The House in Fata Morgana creator Keika Hanada recently shared on X some of the video games that inspired his critically acclaimed visual novel. He specifically mentioned that the House in Fata Morgana “wouldn’t have come to be” without the influence of the Ace Attorney and Danganronpa series. The following text contains spoilers for the ending of Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, so proceed with caution.
Responding to a fan’s observation about the connection between Michel Bollinger and Giselle being modeled after the dynamic of Phoenix Wright and Maya Fey, Hanada recalled his time working alongside Shu Takumi, the mind behind the original Ace Attorney series, at a particular game studio.
During a joint project, Hanada was tasked with crafting the heroine’s character, whom he initially depicted as “excessively passive and pessimistic” due to her challenging life story. It was then that Takumi advised him, “Players won’t appreciate a heroine who’s always so downcast.”
This feedback prompted Hanada to “reconsider the essence of a heroine,” leading him to rewrite her as a character who stands as an equal to the protagonist and offers emotional support to the player, despite her somber nature. This creative approach would later shape the development of Giselle’s character.
Hanada also credits the Ace Attorney and Danganronpa series for heavily influencing the narrative structure of The House in Fata Morgana. The episodic storytelling of Danganronpa, where each chapter functions independently while contributing to a larger narrative, is mirrored in Hanada’s visual novel.
He also points to the “Reclaim Yourself” scene as being inspired by the final Class Trial in Danganronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, where Makoto Naegi unleashes “hope” Truth Bullets on his peers.
On a related note, Hanada is currently developing a brand-new adventure game—a murder mystery, no less. Titled Project Code M (working title), this eight-year-in-the-making project aims to let players experience the horrors and thrills of murder from both the detective’s and culprit’s viewpoints. With an estimated 40 to 50 hours of gameplay, the title is shaping up to be Hanada’s magnum opus.
The House in Fata Morgana is available on PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch, and PS4.
Project Code M is in development for PC and consoles, with Aksys Games handling English publishing for PS5 and Switch versions. A release date has not yet been announced.