# Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Onikakushi-hen

> first episode of the 2002 video game Higurashi no Naku Koro ni

**Wikidata**: [Q11090454](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q11090454)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/higurashi-no-naku-koro-ni-onikakushi-hen

## Summary

Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Onikakushi-hen spans the genres of kinetic novel, sound novel, horror video game, visual novel, psychological horror video game, and murder mystery game.[1]It is categorized simultaneously as a kinetic novel and a sound novel, and it is also described as a visual novel.[1]It is described as a horror video game and a psychological horror video game, and it is also described as a murder mystery game.[1]

## Summary
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Onikakushi-hen is the first episode (chapter) of the 2002 visual/sound novel Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, developed and originally published by the dōjin circle 07th Expansion. It is a single-player kinetic novel / psychological-horror murder-mystery set in the fictional village of Hinamizawa and was first released for Microsoft Windows on 2002-08-10 (Japan).

## Key Facts
- Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Onikakushi-hen (鬼隠し編, also known as Onikakushi-hen, Onikakushi, Abducted by Demons Arc, Spirited Away by the Demon Chapter) is the first episode of the 2002 video game Higurashi no Naku Koro ni.
- Developer and original publisher: 07th Expansion (Japanese dōjin circle; founded 2000; country: Japan).
- Primary genre classifications: kinetic novel (preferred), sound novel, visual novel, psychological horror video game, horror video game, murder mystery game.
- First publication date (Japan, Microsoft Windows): 2002-08-10; later release dates include France 2009-10-31 and a worldwide release 2009-12-15; released on Steam (worldwide) 2015-05-15.
- Platforms: Microsoft Windows (original 2002 Japan release), macOS, Linux, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo DS; distributed digitally (Steam) and on CD-ROM.
- Game mode and players: single-player; minimum and maximum number of players = 1.
- Setting: takes place in the fictional village of Hinamizawa, set in the 1980s; takes place in the When They Cry media franchise/universe.
- Languages: Japanese (original, 2002); English language release available (per distribution on Steam).
- Distribution and publishers: distributed via Steam and MangaGamer; licensed under a proprietary license; copyrighted.
- Technical/input: typical input devices include computer mouse and computer keyboard; Steam application id = 310360.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Onikakushi-hen?
A: It is the first episode/chapter of the visual/sound novel Higurashi no Naku Koro ni, a single-player kinetic/psychological-horror mystery originally released for Windows in Japan on 2002-08-10 and developed by 07th Expansion.

### Q: On what platforms can I play Onikakushi-hen?
A: The title was originally released for Microsoft Windows and later made available for macOS and Linux, and has been released on consoles/handhelds including PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and Nintendo DS; it is also distributed digitally on Steam.

### Q: Who made and published the game?
A: The game was developed and originally published by the Japanese dōjin circle 07th Expansion. It has also been distributed and published in later releases by MangaGamer and via Steam.

### Q: When was it first released and when did it reach Steam?
A: The original Japanese release date was 2002-08-10 for Windows. It reached worldwide releases in 2009 (various dates) and was published on Steam (worldwide) on 2015-05-15.

### Q: What kind of game is it and how long is it typically played?
A: It is primarily a kinetic novel / sound novel and visual novel with strong psychological-horror and murder-mystery elements, presented as a single-player experience. (HowLongToBeat id: 26829 for playtime reference.)

## Why It Matters
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Onikakushi-hen matters as the introductory chapter of the Higurashi no Naku Koro ni series and as an early, influential example of modern Japanese independent visual-novel design from a dōjin developer. As the opening episode, it establishes the setting (Hinamizawa in the 1980s), tone, and mystery structure that define the When They Cry franchise. Its combination of kinetic-novel presentation, sound-novel techniques, and psychological-horror/murder-mystery narrative helped define the user experience and narrative pacing for subsequent chapters and adaptations within the franchise. The title’s multi-stage release—from a 2002 Windows CD-ROM to later worldwide digital distribution on Steam and releases for multiple console platforms—demonstrates how dōjin-origin works can transition to wider markets and modern digital storefronts. For players and scholars of interactive narrative, Onikakushi-hen is a concrete case of serialized episodic visual storytelling, released under a proprietary license but made broadly available through digital distribution and publishers like MangaGamer.

