adminThe Yuji Horii AI game is a short, text-based police interrogation experience that the Dragon Quest creator says he made in about 30 minutes. Horii shared the game on X/Twitter and described how AI tools could help people create a playable project even without drawing or programming skills.
Image credit: Horii
What is the Yuji Horii AI game?
In the game, players question Komiya, a 72-year-old former locksmith suspected of breaking into a pawnshop safe. The aim is to gather statements and challenge inconsistencies before a lawyer arrives at 11pm. Players use evidence to confront the suspect, while his level of agitation affects how readily he may give in.
There is also a limit to how far players can push the interrogation. If Komiya’s resistance reaches 100, he stops speaking. Keeping track of both the deadline and his resistance is therefore important: players need to press for useful answers without making him shut down.
Practical tips for playing
- Pay attention to the time limit and plan questions before the lawyer arrives.
- Use evidence to challenge statements rather than relying only on repeated questioning.
- Watch the resistance level; reaching 100 prevents the suspect from responding.
- Horii advised players not to press the boost button.
Horii’s view on AI-assisted game creation
Horii said that AI can make it possible for one person to create a decent game by describing what they want, even if they cannot draw or code. He contrasted that approach with his work on The Portopia Serial Murder Case in 1983, when he handled the story, artwork and programming himself.
The comparison highlights a change in the creative process: AI can help turn written instructions into a prototype, while the creator still decides what the game is about and how players interact with it. For beginners, a small text-based project can be a practical way to explore an idea before taking on more complex art or programming work.
Horii’s other work with AI and games
Horii has also been involved in other projects that use AI. Square Enix partnered with Google to add Chatty Slimey, a Gemini-powered chatbot, to Dragon Quest X. In a Famitsu interview earlier this year, Horii defended the feature, saying it could make it easier for people to begin interacting with AI.
His other projects include Dragon Quest 12 and Next: The Portopia Serial Murder Case, announced in September for 2027. Separately, Unity has introduced Unity Spark, a browser-based tool for creating 3D games from text prompts. It is expected to launch in beta later this year on Google’s Playground.
What the Yuji Horii AI game shows
The Yuji Horii AI game offers a compact example of how AI can support rapid game prototyping. Its short format and straightforward interrogation mechanics also make the basic premise easy to understand. The reported 30-minute creation time is Horii’s estimate, but the project illustrates how natural-language instructions may help more people experiment with game ideas.
