Japanese indie developer LandUni Studio has launched the Steam store page for their upcoming title Auntie Heroes, a story-driven RPG that features an unconventional cast. The game will support Japanese, English, and Chinese, with wishlisting open ahead of its release. Details on the game from the press release follow below.
Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4448980/AuntieHeroes
Official Twitter account: https://x.com/LandUniStudio
Developed as the second original project by solo creator Riku Uni, Auntie Heroes marks a tonal shift from the dystopian framing of the studio’s previous work, Work Life Balance. Where that title emphasized systemic oppression and bleak worldbuilding, this new project adopts a brighter, pop-oriented aesthetic while retaining a focus on character-driven storytelling and emotional nuance.
The premise centers on a group of ordinary middle-aged women – i.e. aunties – who find themselves resisting an invasion by cat-like extraterrestrials known as the Muscats. Family obligations, workplace dynamics, and past regrets are focused on in the character development, offering grounded, relatable topics for players.
Structurally, the game follows a conventional turn-based RPG format, but introduces a system called “Heart Power”, which turns combat encounters into emotional and psychological interactions.
Narrative-wise, decisions made during exploration, dialogue sequences, and combat scenarios influence both interpersonal relationships and the story itself.
While the core structure remains recognizable to RPG audiences, Auntie Heroes distinguishes itself through its framing and focus on the story and characters. The decision to center non-traditional protagonists also positions the game within a subset of indie RPGs expanding the genre’s representational and thematic scope.
The game will be available in Japanese, English, and Chinese (both traditional and simplified). No release window has been announced yet at the time of this article’s publication.