## Notable For
- Being the first episode/chapter (Onikakushi-hen) of the 2002 Higurashi no Naku Koro ni video game series by 07th Expansion.
- Its classification as a kinetic novel / sound novel combined with psychological-horror and murder-mystery elements.
- Original Japanese release on 2002-08-10 for Microsoft Windows and later multi-platform/digital distribution including Steam (app id 310360) in 2015.
- Distribution path from dōjin CD-ROM origin to global availability via Steam and MangaGamer.
- Setting and narrative location: establishes the Hinamizawa setting and 1980s period for the When They Cry media franchise.

## Body

### Overview
- Title (original Japanese): 鬼隠し編 (Onikakushi-hen).
- English title: Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Onikakushi-hen.
- Instance of: video game episode (first episode of the Higurashi no Naku Koro ni series).
- Media franchise: When They Cry.

### Developer and Publisher
- Developer: 07th Expansion (Japanese dōjin circle; inception 2000; country: Japan).
- Original publisher: 07th Expansion.
- Later distribution/publishers: Steam (digital distribution) and MangaGamer.

### Release History and Platforms
- Japan (Microsoft Windows): 2002-08-10 (original release, CD-ROM format).
- France release: 2009-10-31 (reference date in structured data).
- Worldwide release date listed: 2009-12-15.
- Steam worldwide release (digital): 2015-05-15.
- Platforms enumerated in source material: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Nintendo DS.
- Distribution formats: CD-ROM and digital distribution/digital download.

### Genre and Gameplay
- Genre labels from sources: kinetic novel (preferred), sound novel, visual novel, psychological horror video game, horror video game, murder mystery game.
- Game mode: single-player video game.
- Input devices: computer mouse, computer keyboard.
- Minimum and maximum players: 1.

### Setting and Narrative
- Narrative location: Hinamizawa (fictional village; qualifier P17: Japan).
- Set in the 1980s (time period specified in structured properties).
- Published in the broader Higurashi no Naku Koro ni series; Onikakushi-hen is the opening chapter.

### Technical and Identifiers
- Steam application id: 310360 (platforms: Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux).
- Various database identifiers: mobygames id 102607 / 193584, visual_novel_database_id r37233, howlongtobeat id 26829, gog application id game/higurashi_when_they_cry_hou_ch1_onikakushi, tuxdb id 1494, steamgriddb id 4936, stopgame id higurashi_when_they_cry.
- Copyright status: copyrighted; license: proprietary.

### Languages and Localization
- Language of original work/name: Japanese (original release 2002-08-10).
- English language release available (per Steam distribution).

### Classification and Metadata
- Instance of: video game episode.
- Takes place in fictional universe: Higurashi When They Cry universe.
- Maximum number of players: 1.
- Minimum number of players: 1.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "VideoGame",
  "name": "Higurashi no Naku Koro ni: Onikakushi-hen",
  "description": "The first episode of the 2002 visual/sound novel Higurashi no Naku Koro ni; a single-player kinetic/psychological-horror mystery set in the village of Hinamizawa.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q612975",
    "https://store.steampowered.com/app/310360"
  ],
  "gamePlatform": [
    "Microsoft Windows",
    "macOS",
    "Linux",
    "PlayStation 3",
    "PlayStation 4",
    "PlayStation Vita",
    "Nintendo DS"
  ],
  "author": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "07th Expansion"
  },
  "publisher": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "MangaGamer"
  },
  "genre": "Kinetic novel; psychological horror"
}

## References

1. MobyGames
2. The Visual Novel Database
3. Steam
4. [MobyGames](https://www.mobygames.com/game/193584/higurashi-no-naku-koro-ni-onikakushi-hen/specs/)
5. Q136789995
6. PCGamingWiki
7. RAWG
8. [Source](https://store.steampowered.com/greatondeck)