Fareidolia’s first playable demo at TGS 2026 showcased its voice recognition system and its real-time turn-based combat. Find out how these features work and what else players can expect from Nexon Games’ upcoming RPG.
Fareidolia TGS 2026 Demo Reveals Voice Interactions and Combat
Call Your Mates Over By Their Names
Fareidolia features an on-device voice recognition system that lets players use their own voice to interact with the game. The system was demonstrated in the first playable version of Nexon Games’ new title at Tokyo Game Show 2026, where players could speak dialogue choices into a microphone and call characters by name inside the game’s living space.
During story sequences, players can read the available dialogue choices aloud to progress through the conversation. The system recognizes the spoken choices and advances the scene without requiring a controller or other manual input. In our hands-on report, we described the feature as part of Fareidolia’s attempt to bring the player closer to the game’s characters.
This feature also plays a role in Fareidolia’s daily-life segments. The game takes place in Anima City, where the player serves as the head of the Anima City Reconstruction Center and manages Tasogare Hall. The hall functions as both the center’s office and the player’s home. Here, they live alongside characters known as Mates. During the TGS demo, players could call out a character’s name inside the hall and have that character approach them for an interaction.
In an interview with Inven Global, IO Division head Kim Yong-ha said the voice recognition system was developed through the team’s long-term research and "is an on-device AI." Put simply, the voice recognition is handled directly by the device running the game. Kim added that the team is paying close attention to performance so the system can run smoothly on mobile devices.
Standard controls will remain available as the developers explore those possibilities. Kim pointed to situations such as playing on the subway or at an office, where relying entirely on voice commands could be awkward. He said manual controls "must accompany" voice recognition as the team considers how to incorporate the technology further.
The developers see a quality in voice interaction that conventional controls cannot fully replicate. Kim described it as a feature that offers "a different senstation" and said the team has received suggestions for incorporating that characteristic into Fareidolia as development continues.
Producer Cha Min-seo in the same interview described the game as an "isekai homestay," wth Tasogare Hall serving as the setting for the player’s daily life with the Mates and interaction-focused activities. Kim said the team is also putting effort into content that fosters emotional connection.
The extent of the voice system in the finished game remains undecided. The developers are using feedback from the TGS demo to determine how far the feature should be expanded.
TGS 2026 Demo Showcased Live Turn Battle System
On the other side of its gameplay is a combat system that adds a real-time element to its turn-based battles through what Nexon calls the "Live Turn Battle system." Players still select skills as they would in a turn-based RPG, but the battle continues to change as enemies move and their positions shift.
Movement here affects how players choose their attacks. Players have to predict where enemies will move and keep their attack ranges in mind when selecting skills. The system therefore requires players to consider the position of their targets when planning each action.
Fareidolia is currently in development for PC, mobile, and consoles, with its release date yet to be announced. Kim said preparations for a closed beta are underway, though the team does not expect to hold the test in 2026.
For a more detailed explanation of the game’s combat, check out our hands-on report below!
Source:
Inven Global | Producer Cha Min-seo: Pareidolia adds a nostalgic, hometown-like alternate world feel
