Tokyo Walled City traps a mercenary in a sealed-off Tokyo

Tokyo Walled City traps a mercenary inside a district of Neo-Tokyo cut off from the world by a wall. This cyberpunk stealth game from studio Grim Ronin was revealed in mid-September with a first trailer, and it blends stealth, survival, horror and role-playing. Its Steam page confirms an early access release, expected to last between 18 and 24 months. There’s no date yet, but the project is already turning heads, PC Gamer included. If you like cities you can explore from every angle, it’s one to keep an eye on.

At a glance

Tokyo Walled City puts a mercenary in a cage

In Tokyo Walled City, you play Reiko Kimura, a mercenary stuck in the streets of Neo-Tokyo. According to the game’s Steam page, part of the city has been walled off under unexplained circumstances, and it’s up to you to uncover what lies behind it. The studio names classic neo-noir anime as its inspiration, with a retro-cyberpunk mood built on neon and shadowy alleys.

Grim Ronin describes its game as an “immersive sim”, a genre that gives you several ways to tackle each situation. You can climb, hide, peek round corners, hack, throw objects or improvise, since everything in the environment can help you survive. The city is handcrafted and built vertically, with abandoned markets, residential blocks, neon-lit alleys and slums sunk in shadow.

The game was announced on 17 September with an official trailer, as RPGWatch reported at the time. Three days later, journalist Rick Lane wrote in PC Gamer that Tokyo Walled City looks set to fill the Deus Ex-shaped hole in his life. It’s a flattering comparison, and it sums up the kind of game Grim Ronin is aiming for.

Stealth, sound and cyberpunk gadgets

Stealth sits at the heart of the game. The Steam page talks about advanced systems that track your visibility and how noise travels. Put simply, one heavy footstep can draw attention, and the game warns that the consequences can be deadly. To get through, you have silenced pistols, blades, improvised gadgets, high-tech traps and grappling tools at your disposal.

The city itself is anything but empty. Grim Ronin promises rogue gangs, augmented enemies, shadowy figures and frightening androids with sharp instincts. The horror also comes through in the atmosphere, with secrets, conspiracies and a neo-noir nightmare tucked into every corner, according to the studio’s description.

In terms of setting, Tokyo Walled City draws on familiar cyberpunk staples: neon, implants and an oppressive megacity. On a much lighter note, we reviewed Nivalis Nights, where a noodle stand becomes an empire, another take on bringing a futuristic city to life.

An early access run planned for two years

Grim Ronin has gone with early access and explains why on the Tokyo Walled City Steam page. The studio wants players involved in development, helping polish the mechanics and suggesting features. It expects to stay in early access for roughly 18 to 24 months, depending on progress and community feedback.

At first, the early access version will contain a single fully realised area, with the core stealth, survival and combat systems. The studio then plans to add new districts, locations, weapons, enemies and implants. It also warns that the price may rise gradually as more content arrives. Players can leave feedback on Steam and on the studio’s Discord, and Grim Ronin says it weighs every suggestion, with the stated aim of shaping the game together with its community.

The release date is still listed as “To be announced” on Steam. In the meantime, Tokyo Walled City sat 1,305th among the most wishlisted unreleased games on Steam on 3 October, according to Valve’s ranking. If you follow promising smaller projects such as Gunmetal Gothic, the retro co-op shooter with a hit demo, this one deserves a spot on your list.