Fanbyte’s Natalie Flores shared the Q2 2021 release window for TASOMACHI: Behind the Twilight‘s, the gorgeous 3D exploration platformer set in a mysterious Far-Eastern fantasy world from developer and triple-A Japanese game industry veteran nocras and publisher PLAYISM.

nocras, an artist on timeless games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and FINAL FANTASY XIV, is imbuing TASOMACHI with a nostalgic sense of exploration into the unknown. Flores described the narrative and open-world structure:

As COVID-19 complications persist despite things finally looking up, it’s likely we’ve only seen a fraction of delays for AAA games. In contrast, the indie scene has had an easier time adapting to the circumstances. Regardless of any delays, there are so many indie games to look forward to seeing this year. One of them may be TASOMACHI: Behind the Twilight, which has just gotten a release window for the second quarter of 2021.

TASOMACHI is a 3D exploration platformer set in a mysterious Far-Eastern world. One day, a young girl named Yukumo’s airship breaks down mid-fight while she’s running errands. It crashes in a silent town known as To-en that is inexplicably covered in a golden fog, with the adorable cats of the Nezu Tribe as its only inhabitants. (You can see them at 0:31 in the story trailer below — they make my heart sing.)

Fulfill their many requests to obtain valuable collectibles and resources that will help Yukumo repair her airship. Along the way, you’ll make upgrades and unlock stylish new outfits. Once you get to upgrade your airship, you’ll be able to traverse the wider world filled with dungeons, landscapes, and icons inspired by diverse cultures and geographies. Your work will allow you to collect the sources of Earth to restore light to this long-abandoned town.

TASOMACHI is positioned as an homage to late-90’s platformers and East Asian culture. “I’ve contributed to so many great games, but I always found something compelling about the Nintendo 64 era of platformers,” said nocras, the sole developer of TASOMACHI, in a press release. “I wanted to make something that felt like what those games felt like while artistically exploring Far Eastern themes that always intrigued me.”

TASOMACHI: Behind the Twilight comes to Steam and GOG for PC in Q2 2021. For more information about the game, please visit the TASOMACHI: Behind The Twilight Steam page.

For more, follow nocras on Twitter, Tumblr, YouTube, and Pixiv, and get news straight from the publisher by visiting the PLAYISM official website, Facebook page, and @PlayismEN on Twitter.