It’s an old home. No person is in sight, and the floorboards creak with every step. Entering the next room, a monk can be heard chanting ahead. If the player proceeds without planning, they are dead. This is the tension that Shinonome Abyss: The Maiden Abyss brings.
Reminiscent of mystery dungeon games, Shinonome Abyss: The Maiden Abyss has the player tackling levels from a top-down perspective. However, one could argue that the title has more in common with survival horror games. Players must manage limited inventory space and strong enemies, all while finding keys to progress.
Alone in the Dark
Playing Shinonome Abyss for the first time immediately reveals the game’s hostile nature. It will teach the player its mechanics, but it isn’t afraid to punish them in the process. After all, the punishment is an effective way to get its point across.
It’s a game that does everything to sell the player’s vulnerability. Many enemies hit hard and are difficult to dodge once they start chasing. It’s usually best to avoid this outcome altogether.
Although this approach may prove to be too much for some. Shinonome Abyss warns the player of its slow pace upon booting it up, and nothing about this warning is exaggerated. Movement speed is almost agonizingly slow, and some of the game’s later items address this.
The isolated atmosphere is reminiscent of a Fatal Frame game. It’s quiet, it’s still, but when it isn’t either of those, almost everything is out to kill the player. That’s why it’s so important to rely on the game’s audio for clues of any present threats.
Shinonome Abyss is Deceptively Simple
The beauty of Shinonome Abyss is its ease of play. While it’s simple at first, there are numerous mechanics and systems at play. However, the game does not introduce these to the player all at once. Instead, the game drip-feeds new elements to avoid overwhelming the player.
A large portion of Shinonome Abyss‘ dungeons are not randomly generated. This is both a strength and a weakness of the game. This linear progression allows for a curated selection of levels that teach the player the game’s mechanics.
These predetermined levels essentially serve as puzzles. Resources and enemy placement are static. It’s up to the player to optimize the use of these resources and discover the most efficient route.
The randomized dungeons provide a different sense of satisfaction upon completion. It’s a mastery of the game’s core mechanics, despite not being able to predict what’s ahead. It feels like a test of all that the player has learned by completing the static dungeons.
Wits are the Best Weapon
Like many of the best survival horror games, Shinonome Abyss provides players with the means of fighting back against the spooky forces that threaten them. This primarily comes in the form of an arquebus, but other weapons and traps can be found.
Similar to a Resident Evil title, inventory management can make or break a run. Tougher enemies can be killed with the arquebus, but it often requires a lot of ammo that may be better saved for smaller opponents. Instead, traps are an effective method of dispatching the game’s stronger enemies.
However, Shinonome Abyss doesn’t feature particularly smart opponents. Enemies are programmed to follow the player directly. As one might imagine, this can be easily exploited.
Almost anything can be lured into a trap. This includes environmental traps that do not require any inventory space. Even the strongest enemies are instantly defeated by trampling over a fire. It’s almost unintentionally comedic.
Furthermore, players can conserve resources by simply running away. Closing doors slows down those chasing the player. Repeat this enough times, and eventually the enemies will be forced to give up the chase.
Again and Again
Players can expect plenty of repetition within Shinonome Abyss. While the dungeon layouts differ, locations lack variety. Rooms frequently repeat, and the color palette rarely changes. The strong atmosphere can only hold up so much of the experience.
If it weren’t for the surprisingly intricate mechanics, the fatigue would set in quickly. This fatigue does set in for some of the predetermined dungeon layouts. Once the player dies, they have to start the dungeon from the very beginning.
Some save points are sparsely scattered throughout the levels, although these only provide the player with an opportunity to quit the game. Otherwise, many may find themselves repeating the same paths over and over again, only to encounter instant death due to a minor oversight.
Shinonome Abyss is incredibly unforgiving with its design. This can be to the point of tedium. Since the predetermined dungeons never change in any way, replaying them becomes a chore after a few attempts.
Shinonome Abyss Has Plenty of Potential
Shinonome Abyss likely won’t be at the top of anyone’s list for the greatest games of 2026. However, it does contain a lot of charm and brilliant ideas. Choosing to save inventory space by walking through dark rooms instead of using a candle can result in wonderfully tense situations.
However, Shinonome Abyss takes too long to reveal all of its cards. I can imagine many players giving up before they even unlock the transformation mechanic. It’s an incredibly clever game, but it’s not going to be to everyone’s taste.
Shinonome Abyss: The Maiden Exorcist is currently available for Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam.
Disclaimer: Kadokawa Corporation provided Final Weapon with a Steam copy of Shinonome Abyss for review purposes.
