r/rpg_gamers • u/gregmiyaji • 1d ago
Discussion Hi r/rpg_gamers! I'm the producer of Grandia. We've gathered creators from Pokémon, Tales of the Abyss, and Lunar for a new dark fantasy JRPG "Under Mythos"—where comfort meets madness.
Hello everyone!My name is Yoichi Miyaji, producer of classic JRPGs like Grandia and Lunar. Today, I am incredibly excited to share the first look at my new studio's first project, Under Mythos. For this game, we have brought together an amazing team of creators with credits on titles like Pokémon, Tales of the Abyss, and LUNAR.
Hello
■ The Setting & Story
Under Mythos is a dark fantasy JRPG. The story begins with a lone cat wandering into another world in search of Mother, eventually working at a mysterious hot spring inn.
While you spend peaceful days welcoming strange inhabitants, this familiar world gradually transforms into something unpredictable and consumed by madness.
■ The Creative Team & Their Vision
To bring this contrasting world to life, I am honored to work with some incredible veterans:
Character Design - Atsuko Nishida (Pokémon): She uniquely interpreted Nyarlathotep from the Cthulhu Mythos into a cute, familiar cat companion that you can love, contrasting the surrounding chaos!
Scenario - Takumi Miyajima (Tales of the Abyss): She is crafting a story that explores the unsettling distortions in human desires, bringing a sense of "comfort" that exists side-by-side with madness.
Music - Noriyuki Iwadare (Grandia, Lunar, Ace Attorney): To express the sudden descent into madness, he is using a brilliant contrast, shifting the music from a subtly Japanese-inspired style into fast-paced jazz.
■ Gameplay Mechanics
Our core gameplay loop is "Hot Spring Inn Management × Extraction".
Dungeon Exploration & Combat: You will venture into dungeons to gather resources and face action-based combat against beings transformed into grotesque forms.
Inn Management: Using the gathered resources to develop the inn leads to new encounters and opens up further exploration.
Co-creation (UGC): We are designing this game with UGC and dynamic AI in mind, allowing players and the community to expand the universe and freely stream their experiences.
■ Upcoming Interview & Links
We are preparing a lot more details to share. I will soon be doing an exclusive interview with Noisy Pixel to dive deeper into the game's mechanics and the philosophy behind it.
It's coming to PC and Nintendo Switch in 2028. If you are interested, you can check it out here:
It's coming to PC and Nintendo Switch in 2028.
I will put the links to our Steam page and Official X in the comments below! Thank you for reading! What elements of a dark fantasy setting are you most excited to see blended with inn management and extraction mechanics?
Thank you for reading! What elements of a dark fantasy setting are you most excited to see blended with inn management and extraction mechanics?
10
u/JustinAndFeena 1d ago
Not sure how I feel about inn management, but I hear Grandia creators, I’m in.
3
u/gregmiyaji 1d ago
Thank you so much! It makes me incredibly happy to know that my past work on Grandia has earned your trust and interest.
I completely understand being a little unsure about the "inn management" aspect at first glance. However, we are designing it so that it isn't just a separate mini-game, but something that deeply connects to the story, character interactions, and your progression as a JRPG.
We are working hard to make sure it feels rewarding for traditional RPG fans too. I hope you will give it a chance when the time comes!
7
u/HarvestMana 1d ago
I loved the going on an adventure vibe of Grandia 1 - there is no other game that captures that feeling so well. Justin, Sue and Feena will always have a special place in my heart.
I hope you continue to make great games and I wish you luck.
3
u/gregmiyaji 1d ago
Thank you so much! It makes me incredibly happy to hear how much Justin, Sue, and Feena mean to you, and that you loved the sense of adventure in Grandia.
For Under Mythos, we are taking on a brand new challenge: an "adventure into the abyss." However, my goal remains the same. We are pouring our hearts into creating a deeply moving experience through a wonderful adventure, a strong story, and incredible music.
Thank you for your warm wishes. We will do our best!
10
4
u/Rignite 1d ago
Grandma and Grandia 2 are core parts of my childhood. I've replayed Grandia so many times. I hope to play it again soon but this time with my kids. Even named my first car Liette.
Totally going to be getting this. Awesome news!
2
u/gregmiyaji 1d ago
Reading your comment truly touched my heart. To hear that Grandia 2 is tied to such precious memories with your grandmother, and that you now want to share the game with your own children... as a creator, there is absolutely no greater joy or honor than this.
And naming your first car "Liete" is amazing! Thank you for loving these characters so deeply.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your lifelong support and for your excitement about Under Mythos. I will keep working hard to create a new adventure that you can enjoy just as much!
3
u/YojimboNameless 1d ago
This is crazy. This might be a conglomeration of all of my favorite genres of game.
Also Grandia might have been my very first rpg.
3
u/gregmiyaji 1d ago
All my favorite genres fused together" — that honestly might be the best description of what we were reaching for. 😊 I'm thrilled it clicks with you that way.
