Welcome Demons 2026

Noboribetsu, a popular onsen town in the south of Hokkaido, has a special relationship with Oni. Often depicted as malevolent demons, the Oni of Noboribetsu are instead protectors of this town built around a hot spring known as Jigokudani, or Hell Valley. They are tasked with warding off evil spirits from the medicinal baths and are even said to keep foolhardy visitors from falling into the naturally occurring boiling hot water that brings prosperity to the town.

Welcome Demons is a climbing/shedding game for 3 players with some unusual wrinkles. Rather than playing standard melds (pairs, runs, etc.) cards need to be played in order to protect Visitors, who each have their own requirements. Players are given identical sets of Visitors and the game is about how to use their dealt hand of Oni cards to escort as many Visitors away from danger as possible. The player who is the least successful at rescuing Visitors before the hand ends loses the game.

—description from the publisher