Sweet Hamster Days: Reborn Romance Sim with a Rodent Twist

You find yourself in a world where affection is measured in sunflower seeds and the softest naps are taken in the palms of a beautiful girl's hand. This is the premise of Sweet Hamster Days, Kodansha's unconventional live-action romance simulation that has, after a period of uncertainty, firmly set its sights on a July 2026 release for PC.

The journey to this point has been a quiet drama of its own. Initially announced for August 2025, the game's path was briefly interrupted when its Steam store page was delisted, a development attributed only to "various circumstances." Like a protagonist facing a sudden plot twist, the title vanished from view, leaving its fate a mystery to those who had glimpsed its unusual charm. Now, half a year later, it has re-emerged, its release calendar reset with a new determination.

A Cast from the Pages of Reality

This is not a tale of animated sprites or voiced avatars. Sweet Hamster Days is a collaboration between Kodansha Game Lab and the domestic photo magazine FRIDAY, weaving its narrative with the faces of real-life talent. You will not be courting fictional characters, but interacting with portrayals brought to life by actress and gravure idol Sayaka Tomaru, model and ballerina Momoha Takatsuru, and Shiori Ikemoto of the idol group Teratera. They become the Shiratori sisters—Himari, Futaba, and Miyu—three childhood friends whose lives you are about to enter in the most peculiar of ways.

You Are the Pet, Not the Person

The central conceit of the game is its most compelling twist. You are not a dashing hero or a mysterious transfer student. Following a traffic accident, the protagonist Kota is reincarnated—not into a fantasy world of swords and magic, but into the small, furry body of a hamster. He returns to his hometown, where a long-awaited reunion with the Shiratori sisters was supposed to happen after six years. Instead, he is adopted by them and becomes their pampered pet, Hamta.

Your perspective shifts to that of a tiny creature in a cage. Your interactions are defined by this new existence: taking naps in their hands, receiving cuddles, accepting treats. From this vantage point, you begin to notice the subtle cracks in their relationship. The sisterly bond has grown strained over the years for reasons unknown to you. As Hamta, your choices—small, perhaps, in the grand scheme—become the gentle tools to unravel the mystery and mend the fragile connections between them.

The Narrative Hand Behind the Whiskers

Guiding this unique story is Ken Shimomura, a writer known for his work on titles like Chain Chronicle and Onmyoji. His involvement suggests a narrative depth that extends beyond the game's adorable surface, promising a tale where emotional reconciliation is as important as daily feedings. The game will launch with support for Japanese, English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese, aiming to reach a wide audience curious about its novel premise.

Before its full release in July 2026, Sweet Hamster Days will offer a glimpse of its world during the Steam Next Fest, starting June 16. It will be available on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and DLsite, marking its return to digital storefronts with a story that asks you to experience love, family, and mystery from a few inches off the ground.