Onsen Master, a hot spring customer management game, heading to Switch this summer

Publisher Whitethorn Games and developer Waking Oni Games today announced that Onsen Master, a hot spring customer management game, will be released on Switch. It’s due out later this summer.

Onsen Master takes inspiration from the Studio Ghibli film Spirited Away which has the protagonist working with spirits at a bathhouse. That led to the title’s hot spring customer management gameplay as well as the Japanese setting and aesthetic. Onsen Master has seen five years of development, a successful Kickstarter campaign and beta period, and a partnership with Whitethorn Games.

Here’s some information about the project:

A dark cloud hangs over the island of Izajima, its effects weighing heavily on the inhabitants. Mischievous spirits called yokai are running amok within the island’s hot springs. And the great Onsen Master, keeper of the hot springs and healer of ailments, has mysteriously vanished. Players will take on the role of his apprentice, Mu, in order to restore balance and uncover what happened to the Onsen Master.

Onsen Master features arcade-style single and two-player co-op, where players must manage the customers of their hot springs, and prepare and put together the correct ingredients to cure their ailments. Running around the hot springs, wrangling wandering customers, and putting the right concoctions into the right baths can be hectic enough already, but troublesome yokai look to impede players’ excellent service as well. Can Mu overcome obstacles to revitalize and reconnect the communities of Izajima? Spring into action and find out!

Key Features

Spring Fling: Experience a short and sweet story for up to two players, and unveil the island of Izajima in a visual novel style narrative with a cute anime aesthetic.

The Customer is Always Right: Skip the story and dive right in with Arcade Mode! Choose one of the six hot spring levels to put your customer service skills to the test.

The Heat is On: Take on others in a competitive couch multiplayer mode where players must each work to manage their customers within the same hot spring.

Spa Music: An original soundtrack full of tunes akin to a Feudal fairytale, composed by Dorrell Ettienne.

View a trailer for Onsen Master below.

Source: Whitethorn Games PR