Published by Fireshine Games and Shochiku, and developed by Emberstorm Entertainment, the PC (Steam) crafting game *REKA*—in which players take on the role of a witch’s apprentice and explore an autumn forest—will finally be released on October 26, 2026, and will include Japanese language support.
We had the opportunity to play the game ahead of its release, so in this article, we’ll share our impressions.
Click here for the*REKA* Steam store page!
What Is “REKA”?
In this game, you play as Reka, the apprentice of the legendary witch “Baba Yaga.” You’ll journey through the autumn forests of a quiet, profound world inspired by mysterious Slavic mythology while building your very own “walking magical house.”
Players harness the power of nature and earth spirits, learn magic, and explore a beautiful, procedurally generated world. It’s a wonderful game that offers an immersive exploration experience, blending resource gathering along the way, interactions with wildlife, and rich crafting elements that let you build and decorate your own hideaway with the items you collect.
Your Journey Through a Mystical World Begins
When you start the game, you’ll begin by customizing the protagonist, Leka.
That said, the character customization options are intentionally limited: hairstyles are all old-fashioned styles like braids, and outfits consist mostly of mantles in subdued colors. It seems the design was inspired by the clothing actually worn by common women in medieval Europe. I found this appealing right from the start.
Once character creation is complete, the main story finally begins.
Right away, a merchant whose wheel has come off comes asking for help. You return the wheel—which has rolled toward the bridge—to him, and the quest is complete. Basically, the game follows this pattern: you listen to the townspeople’s stories and receive items in return.
Reka’s role is to help resolve everyday trivial matters, such as finding a child lost in the forest or collecting honey for a beekeeper.
There are no flashy battles or choices that shake the world; instead, the minimalist storytelling—where you solve common problems one by one—is what makes it fun.
Throughout the story, there’s a fair bit of involvement from spirits that appear in Slavic mythology, which really lets you feel the depth of this game’s world.
The townspeople warned me not to speak to the witch who lives deep in the forest, but that’s just the nature of youth—the more they tell you not to do something, the more curious you become.
When I went to check it out, there she was—a grumpy-looking old woman living all by herself.
She hurls terrible insults at me the moment I open my mouth, but in the end, I find myself scrambling to work on the “ritual” she’s so eager to perform.
She really was just like the witch Baba Yaga, ordering me to toss chickens and wheat into the hearth of a dilapidated shack in her backyard.
Eventually, she teaches her magic, and Leka learns to have a crow fetch things and light small fires. The tutorial, while by no means flashy, fits perfectly with the game’s world.
And once the crow drinks Reka’s blood, the ritual is finally complete.
Swallowed up by a massive tornado, the dilapidated house returns to its former glory.
Finally, chicken legs sprout from it… and, believe it or not, a moving house is complete.
Reka and Baba Yaga climb aboard and set off on a journey to uncover Baba Yaga’s secrets.
Even in new lands, the routine remains the same: listen to people’s stories and collect items and recipes.
But now that you have a moving house, you can decorate it with the items you receive.
Hang apples and flowers, add a bed, build an attic—create your very own witch’s house.
Crowned with a massive house and walking leisurely among the trees, this house with chicken legs is truly a creature straight out of mythology. The rumors spread by farmers who witnessed such a sight will surely be passed down through the ages as folk tales.
The maps, rendered with a unique sense of color, are also a highlight.
Whether it’s the forest dyed crimson at dusk or the night sky with a crescent moon rising, every scene is picture-perfect.
Deep within the forest where cats and rabbits frolic, you can sense a one-of-a-kind narrative world unfolding, where talking wood carvings and glowing deer quietly make their appearances.
The localization is flawless; from NPC dialogue to quest lines, there wasn’t a single line of text I couldn’t understand.
It’s neither gory nor grandiose… but why not follow the journey of Reka and Baba Yaga in this miniature world that’s undeniably alive?
“REKA” is scheduled for official release on October 26, 2026, on PC (Steam), with Japanese language support.
Title: “REKA”
Developer/Publisher: Emberstorm Entertainment/Fireshine Games, Shochiku
Release Date: October 26, 2026
Price: 2,300 yen (tax included)
『REKA』 Steam store page!
