Review of Nie No Hakoniwa: Dollhouse of Offerings

“Let’s rejoice in this nightmare’s birth.”

Nie No Hakoniwa – Dollhouse of Offerings
Platform: PC
Developer: Chatte Noire
Publisher: Sekai Project
Release date: February 15th, 2024
Price: $29.99 via digital download
Availability: Steam

The kotori-bako, an urban legend, has a rather unsettling quality. Drawing from the legend of Japanese “cursed poison,” or kodoku, the story of a box that devours children was initially shared on 2chan. In contrast to several legendary objects, the kotori-bako does not merely take a person’s life. Rather, the thing mercilessly exterminates entire families, eradicating a whole lineage.

Nie No Hakoniwa – Dollhouse of Offerings by Chatte Noire is a commendable visual novel that refrains from depicting people choking violently on their own body parts. The kinetic graphic novel cleverly and gradually creates its environment, with harbingers hinting at the carnage to come every now and then. Given that Nie No Hakoniwa visits some incredibly dark and shockingly cruel areas, some people may find that tone shift to be unsettling. However, J-horror enthusiasts may love how subversive the book gets—especially with the optional 18+ patch that Denpasoft is selling for ten dollars more.

Of Cannibalism and Class Struggle

Dollhouse of Offerings begins with a short framing sequence in a modern environment before jumping to the Sengoku era and concentrating on a solitary island off the coast of central Japan. Here, disease and starvation are the main causes of death and life is very miserable. A rapacious daimyo perches on a hilltop and gives commands to poor laborers, ordering their heads chopped off at the slightest sign of disobedience. According to kotori-bako stories, there is a significant power imbalance that seems to be capable of being upset only by the paranormal.

Just when you think the fat lord is going to have his comeuppance in a rebellion, Nie No Hakoniwa steps in for another shift, just as the suspense is boiling over. A young man named Yasaka Kurou is being escorted to the Shiki estate years later in the Meiji era, when he is going to meet his future fiancé. One of the island’s seven strong clans is the Skiki family, and Kurou finds it hard to comprehend why a well-known noble family would ask a family of ruthless assassins to be their suitor.

The Origin of Life and its Termination

By now, it would be easy to assume that Nie No Hakoniwa has abandoned its politically charged introduction and is just another cute romance book in which Kurou and his newly acquired wealth Kyouko talk about having children. However, scenario writer Shina (Yurikago yori Tenshi created, Baldr Sky “Zero”) teases us by veering towards harmony before shocking us with a string of horrifying horrors. The majority of Nie No Hakoniwa’s fifteen-hour read, however, takes place as the couple travels across the island and meets members of each of the seven houses prior to exchanging vows.

Dodging and Taking Up Conventions

The new plunge into depravity may feel freeing to some. Distant from the piety of most readings, Dollhouse of Offerings presents a list of decadence that consistently astonishes, bringing the kind of offensive shocks that are becoming less and less common. I would often wonder in the back of my mind, “Are they really going there?Indeed, Nie No Hakoniwa remained firm, despite the possibility of sexism lurking beneath the surface.

Characters that routinely swoon over the lead might detract from the tenor. Furthermore, the novel’s subversive themes contrast sharply with that type of corny fan service. As much as I enjoy nukige, some of the overly enthusiastic characters come across as corny. Others could disagree with how the game ended. In retrospect, Nie No Hakoniwa’s effect can be lessened by the finale, which sometimes makes the events that came before seem unbelievable.

In summary

Whether you can forgive the ending and enjoy the game’s severe tone notwithstanding, Dollhouse of Offerings has a striking visual impact. The novel uses ambient noise to create mood on an auditory level, and the sound effects are reminiscent of ASMR for fans of gore. Kaguyuzu’s creativity is evident visually, as he pays meticulous attention to clothing, architecture, and the human figure in both its entirety and in its component parts. Seldom do novels display a range that smoothly transitions from the sublime to the obscene. As Chatte Noire is NEKO WORKs’ sibling studio (Nekopara), readers can anticipate the same superb voice acting.

We looked over Nie No Hakoniwa: Dollhouse of Offerings.
using a PC using the publisher’s review code.

Review Overview

Story – 75%

Interface – 70%

Aesthetics – 80%

Content – 70%

Accessibility – 65%

Value – 70%

72%

GOOD

Summary : Nie No Hakoniwa – Dollhouse of Offerings is a visually novel that defies morality, and it’s more enjoyable with the optional 18+ patch. However, be aware that developer Chatte Noire’s portrayal of sultriness and unequal authority is undermined by sporadic cliches and an unsatisfactory resolution.