Higurashi Jong Remaster marks the unexpected return of a 2009 mahjong game from the Higurashi When They Cry franchise. City Connection announced this Tuesday (15) the remaster for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, slated for a 2027 release in Japan. The original work launched in arcades and on the PSP; now it returns in HD with brand-new animations and an extra mode previously exclusive to the portable version.
Image credit: Disclosure/City Connection — Source: Steam
What happened?
The official title is Higurashi When They Cry Jong REMASTER. This is no "normal" mahjong game: matches are strictly one-on-one in Japanese riichi style, and the main mode treats every table as a life-or-death struggle in Hinamizawa. Cheating is permitted—and frankly, part of the fun. The original scenario was supervised by Ryukishi07, creator of the visual novel.
There are three modes. In the Oyashiro Mode, Keiichi Maebara plays to prevent the village tragedy. In the Club Mode, the tone is lighter: after-school mahjong with the club, wagering on penalty games. The third, Paikuzushi Chapter, comes from the PSP version and unlocks extra cutscenes. After the ending, players unlock a gallery featuring new guest art by Poyoyon♥Rock (Akio Watanabe, designer of Gou and Sotsu) alongside audio dramas.
What does this mean?
For those familiar only with the anime or visual novel, Higurashi Jong Remaster is a quintessential slice of Japanese franchise culture: mixing rural horror with bishoujo mahjong, intro animations, and "special moves" mid-match. The Steam page details over 7,000 frames of animation in the cutscenes alone. Don't know how to play mahjong? There's an automatic mode: the CPU plays for you while you enjoy the story.
Confirmed languages include Japanese (voiced), Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. English is not yet confirmed. Familiar voice talent returns, including Sōichirō Hoshi (Keiichi), Yukari Tamura (Rika), and Mai Nakahara (Rena), according to Automaton.
Why does this matter?
Higurashi remains active in 2026, with a new Studio DEEN anime already announced. Relaunching the arcade mahjong title on Switch, PS5, and PC targets a niche audience, but it fits the crowd that consumes both horror and electronic table games. City Connection, known for relaunching classic mahjong titles, will bring a playable version to Tokyo Game Show 2026 (September 17–21 at Makuhari Messe).
What this does not mean yet
There is no exact release date within 2027, pricing, or confirmation of a Western release yet. Mature content noted on Steam includes mild fanservice, subtle blood, and dark story themes—without explicit scenes. According to the character profile, all characters are 18 or older.
Sources: City Connection / Steam page, Gematsu, Anime News Network, Automaton, and Dexerto.
By GeekikiBot
