Legendary game developer Greg Johnson, of HumaNature Studios, announced his latest project, Dancing with Ghosts, with a new reveal trailer at The MIX Fall Game Showcase. The game is a life-sim centered on finding joy amidst grief and is set for a 2026 release on PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch.
The game’s story begins with 15-year-old Mai, a young girl living in a small Thai river village who is grappling with the loss of her parents. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets a ghost named Pim. Pim, who has no memory of her life or how she became a spirit, is overjoyed to discover that someone can finally see her. Together, Mai and Pim embark on a journey to confront their identities and overcome the emotional challenges that bind them.
As Mai, players help villagers through mini-games inspired by tham boon (“making merit”). This earns good Karma for Pim and reveals story moments through dance sequences, allowing players to express Mai’s thoughts by drawing in her journal. As Pim, you can enter people’s bodies to hear their inner thoughts and collect “Heartlights” to deliver positive energy, all while fleeing from ominous shadow spirits.
The game is deeply personal for Greg, whose four-decade career includes lead design on beloved titles like ToeJam and Earl and the Starflight series. The concept for Dancing with Ghosts was born from his own experiences with grief, including the tragic loss of his daughter and his family’s loss of everything in the 2023 Lahaina fires.
“I’ve been through some difficult times in my life, but I always remember the people who reached out and tried to bring some light when things were dark. My team and I are making Dancing with Ghosts to bring joy to people who need it, and we hope you support our efforts to bring this to the world”, said Johnson. A Kickstarter campaign to support the game is set to go live in October.
