“I don’t really want to play this.” That was my honest reaction when I first learned about the theme of this game. I had initially been interested when I found out it was an adventure game centered on “public housing complexes” and was inspired by the Game Boy Advance title *Sakura Momoko’s Ukiuki Carnival*, butwhen I learned that the protagonist, Hoshino’s grandmother, has dementia—and that her dementia plays a central role in the story—I found myself thinking, “It’s such a heavy theme; I don’t really want to play this.”
However, after playing through the game and reaching the ending, I felt from the bottom of my heart that I was glad I’d played it. In many cases, there is no fundamental cure for dementia, and not only the person with the condition but also their supporting family members face various hardships. Yet, every single character in this game is a good person, reminding us that no one can live alone—we must all support one another to get through life.The depiction of dementia is thorough, and the way the game addresses it avoids the “convenient escape routes” often found in fiction. In addition to the protagonist’s grandmother, several other characters in the game suffer from dementia. As a result, there are many serious scenes.
However, more than anything else, the game powerfully portrays the positive belief in human goodness among the residents of the housing complex, and playing it leaves you feeling uplifted. If you have a family member with dementia and are struggling with it, I hope this game can offer you even a little emotional support. Even for those without such personal experience, this work serves as a catalyst for reflecting on what dementia is like and what it means to support someone living with it.
Below, I’ll share a detailed playthrough report.
A Work That Sincerely Confronts Dementia
The protagonist is Hoshino, a 12-year-old elementary school student who lives with his father and his grandmother Kimiko—who has dementia—in the Toaru Housing Complex, a community facing an aging population. The story begins with a flashback to Hoshino’s childhood, but the stark contrast between his lively appearance back then and his current listless state was truly shocking.
The early part of the game explains the gameplay mechanics, and as part of the process of looking up keywords, you end up searching for “dementia.” This allows you to deepen your understanding of the condition. While the game’s central theme is to be “fun to play,” it also seriously addresses social issues. It doesn’t do so in a preachy way; instead, the topics naturally catch your eye, gradually guiding you to take an interest in the issues yourself.
The story follows Hoshino, who learns that Kimiko used to be the chairperson of the housing complex’s summer festival—an event that was once held every year. Determined to help her regain her vitality, Hoshino, along with his kappa partner, scrambles to revive the festival and recruit participants.I won’t go into specifics, but it doesn’t end with a straightforward “happy ending” where “the summer festival was a success and Kimiko is back to her old self.” Instead, it confronts you with the harsh reality of dementia and is crafted in a way that encourages you to seriously consider how to cope with it—which is what makes it so sincere.
And yet, what makes this film positive and uplifting is likely the single-minded dedication of the protagonist, Hoshino, and the sincerity of the people living in the housing complex. Not everyone in the complex is a saint; they each have their own worries and sometimes hold stubborn views.However, as you interact with them and work together to solve problems, they become a source of strength and support. The game depicts the beauty of “neighborly relations”—something we’ve almost forgotten in modern times—in a way that never feels forced, leaving you with a warm feeling.
Residents You’ll Grow to Love as You Play
There are a large number of housing complex residents—51 in total—spanning a wide age range from 12 to 87. Just by progressing through the main story, you’ll become friends with quite a few residents who will come to the festival, but there are also many other characters you can freely encounter. Every character in this game has a unique personality, so you’ll look forward to meeting them.
There’s a wide variety of characters, such as Nagisa Izumi, who takes great care of the water fountain and always keeps the faucet clean; Fukako Toida, who loves chatting at the well; and Watari Oguma, who adores stuffed animals.
My personal favorite is the caregiver, Kazue Sakai. The protagonist’s family relies on her for support; she’s incredibly dependable when it comes to caregiving and offers fresh perspectives on any concerns they may have.It’s great that the game teaches us the importance and reassurance of being able to rely on a caregiver when a family member is going through a tough time—or when we ourselves face difficulties. I also love that she’s a mystery fanatic who imitates detectives.
Additionally, the game features a section where you can experience “perceiving with the five senses”—a concept Kimiko taught Hoshino back when she was still in good health—as a puzzle-based minigame.Clearing these advances the story and encourages residents to attend the summer festival, but since they’re easy to complete, you shouldn’t get stuck. On the other hand, you can replay the mini-games as many times as you like and really dive into them to aim for a high score.
When exploring the housing complex, you’ll not only interact with residents face-to-face but also gather information using a computer. Whenever Hoshino comes up with a new keyword, the number of websites that appear in search results increases, allowing you to access even more information. This depiction of the internet is modeled after the “Tele-Hodai” era of the 2000s, when personal websites were all the rage, which evokes a sense of nostalgia.
Many characters have their own personal websites, which is interesting because you can discover their hidden hobbies or learn about unexpected connections between residents. The information gathered online often proves useful in interactions with the residents, and the game conveys a warm sense of community—much like the early days of the internet, when social interaction was the main focus.
While this game evokes nostalgia for the good old days, it also serves as a guide for how to navigate the coming era of a super-aging society. People cannot live alone, but there are always people around them willing to help. It’s an important work that teaches us how daily life is sustained through mutual support.
“Danchi Days” is available on Steam for PC and Mac.
