Sohei Niikawa, the legendary creator behind the Disgaea series and former president of Nippon Ichi Software, sat down for an interview about his upcoming game Etrange Overlord. What makes this project particularly fascinating is that Niikawa developed it while working undercover as a mystery author named Roman Kitayama for three years after leaving his position at NIS in 2022.
The Secret Identity Revealed
At Tokyo Game Show 2025, Niikawa dropped a bombshell when he revealed that Roman Kitayama, the supposedly up-and-coming author credited with the original script for Etrange Overlord, never actually existed. Pointing at himself, Niikawa confessed, “It was me. I quit my previous company and became a writer. And until today, I’ve been secretly working as an underground author.”
The elaborate three-year prank began even before Niikawa officially resigned from Nippon Ichi Software in August 2022. The Roman Kitayama social media account was created a month prior to his resignation, suggesting this was a carefully planned creative experiment. During those three years, Niikawa worked undercover writing novels, manga scripts, and game pitches, all while building up the mystery persona.
A Sushi Lane Musical Adventure
Etrange Overlord is described as a “sushi lane musical action adventure,” which might be one of the most delightfully absurd genre descriptions in gaming. The game tells the story of Etrange von Rosenburg, a sweets-loving duke’s daughter who is falsely accused of assassinating the king and swiftly executed. Upon waking up in hell with no sweets in sight, she decides to do what any reasonable person would do and take over the entire underworld.
The gameplay centers around a unique revolving lane mechanic, similar to conveyor belt sushi restaurants, where items, power-ups, buffs, and even characters circle around the battlefield. Players must shoot, dodge, and slash their way through fast-paced action RPG combat while managing this constantly rotating system. The mechanic adds a chaotic layer of strategy as bombs, health items, and character positions continuously move around the arena.
Building Your Army of Hell
True to Niikawa’s pedigree as the Disgaea creator, Etrange Overlord features a colorful cast of subordinate characters that players recruit from all corners of hell. Each character was designed by legendary illustrator Shinichiro Otsuka, best known for his work on Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World. The combination of Niikawa’s signature humor and storytelling with Otsuka’s gorgeous character designs promises a visual and narrative treat.
The game includes a dedicated multiplayer mode supporting 2-4 players, allowing friends to experience the frenetic sushi lane combat together. This represents a departure from the traditional turn-based tactical gameplay Niikawa is known for with Disgaea, showing his willingness to experiment with new genres and mechanics.
Musical Numbers in Hell
The musical component isn’t just flavor text. Etrange Overlord features full musical numbers integrated into the story, a callback to Niikawa’s earlier work on Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure. Players follow Etrange as she tries to live her best afterlife despite the circumstances, with the story featuring plenty of laughs, heart, and song-and-dance sequences as she and her allies ride, fight, and sing their way across the underworld.
An interesting gameplay mechanic ties directly to Etrange’s sweet tooth. Players can indulge her insatiable need for sweets to receive temporary buffs and bonuses, turning her character trait into a strategic resource management system.
From Nippon Ichi to SuperNiche
After resigning as president and representative director of Nippon Ichi Software in August 2022, Niikawa founded a new company called SuperNiche in March 2025. The studio is collaborating with developers Gemdrops and Broccoli on Etrange Overlord, with NIS America handling the western publishing duties.
Niikawa’s departure from NIS marked the end of an era. He joined the company in 1996 and served as CEO and president from 2009 to 2022, during which time he created the Disgaea franchise that became the soul of the company. Many employees joined NIS specifically because they were massive Disgaea fans, and Niikawa’s creative philosophy of challenging conventions and trying things no other company would do became embedded in the studio’s DNA.
The Legacy Continues
Despite the Roman Kitayama prank coming to an end, Niikawa plans to continue pursuing side projects under that pen name while keeping his main work as a game producer under his real name at SuperNiche. Since both personas are currently working on Etrange Overlord from different positions, Niikawa joked that fans should prepare themselves for double the mischief leading up to the game’s release.
Release Details and Platforms
Etrange Overlord launches in Japan on March 26, 2026, for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch. The western release follows in early 2026 across those same platforms plus PC via Steam. Console versions will support English and French text, while the PC version adds Japanese text. All platforms include Japanese voiceover.
A Limited Edition was announced with more details revealed on November 13, 2025, for western audiences. The game represents SuperNiche’s first major project and serves as Niikawa’s statement that he’s far from finished innovating in the gaming industry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sohei Niikawa?
Sohei Niikawa is a legendary Japanese game developer and creator of the Disgaea series. He served as president of Nippon Ichi Software from 2009 to 2022 before founding SuperNiche.
What is Etrange Overlord?
Etrange Overlord is a musical action RPG featuring a unique sushi lane combat mechanic where items and characters revolve around the battlefield. It tells the story of a duke’s daughter who takes over hell after being falsely executed.
Who is Roman Kitayama?
Roman Kitayama was a pen name used by Sohei Niikawa for three years after leaving Nippon Ichi Software. Under this secret identity, he wrote novels, manga scripts, and game pitches including the original script for Etrange Overlord.
When does Etrange Overlord release?
The game launches in Japan on March 26, 2026, with a western release following in early 2026 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.
Who designed the characters?
Legendary illustrator Shinichiro Otsuka, known for his work on Re:Zero – Starting Life in Another World, designed all the characters in Etrange Overlord.
Does the game have multiplayer?
Yes, Etrange Overlord features a separate multiplayer mode supporting 2-4 players where friends can tackle action-packed stages together.
What is the sushi lane mechanic?
The unique revolving lane mechanic sends items, buffs, power-ups, and even characters circling around the battlefield like a conveyor belt sushi restaurant, adding a layer of chaotic strategy to combat.
Conclusion
Sohei Niikawa’s journey from Disgaea creator to undercover author to founder of SuperNiche demonstrates his endless creativity and willingness to take risks. Etrange Overlord represents everything fans love about his work: quirky characters, humor mixed with heart, innovative gameplay mechanics, and a refusal to play it safe. The three-year Roman Kitayama prank shows Niikawa hasn’t lost the mischievous spirit that made Disgaea so beloved. With gorgeous art from Shinichiro Otsuka and the promise of musical numbers in hell, Etrange Overlord looks poised to deliver a uniquely charming experience when it arrives in early 2026. Whether you’re a longtime Disgaea fan or new to Niikawa’s work, this sushi lane musical adventure through the underworld is shaping up to be one of the most interesting RPGs on the horizon.