DOGEZA

DOGEZA is a first-person Japanese horror exploration adventure developed by MasaKa Studio. The player takes the role of a feudal lord who spends a single night alone in his castle during the Edo period, with no retainers or servants present. Over the course of the night, the lord encounters the spirits of those whose deaths he once ordered. The title refers to dogeza, the deepest bow of apology in Japan, and the objective is to find a way out of the cursed castle by making amends for past actions.

The game takes place across the castle keep, its turrets and the surrounding grounds, which the player explores in search of a route past sealed doors. Along the way, the player collects items and writings left behind by the dead in order to work out who is owed an apology. Doors sealed with a red-glowing padlock cannot be opened easily, and the player is directed to look out for small changes in the environment. Apologising to the dead follows a specific rite, and performing it incorrectly carries a penalty. Vengeful spirits also roam the castle, and the player must avoid their gaze.

DOGEZA has three endings, with the player left to discover whether any of them allows the lord to survive. A single run lasts around 30 to 60 minutes, and reaching every ending takes roughly 90 to 120 minutes. The game has been released on Steam, where it has received two user reviews at the time of writing. Streaming and Let’s Play guidelines are published on the MasaKa Studio website.