonezawa. The original character designs come from Yoko Tange, who has already created the key visual for the novel.

Trailer Showcases the "Dramalike Adventure" Concept

Shueisha Games describes the project as a "Dramalike Adventure." This refers to a blend of classic reading, audiovisual staging, and interaction: players take on the role of Jiro, listen to the concerns of other characters, and piece together clues to uncover the secrets hidden behind the cases.

The official announcement trailer was published on Shueisha Games' YouTube channel. Development is handled by iMel, a studio specializing in visual novels and adventure games.

Japanese, English, and both traditional and simplified Chinese have so far been announced for release. German is therefore not currently among the confirmed languages. Price and age rating have also not yet been announced.

Yonezawa is known to anime viewers mainly for his works "Hyouka" and "Shoshimin Series," both of which were adapted as TV anime. "Hon to Kagi no Kisetsu," however, is a standalone mystery series and not a continuation of these stories.