How far can I ask this child? “Inouno Karte,” an ADV on talking with hidden-power kids, mixes kindness and fear [TGS2026]

From Thursday, September 17, to 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: “Inou no Karte,” a choice-based adventure game where players interact with children possessing “supernatural abilities” and fill out medical charts.

This title originated as a game released in May 2021 on the free game submission site “unityroom,” and following its positive reception, it entered full-scale development. As a counselor at a facility where children with “supernatural abilities” gather,
the player converses with them, fills out medical records, and uncovers the truth behind their abilities.

During the demo, I was able to talk not only with Erika—who also appears in the free game version—but also with Hiiro.

Erika is a shy girl with adorable, voluminous green hair. She always seems to be clutching a teddy bear.
In contrast, Hiiro is a boy with distinctive red hair and blue eyes, wearing a necklace with a large rocket hanging from it. The burn scars slightly visible on his neck look painful…

In real-life counseling, it doesn’t go like, “Okay, now tell me all your problems,” does it? After all, the reason they’re troubled is precisely because they don’t want to—or can’t—talk about it. The first step is getting to know the other person. Through repeated conversations with the children, the player gradually learns about their personalities, favorite things, quirks, traumas, and the details of their “superpowers.”

As you gather new information, it’s automatically recorded in the medical chart in front of you. The counseling session lasts one hour—use that time to get to know the child as much as possible.

However, depending on the conversation, the counseling session might end prematurely, and the counselor might even go “missing”...

While filling out the medical records is part of your job, remember that your clients are human beings just like you—and they’re children. Try to empathize with them as you conduct the counseling sessions.
Although each session is short, there’s a constant sense of tension as you play, worrying about whether you might hurt their feelings or wondering how much you should ask. That’s exactly why it feels so rewarding when you get a positive response!

This title, *Inouno’s Case Files*, which has been garnering attention since the release of its free-to-play version, is scheduled for release on PC (Steam) in 2026.