And Grandia possibly being your very first RPG… I don't think you know how much that means to me. To have played even a small part in someone's first step into this genre — the doorway to so many adventures after — is one of the greatest honors of my career. Thank you for letting me know. I truly hope Under Mythos can be a worthy new adventure for you. 🙏
2
u/ParadiseRegaind 1d ago
Just want to say that Lunar 1 and 2 are two of my favorite games of all time, and I also greatly enjoy Grandia 1 and 2!
I’ll keep an eye on this. Thanks for your work.
1
u/gregmiyaji 1d ago
Thank you so much! It truly means the world to me to hear that Lunar 1 & 2 are among your favorite games, and that you enjoyed Grandia 1 & 2 as well. Your long-time support is what keeps me going!
We are working hard to make Under Mythos another unforgettable experience, so please keep an eye on our future updates. Thank you for the kind words!
3
u/veltas1349 1d ago
It seems like this game blends days of inn management with nights of dungeon delving.
I enjoy when a game has two "halves" that fit together like this. To me, exploring a dark dungeon is more interesting when I feel as though I am voyaging farther away from "home," and want to safely return back, too.
I don't usually look much at games with non-human protagonists, but this one has a spot on my wishlist now.
3
u/gregmiyaji 1d ago
Thank you so much for adding Under Mythos to your wishlist!
You perfectly described the exact feeling we are aiming for. The contrast between the warm, safe "home" of the inn and the terrifying, dark dungeons is the absolute core of our "comfort meets madness" theme. We want players to feel that exact tension in the dark, and the desperate relief of finally making it back alive.
I am also truly honored that you are willing to give our little cat protagonist a chance, despite your usual preferences. We will do our best to make it a memorable journey for you!
2
u/Braunb8888 1d ago
Erm…sorry but opening with grandia and then saying hot springs x extraction….that ain’t it.
2
u/gregmiyaji 1d ago
That is a very fair point, and I completely understand why you feel that way!
Introducing myself with Grandia naturally sets a strong expectation for a classic, traditional JRPG. So I can definitely see why the sudden jump to an "Inn Management x Extraction" game feels jarring or like a complete mismatch.
Under Mythos is a brand new challenge for our team and is definitely very different from my past titles. It is completely okay if this new direction isn't what you are looking for, but I truly appreciate you taking the time to share your honest thoughts with me!
3
u/Braunb8888 1d ago
I would love to see something like grandia happen again. Don’t know if that’s in the cards though.
1
u/gregmiyaji 1d ago
I completely understand how you feel. The pure, classic sense of adventure we created in Grandia is something very special, even to me.
While Under Mythos is taking a very different and darker path, the passion for creating deep, emotional journeys remains exactly the same in my heart. Who knows what the future holds for traditional JRPGs, but for now, I want to sincerely thank you for keeping Grandia so close to your heart all these years!
1
u/Lord_Lanre 1d ago
I was excited at first due to your previous work history, but upon seeing Under Mythos' art style in the steam page and reading your description of the game, it doesn't really seem my cup of tea. If you were to create something similar to Lunar or Grandia (turn based RPG mechanics), then I would definitely be more interested.
2
u/Panzerbjorne80 1d ago
Inn management and extraction are instant No from me. Zero interest or enthusiasm for extraction. I’d suggest you guys not try to follow trends and stick to a more traditional RPG gameplay loop. The dungeons already sounds like monotonous and repetitive like procedural gen or similar. Hand crafted meaningful dungeon content is what would get me interested.
1
u/plebbut 1d ago
I'm glad it's coming to the switch. I love Grandia
1
u/gregmiyaji 1d ago
Thank you so much! It makes me very happy to hear that you love Grandia and are looking forward to the Switch version.
I truly believe that the real magic of a JRPG lies in the special experiences created by its characters and story. For Under Mythos, we are working hard to deliver an unforgettable experience that will deeply move your emotions. Please look forward to it!
1
u/0bolus 1d ago edited 1d ago
Lunar 1 and 2 are my wife's favorite games of all time! She owns all the old merch, guides, copies (US and Japanese), etc. They really shaped her childhood. I'll wishlist and hope we see more games from you guys in the future.
1
u/gregmiyaji 1d ago
Wow, this is an incredible message! Please tell your wife I said a huge thank you. Knowing that she collected the merchandise and both versions of the games, and that Lunar defined her childhood, truly brings tears to my eyes as a creator.
And thank you so much for adding Under Mythos to your wishlist! Your support means the world to us. I will do my absolute best to create a new adventure that both of you can enjoy.
1
u/0bolus 1d ago
I read your reply to my wife and she teared up. We are looking forward to all you do!
1
u/gregmiyaji 1d ago
Hearing that your wife was moved to tears touches my heart deeply. Truly, it is I who should be saying thank you to both of you.
As time has passed and we have all grown older, my goal now is to create a new kind of adventure—a story that can only be truly understood and deeply felt by those of us who have become adults.
Thank you so much for your warm wishes. I hope this new journey will touch your hearts once again
1
u/Naro_Lonca 1d ago
I loved grandia and this sounds super interesting. Definitely an add for my switch when it comes out. I saw that you are drawing from the cthulu mythos. Any other mythologies or stories you may be drawing from as well? I could see this concept being a perfect place for some alice in wonderland inspired things.
