A game originally released in Japan back in 2002 is blowing up on Steam like it just came out: Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic — the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil hit the platform on September 9 and has already racked up nearly 3,000 reviews, 98% positive — one of the best-reviewed releases of 2026 so far.
Official artwork for Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic — the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil. Image: Alliance Arts.
The game is essentially a remastered, polished-up version of the sixth title in the Touhou Project series, created by solo Japanese developer ZUN. Originally released for PC-98 and later Windows, Embodiment of Scarlet Devil was the franchise’s first big commercial hit and helped turn Touhou into a pillar of so-called “bullet hell” shooters — games where the screen fills with intricate bullet patterns for the player to dodge.
- 98% positive
across almost 3,000 Steam user reviews, according to publisher Alliance Arts.
What’s new in the New Classic edition
New Classic is essentially a version with reworked graphics and resolution, with the entire soundtrack rearranged by ZUN himself. Alliance Arts went out of its way to preserve the original as closely as possible — so much so that it can only be bought as part of a bundle that includes both versions (new and classic) for the same price, with the Classic version faithfully recreating the original 2002 experience (minus an English translation).
Official launch trailer for Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic.
In the game, you can play as shrine maiden Reimu Hakurei or magician Marisa Kirisame, each with her own combat style, on a mission to investigate the “Scarlet Mist” incident engulfing the fictional region of Gensokyo.
- Top 7 this month
according to aggregator Steam250, among September’s best-reviewed releases.
Why it matters
Touhou was never a mainstream name outside Japan, but it built a massive fanbase in the world of doujin (independent Japanese) games. Seeing a remaster of a 24-year-old game shoot up among Steam’s best-reviewed titles shows just how loyal that audience remains — and how a solid preservation job can win over new fans too.
For anyone wanting to keep going after this one, it’s worth checking out other Touhou titles on Steam, like the shooter-metroidvania Touhou Luna Nights or the restaurant sim Touhou Mystia’s Izakaya.
Sources: GamesRadar+, Steam