Even if you die, you’ll stack stones again: hands-on with “The Children’s Garden,” an “Ethical Correction Program” risking your next life [TGS2026]

From Thursday, September 17, 2026, through Sunday, September 20, 2026, the “Tokyo Game Show 2026” (hereinafter “TGS2026”), celebrating its 30th anniversary, was held at Makuhari Messe.

In this article, we’ll share our hands-on experience with one of the exhibited titles: the moral correction program *Children’s Garden*, in which players carry “onbutsu” on their backs.

When you start the game, you are asked to “please save a certain child.”

That child, who is said to be connected to the player, is in a corner of hell where children who died at a young age end up. There, they take on an ethical rehabilitation program called “Children’s Garden,” and by achieving excellent results, they are said to gain a longer lifespan in the afterlife.

However, this child struggles with the “Children’s Garden” program and is unable to achieve good grades, so they die young only to undergo the program again… and the cycle repeats. In the process, it seems they’ve even lost their memories…

That is why Jizo Bosatsu, the administrator of Sai no Kawara, has entrusted the player with an Ethical Management Unit in order to save this child from this endless cycle.

Broadly speaking, this game can be divided into two parts: the puzzle section, where you stack stones at Sai no Kawara, and the visual novel section, where you uncover the secrets of the world.

In the puzzle sections, you stack objects called “Onbutsu.” These are modeled after “building blocks” and transform into four different types depending on how long you click them. You must use them to fulfill conditions that change from time to time, such as “stack all four types” or “stack to a certain height.”

Of course, there are obstacles at Sai no Kawara. While this game doesn’t feature oni (demons), you’ll still face disruptions—such as being “attacked” (!?)—while you’re stacking.

In such situations, you must use the “Onbutsu” to respond. There are various types—such as the easy-to-use “General-Purpose Onbutsu,” the “Adhesive Onbutsu” that sticks to other Onbutsu, and the “Explosive Onbutsu” that detonates upon contact—so it’s crucial to choose which Onbutsu to combine with which shape.

You can obtain new Onbutsu in the novel sections. In these sections, you use “Magnetic Fluid Onbutsu” to reveal blacked-out reports. However, this Magnetic Fluid Onbutsu isn’t available for unlimited use—using it consumes lifespan in the afterlife.

You can earn more lifespan by achieving excellent results in the puzzle sections, and with that lifespan, you can unlock more blacked-out reports to learn more about the world… and the cycle repeats! The child who came asking for help was unable to navigate this loop successfully, which is why they sought assistance.

In addition to the reports, you can also learn about this world through videos.

After watching one video about the child who came seeking help, the demo ends. Will you be able to secure the “next life” the child desires?

"Children’s Garden" is scheduled for release in 2026 for PC (Steam), and a demo is currently available on Steam.