Japanese indie studio Studio Charon has unveiled SANASANA, a new game set to release in October 2026 on Steam.
SANASANA is a Touhou-inspired vertical scrolling bullet-hell shooter taking place in a dark fantasy realm “infused with madness.” The protagonist, Sana, embarks on a quest to resurrect her deceased sister by seeking out the mythical three Golden Apples, which are said to grant any wish.
Each of the Golden Apples is safeguarded by one of three quirky witches residing deep within the Lost Forest. Sana must overcome these witches to obtain all the apples. Every witch she confronts is driven by her own desires, warped beliefs, and madness. The Steam page notes that the game delivers a dark narrative exploring themes of wishes, sacrifice, and obsession.
The gameplay follows a vertical scrolling shooter format that will resonate with Touhou enthusiasts. Players will navigate visually striking bullet patterns while taking down adversaries. Although SANASANA’s controls are straightforward enough for newcomers, the game promises a challenge that even seasoned players will find gratifying.
The narrative unfolds through dialogue sequences between stages. As Sana engages in combat and conversation with the witches, their personal backstories are progressively uncovered.
While Studio Charon is known for visual novel-style games (such as this upcoming psychological horror title), studio head Kaoru Nekofuji reveals that this new project originated when they met a fan at an event who was also an engineer. After expressing their wish to create a Touhou-inspired shooter, the fan joined the development team.
SANASANA is slated for release in October 2026 on PC (Steam) with English language support.