Harukanaru Toki no Naka de (2000). Play online

Summary

Harukanaru Toki no Naka de—often just called Haruka—is the flagship title of Ruby Party’s Neoromance label and the catalyst for a sprawling multimedia franchise. The game mixes classic ot‑ome storytelling with a light‑weight RPG system: you guide Akane Motomiya across the mystical Kyō map, visiting up to three of its twenty locations a day while confronting vengeful onryō that block your progress. Battles feature a three‑person party, but only Akane is directly commanded; her morale‑driven spells depend on the elemental fuda cards she carries, and characters grow stronger through trust rather than experience points. The “visual‑novel‑plus‑board‑game” hybrid was praised for its strategic map travel and its emphasis on relationship‑building, which directly boosts combat performance. Composer Yasuhiro Misawa’s memorable score helped the title become the most widely covered entry in the Haruka series, spawning sequels, drama CDs, manga, OAVs and even a live‑action film.

Storyline

On the first day of a new school term, high‑school student Akane Motomiya, her classmate Tenma Morimura, and underclass friend Shimon Nagareyama are pulled into a mysterious old well. When they awaken, they find themselves in Kyō, a realm that mirrors Heian‑period Kyoto.

There they meet Fujihime, the young scion of the Star Clan, who declares Akane the Ryūjin no Miko – the Priestess of the Dragon God. She is tasked with saving Kyō from the ambitions of the Oni Clan.

To aid her, eight handsome, single men known as the Hachiyō appear, and both Tenma and Shimon are among them. These allies become the core of her quest to restore peace.

At first Akane is bewildered by the strange world, but she gradually accepts her destiny. Through her growing understanding of Kyō, she learns to wield the power of the Dragon God in Harukanaru Toki no Naka de.