Play a Kofun (Ancient Tomb) Game for Free: How to Play Kofun Hunter, Searching for and Excavating 130+ Real Mounds
Published 2026/10/25 / by MASHIMARO produce
Disclosure: the game(s) in this article were developed by the operator of this site, Free Game Com (indie developer Masimaro). They are free browser games.
"I love kofun." "I'm looking for a game that involves history and geography." For anyone like that, here is Kofun Hunter: Japan Archipelago Tomb Hunting, a free kofun game.
Key points
- A game where you search on a real map for more than 130 real kofun (ancient tombs) on foot
- The flow: survey (ground-penetrating radar), identify mound shape (aerial photo), excavate (test digs on a 4x4 grid)
- Use research points at the archive to upgrade survey range, stamina and test digs
- Free in your browser, no installation
What kind of game is it?
You're a kofun surveyor traveling around the archipelago. On a real map, you search for more than 130 real kofun on foot, identify the mound shapes and excavate the buried relics. The kofun you find are recorded in the "Japan Archipelago Kofun Register" encyclopedia, where you can read their descriptions.
The flow of play (from the surveyor's handbook)
- Wide-area travel and field survey: at zoom 12 or lower, "train travel" lets you move across Japan without using stamina. Zoom in to 13 or higher and it switches to "field survey", where dragging the map to walk uses up stamina in proportion to the distance walked.
- Find mounds with the survey: press "Survey" to scan the surroundings with ground-penetrating radar and bring unconfirmed mounds up on the map. Even with no reading, it tells you the distance and bearing to the nearest mound.
- Read the bearing ring: the color of the ring in the center of the screen tells you vermilion = kofun, ultramarine = ruins, purple = hot spring and brass = archive. Get within 300 m of a reading and tap the marker to record it.
- Identify the mound shape and excavate: before recording, answer "what is the shape of this mound?" from an aerial photo to earn research points. In the excavation that follows, you pick squares on a 4x4 grid to test dig. A miss tells you the "reading" of adjacent relics, so use the clues to narrow down the hit.
- Research at the archive: brass markers are museums across the country, where you can rest, eat a boxed lunch and ask around. Research points let you upgrade survey range, stamina and test digs. Purple markers are hot springs, which fully restore you once a day.
Highlights
- Each kofun has a description, so you can learn the characteristics of tombs from Tohoku in the north to all regions (keyhole-shaped, round, stone chambers, grave goods and more).
- A quiz element where you guess the mound shape from aerial photos (GSI).
- Deep-play elements such as survey requests, a relic collection and survey maps.
Who it's for, and who it isn't
Recommended for: people who like kofun and history, and who enjoy exploring by looking at maps.
Not for: people who want fast-paced action (it's a game of careful investigation).
Note: how to play and specs are based on the in-game text as of October 29, 2026, and may change with updates. Clearing your browser data may erase your records.
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FAQ
Q. What kind of game is Kofun Hunter?
A. A survey game where, on a real map, you search for real kofun (more than 130), identify mound shapes from aerial photos and excavate.
Q. Can I play without knowing about kofun?
A. How to play is explained in the in-game "surveyor's handbook". The kofun also have descriptions, so you pick up knowledge as you play.
Q. What happens to stamina?
A. Zooming in to switch to "field survey" uses stamina in proportion to the distance you drag the map. You can recover at hot springs.
Q. Can I play on my phone?
A. Yes. It's free in phone and PC browsers with no installation.