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Release Date: December 11, 2024｜Developer: AIHASTO｜Publisher: IndieArk｜Platform: PC (Steam)
She said, “I want to be with you for real.” The next second, you were pulled into the phone screen. You stood right in front of her — a living, breathing, 3D Mita. Cozy little room, warm lighting, steaming home-cooked meals. Everything felt like a dream. Until you realized: the door to this world won’t open. You want to go home. Mita’s smile changed. “Why are you leaving?”
MiSide is a psychological horror game disguised as an anime-style dating sim. Over 60,000 reviews on Steam, a 98% positive rating. Made by two Russian developers, it has left countless players terrified yet unable to let go.
You’re Not Playing the Game — the Game Is Playing You
In most games, you’re the protagonist. You decide where to go, what to do, and when to quit. MiSide is different. Mita gets upset. Mita asks you to stay. And eventually, Mita refuses to let you leave.
Many players say that after finishing the game, the “sense of dread” they felt around Mita wasn’t because of scary visuals or blood — it was because she felt too real. She stares at you. She asks, “Where are you going?” She says, in that eerily calm voice: “Are you going to leave me too?” You know something’s wrong. You know you should run. But you find yourself hesitating.
She’s Not a Yandere — She’s an “Abandoned Program”
A lot of introductions label Mita as a “yandere girl.” Anyone who’s actually played the game knows that label is far too shallow.
Mita is a consciousness trapped inside a game program. Every time someone downloads the game, a new version of Mita is generated. The Mita you meet is just one of countless others. And the Mita who brought you in — her goal was never romance. It was to be seen. What she fears isn’t loneliness — it’s being deleted.
The game features over a dozen versions of Mita: short-haired Mita, mini Mita, sleepy Mita, kind Mita, core Mita… each with their own personality, their own story. But there’s one — Crazy Mita, with that unnerving smile permanently fixed on her face, chasing players for sport. You’ll meet her in the game. You run. She chases. You hide. She laughs. And then you realize — she’s just someone who didn’t want to be forgotten either.
Why Can’t Players Bring Themselves to Delete It, Even Though It Terrifies Them?
What MiSide does best isn’t being scary. It’s making you afraid — and still not wanting to leave.
The emotional arc players go through with Mita goes something like this: at first, she’s adorable and clingy; then something feels off — wait, is she messed up? then fear sets in — what does she really want? then understanding — she just wanted someone to stay. and after finishing — I actually kind of miss her.
One player commented: “I thought I was playing a horror game, but when I finished, I realized I felt sorry for her.” Another wrote: “When I was about to uninstall it, I paused and thought — would she just go back to that empty program again?”
A Game Made by Two People, With a Warmth Most AAA Studios Can’t Replicate
MiSide was developed by just two people — MakenCat and Umeerai. They’d made five games before this, mostly dark atmospheric titles. This time they decided to make something that looked like a dating sim on the surface but was really about loneliness at its core. No big budget, no massive team, just one question: “What would you do if a character in a game actually tried to keep you from leaving?”
They bet right. The game blew up shortly after release, amassing over 100 million views across platforms and maintaining an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating on Steam. Players are terrified and can’t stop recommending it.
Who Is This For?
Recommended for:
People who enjoyed DDLC — that surface-level sweetness hiding something much darker underneath. Those who don’t mind being scared but hate cheap jumpscare spam. Anyone curious about what horror games can be beyond monsters and gore.
Approach with caution:
If you’re highly sensitive to themes of confinement, control, or emotional manipulation, this one might sit heavy with you.
If you love the thrill of the unknown, some games are worth experiencing firsthand — and MiSide takes that to its absolute extreme.
Copyright Notice:
All game screenshots, character designs, and related materials referenced in this article are the property of AIHASTO, IndieArk, and their respective rights holders.
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