"This full remake gave us the perfect opportunity": One of the scariest Japanese horror games is back after 20 years, and its director is just glad technology now lets you hold hands with your sister

A screenshot shows the protagonists of Fatal Frame 2 staring at the camera.

If I were to carry Fatal Frame 2: Crimson Butterfly around like a handbag, cotton lace, butterflies, and a supernatural camera would all tumble out when I dumped it – fashion and ghosts are what make developer Tecmo's supernatural nightmare attractive even 22 years after its release. But series director Makoto Shibata seems most proud of something new he's added to the upcoming Fatal Frame 2 remake, due in early 2026: holding hands.

Compared to the many vengeful spirits smearing shadows across the Japanese horror game's cursed village, the new mechanic is like a good ghost, in a way. Shibata explains in a translated trailer during the Tokyo Game Show 2025 that Koei Tecmo has dusted off the old idea and let it become a lifeline.