The newly released FMV game Sweet Hamster Days, which places players in the role of a pampered hamster named Hamta with three doting sisters, was conceived through a blend of the creator's past experiences and a surprising game influence. The game's overseer, known as Katayama, stated that his time working in a mascot costume significantly shaped the core concept. "Whenever I wore a costume, children and elderly people who would normally never approach me suddenly became very friendly," Katayama explained, noting this realization contributed to the idea of creating a game centered on being cared for.

This concept was further augmented by the design of Grand Theft Auto V. Katayama, a self-proclaimed fan of Rockstar's open-world title, found inspiration in the ability to switch between its three protagonists. "As I was having fun switching between the lives of other people, lives that weren't my own, I had this idea that it might be nice to have a hamster as one of the options instead of a human," he said, drawing a parallel between managing multiple human lives and the unique perspective of a pet.

Sweet Hamster Days is described by its designer, Oda, as a "completely unprecedented genre," a "being-taken-care-of adventure game." The game involves players dying and being reincarnated as Hamta, the pet of three sisters who frequently interact with the player by appearing to pet them. The project's development also coincides with a broader trend of FMV dating sims gaining popularity in Asia, particularly in China and Korea, with titles like The Road to Empress and Five Hearts Under One Roof achieving success. Oda mentioned that FMV games were becoming popular in China, prompting the Japanese studio to explore the market.

Initially, Sweet Hamster Days faced challenges with Steam, being rejected before its eventual approval after revisions to age rating settings. "We still don’t know exactly how the platform saw things, but after revising details such as the age rating settings and re-submitting the game, it was eventually approved," Oda commented.

Sweet Hamster Days is currently available on Steam and the Epic Games Store.