Ame Nochi Hare Onna: Game Freak's Free Weather Game Comes to iOS and Android This Winter, Japan First
Game Freak has announced Ame Nochi Hare Onna, a free-to-play mobile game for iOS and Android that pulls in real weather forecasts from across Japan and uses them to change what happens in the game. The studio behind Pokémon says it will launch this winter. Right now it is announced for Japan only, pre-registration has not opened, and nothing has been said about an English version.
The announcement went out on 14 September in Japan through an official press release, together with key art and a teaser trailer. The Japanese title, 雨のちハレ女, translates roughly as "Sunshine Girl After the Rain".
What is Ame Nochi Hare Onna?
Game Freak's pitch is that "tomorrow's weather becomes magic". The game ties into weather forecasts for the whole of Japan, and the studio says real-world conditions affect nearly every part of the game. It is meant to be something you check alongside your day rather than play in long sessions.
The story follows magical girls called Hare Onna, or "sunshine girls", who turn the weather into power and use it to lift people's moods. Each one is paired with a Kumorin, a small messenger of the gods that gives them that power. Two characters have been revealed so far:
- Himawari Harewatari, a Hare Onna, voiced by Hiyori Kono
- Pon Arai, her Kumorin partner, voiced by Yuki Nagano
Some outlets are calling it a "laundry game". That comes from the director's own explanation: he checks the forecast every day to decide when to do the washing, so he wondered what a game built on the forecast would look like. Game Freak has not yet described any actual mechanics, such as what you do when it rains or whether there are battles or collecting.
Who is making it?
The director and producer is Shigeru Ohmori, who has directed games in the main Pokémon series and was concept and senior director on Pokémon Pokopia, the Switch 2 life sim that has sold more than 5 million copies. Game Freak is co-developing the game with Chronogate, a studio based in Yokohama, and Chronogate's head is credited as scenario director.
This is a new original IP, not a Pokémon spin-off. The Pokémon Company is not mentioned anywhere in the announcement.
Ame Nochi Hare Onna release date, price and regions
- Platforms: iOS and Android
- Price: free to play, with in-app purchases
- Release window: winter 2026, with no exact date yet
- Region: Japan, in Japanese
- Pre-registration: not open yet
Nothing has been announced for other regions. Because the core feature uses Japanese weather forecasts, a release outside Japan would need more than a translation. That is our reasoning, not something Game Freak has said. Players outside Japan who want free anime-style games on their phones today can look at our list of the best anime games for Android.
When is the Ame Nochi Hare Onna livestream?
The first official broadcast, Hare Onna-bu Meeting #1, airs on 14 September at 19:00 JST on the game's official YouTube channel. In other time zones, that is:
- 10:00 UTC
- 11:00 BST
- 6:00 AM EDT
- 3:00 AM PDT
- 3:30 PM IST
The show is streaming from the Weathernews studio, with help from the Japanese forecasting company. For the first half, the developers will talk about how the project started and the world it is set in. The voice cast joins for the second half. Game Freak will also show what is at its Ame Nochi Hare Onna booth at Tokyo Game Show 2026, which opens on Thursday, 17 September. That makes TGS the next likely place for gameplay details.
No gameplay has been shown yet, so the confirmed facts are only the ones listed above. If the game ends up with a gacha system, our gacha games ranking with pity rates compared shows what the competition in Japan looks like.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ame Nochi Hare Onna coming out in English or outside Japan?
Not so far. Game Freak has announced it for Japan only, in Japanese, and has said nothing about other regions. The game is built around weather forecasts for Japan, so a global release would probably take more work than a translation.
Is Ame Nochi Hare Onna free, and which phones is it on?
Yes, it is free to play with in-app purchases. It is coming to iOS and Android phones. Game Freak has not announced a Switch or PC version.
Can I pre-register for Ame Nochi Hare Onna?
Not yet. The announcement did not open pre-registration on Google Play or the App Store. The launch window is winter 2026, and the game's official X account (@hareonna_info) is where sign-ups are most likely to be announced first.
Is Ame Nochi Hare Onna a Pokémon game?
No. It is a new original game from Game Freak, co-developed with Chronogate. The only link to Pokémon is its director, Shigeru Ohmori, who has directed main Pokémon games and led Pokémon Pokopia.
What time is the Ame Nochi Hare Onna livestream?
Hare Onna-bu Meeting #1 airs on 14 September 2026 at 19:00 JST on the game's official YouTube channel. That is 10:00 UTC, 6:00 AM Eastern and 3:00 AM Pacific. It also previews Game Freak's booth at Tokyo Game Show 2026, which starts on 17 September.