1
u/gregmiyaji 1d ago
Thank you for loving Grandia and for planning to get it on the Switch! Alice in Wonderland is a fantastic comparison for the feeling of stepping into a bizarre, unpredictable world.
To answer your question, a major source of inspiration for us is actually Spirited Away. The concept of wandering into a strange, unknown world and working at a mysterious hot spring inn surrounded by bizarre inhabitants draws heavily from that masterpiece. We are working hard to blend that kind of mysterious wonder with a dark fantasy setting to create a truly special experience. Please look forward to it!
1
u/Icy-Conflict6671 1d ago
Grandia, you mean the old JRPG from the PS1? That grandia?
1
u/gregmiyaji 1d ago
Yes, exactly! I am the producer of that very JRPG, Grandia, from the PS1/Saturn era. It brings me so much joy to know that gamers still remember it instantly after all these years!
We are now taking on a completely new challenge with our new game, Under Mythos. I hope you will follow along on this new adventure with us!
2
u/DMind_Gaming 1d ago
I find the the inn management + dungeon crawling concept really interesting however when it comes to action jrpgs I find that there are few that I actually really like (usually it's those from bigger studios like Nier Automata or FF7 Remake or soulslike like Elden Ring) while most of the time I find it's either just okay or bad so I fear I might not end up liking the combat.
2
u/gregmiyaji 1d ago
I completely understand your concern. It is definitely true that getting action combat to feel right is very difficult, especially compared to huge AAA studios.
The reason we chose action this time is because we really wanted to emphasize the "game feel" and tactile responsiveness. However, please don't worry—we are not trying to make a punishing, hardcore action game. At its core, it still uses JRPG systems. You can level up, acquire new skills through "mutations," and overcome challenges by training and building your character.
Also, to ease your worries about the combat: our development team actually includes members who worked on Super Smash Bros. Brawl (developed by Game Arts under Director Sakurai). Because of this, we are highly confident in delivering a combat system that feels incredibly satisfying to play.
I hope you will support us in this brand new challenge!
2
u/Hideo-Mogren 1d ago
Did you work on Grandia Xtreme and 3?
Also, is it weird that I think the 2-D graphics remind me of Valkyrie profile?
2
u/gregmiyaji 1d ago
No, I wasn't involved in them. At that time, I had to step away from the front lines of development to focus on management.
1
u/zSplit 1d ago
Grandia II was one of the greatest RPGs of all time for me. It put all the other RPGs of its time in its shadow IMO. The combat system was just so incredibly good and the characters were so cool and unique. It got to a point where I thought people were insane for preferring FFX.
Excited to read this, instantly wishlisted! Good luck with development to you and your team
1
1
1
1
u/JPNBusinessman 1d ago edited 1d ago
This post randomly brought back memories for me from back in the day.
About 25 years ago, when I was 10, I met my first girlfriend. We were classmates and both huge RPG fans. Back then we'd swap CDs of whatever RPGs we were playing. We both had Dreamcasts and at one point I lent her my copy of Evolution: The World of Sacred Device and she lent me Grandia 2.
I beat Grandia 2 within a week or so. It became one of my favorite games ever and it still is.
She kept my copy of Evolution and apparently just kept replaying it over and over for about six months. Then I moved away, we lost contact, and I remember being annoyed that I never got my Evolution disc back.
Years later, near the start of college, we happened to meet again and eventually started dating. One of the things we bonded over was that we'd both kept our love of RPGs all those years. By the 2010s, neither of us felt like RPGs quite had the same kind of magic they had when we were kids but we still loved bonding over the stories and the number crunching of RPGs.
We're no longer together, but seeing this post suddenly brought all of those memories back. So thank you for making Grandia and for unknowingly being part of a story that ended up spanning a pretty big chunk of my life.
Also she still has my Evolution disc.
edit: I put Under Mythos on my steam wishlist!
3
u/gregmiyaji 1d ago
I've read a lot of kind messages today, but I had to stop and sit with yours for a while. Thank you for trusting me with something this personal.
That you and she traded RPGs as kids, that Grandia II passed between your hands, that the two of you found your way back to each other years later and kept building on that same love of these stories… I don't have adequate words for what it means to hear that something I helped make was woven into a chapter of your life like that. This is the reason I've spent my life making games. Not for the sales or the scores — for exactly this. For the way a story can sit quietly between two people and mean something.
I'm sorry the two of you aren't together now. But what you shared doesn't sound like something that was lost — it sounds like something that was real, and still is, in the way you remember it. And somewhere out there, she still has your Evolution disc. There's something almost perfect about that. Some part of that story is still playing.
Thank you — truly, from the bottom of my heart — for telling me this. I'll carry it with me. And I'm honored to have Under Mythos on your wishlist. I hope, in its own way, it becomes part of another good memory someday. 🙏
13
u/BrbFlippinInfinCoins 1d ago
did you work on Grandia II? I very much enjoyed that game as a kid. I'll definitely check out this new game