Hachi: Eight Feet Tall

Hachi: Eight Feet Tall is a short first-person horror game that places the player in the role of a girl named Miyu, who finds herself trapped in a forest haunted by an unsettling figure. Based on the Japanese urban legend of Hachishakusama, the game builds its horror around the gradual appearance of this tall, silent woman who stalks from a distance. As Miyu explores the woods, she begins to hear a distinct, low sound—“Po… Po…”—signaling that she’s no longer alone. The game’s objective is clear: complete a ritual to escape before the entity closes in.

A Walk Into Uncertainty

At the start, the forest appears empty and quiet. Players are given minimal guidance, encouraging slow, careful exploration. Miyu moves between torii gates, broken paths, and marked stones, gradually uncovering fragments of ritual instructions. Notes scattered throughout the forest suggest that something went wrong in the past. The more she reads, the clearer it becomes that she’s following in the footsteps of someone who didn’t make it out. The threat is not immediate—it approaches gradually, allowing dread to grow without confrontation.

Ritual Steps and Key Components

The core gameplay centers around locating and activating specific ritual elements. These items—such as protective talismans and ceremonial tools—are placed across the forest and must be found in the correct order. As the player progresses, the forest grows darker, and the sound design begins to shift. It becomes harder to tell whether something is nearby or imagined, pushing players to trust small environmental cues.

Core elements of gameplay include:

·         Exploration of a single large forest area

·         Item collection linked to ritual progression

·         Sound-based cues indicating threat proximity

·         One opportunity to perform the final ritual

·         Multiple endings depending on player success

Sound Over Sight

Hachi: Eight Feet Tall uses sound to guide player behavior more than visuals. The title figure rarely appears clearly; her presence is felt through audio design, sudden silence, and atmosphere. The lack of a traditional antagonist on-screen heightens the unease. Instead of jumpscares, the game focuses on slow buildup, rewarding attentive players who notice patterns and environmental changes. There’s no map, no hint system—only the forest and the sounds within it.

This design choice reflects the game’s roots in folklore, where the horror is not always visible but deeply embedded in the world’s structure. By the end, players either perform the ritual correctly and escape, or fail and face a different outcome. Each ending feels consistent with the buildup, and neither gives full closure, staying true to the ambiguous tone of urban legends.