A ghostly double rising from the ocean floor — that’s the image Square Enix chose to kick off a surprise follow-up to 2023’s cult visual novel. PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid’s Curse was revealed during the Nintendo Partner Direct and will launch digitally on February 19, 2026 for Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam), iOS and Android.
A new mystery, same eerie bones
The new entry drops players on Kameshima, a remote island in Ise Bay steeped in mermaid lore. You follow Yuza Minakuchi, a pearl diver who glimpses another version of himself underwater. That supernatural moment sets off a chain of strange events: corpses wash ashore, a girl with no memories appears, and other residents harbor secrets. Square Enix says the game is a standalone tale built around a brand-new cast, new folklore and real-world locations recreated in collaboration with Mie prefecture.
Development carries some familiar faces — writer Takanari Ishiyama returns from the original title, as do the first game’s character artist and composer — so expect a tonal through-line with fresh details. The publisher’s overview teases multiple playable perspectives, a flowchart-style narrative, and new mechanics, including a Diving mini-game and 360-degree background investigations that lean into the series’ slow-burn, point-and-click mystery style. You can view official details on Square Enix’s site here.
Price, platforms and launch timing
PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid’s Curse is priced at $24.99 on launch. Pre-orders open the same day the announcement went live. The release is worldwide and digital-only on Nintendo Switch, PC via Steam, iOS and Android. The title is rated M for Mature.
Square Enix also sweetened the moment for newcomers: the first game, PARANORMASIGHT: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo, has been offered at a steep discount in the lead-up to the new release, making it easy to catch up before the 19th.
Why this matters (and who might care)
The original Paranormasight carved out a devoted audience in 2023 thanks to its atmospheric storytelling and branching-perspective design; the first game still shows solid aggregate scores and a vocal fanbase. If you liked the slow-burn dread and investigative beats of Honjo, The Mermaid’s Curse seems aimed squarely at the same crowd while expanding the series’ mythic scope into coastal folklore.
Its timing is notable: console makers and publishers continue to invest in Switch-family releases even as a new hardware cycle gathers speed. Nintendo’s platform momentum has been a bright spot for third-party releases — a context developers are clearly thinking about as they plan launch windows and ports — and that backdrop matters if you care whether a game reaches more players on newer hardware or stays focused on the existing Switch install base. For more on the platform landscape, see how Nintendo’s hardware forecasts have shifted recently and the updated release windows for upcoming Switch 2 titles (/news/nintendo-switch-2-sales-surge) and (/news/nintendo-switch-2-games-release-plan).
For players who prefer their horror grounded in place, folklore and slow revelations rather than jump scares, PARANORMASIGHT’s approach — multiple viewpoints, puzzles and environmental clues — is a strong fit. Square Enix’s presentation suggests the team is leaning into authenticity (real locales, local legends) as a way to make the uncanny feel plausible.
If you want to watch the announcement trailer and poke through screenshots, Square Enix’s official page has the full gallery and trailer embedded: PARANORMASIGHT: The Mermaid's Curse — official site.
Whether you’re a seasoned ghost-story detective or just curious about one of the more quietly inventive visual novels of the past few years, the bay will be waiting on February 19. Clear your schedule — and maybe your dive gear.