Jiaobei: Ask the Divine Launches on Steam, Digitizing an Ancient Divination Ritual
Jiaobei: Ask the Divine (AppID 4563040) is now available on Steam, published by RedChestnut on July 11, 2026. The game centers on jiaobei — a traditional Chinese divination practice in which crescent-shaped wooden blocks are cast to the ground and read according to how they land.
What the game does
Rather than simulating the ritual abstractly, Jiaobei uses a physics engine intended to faithfully replicate the casting process. The mechanics work as follows:
- The game reads mouse input — specifically speed, acceleration, and direction — at the moment of casting.
- That physical data is applied directly to the digital blocks.
- The blocks then fly, rotate, and collide before coming to rest.
- The software reads the final resting position and automatically determines the result: Sheng Bei, Xiao Bei, or Yin Bei.
The developer frames three reasons someone might use the software: navigating an important life decision, checking on recent fortune, or simply exploring a piece of traditional culture.
The announcement credits the game's release to wishlist additions, follows, and community support accumulated before launch, and invites feedback and reviews to guide further development.
For players curious about Chinese folk tradition, Jiaobei offers a low-barrier entry point — the entire ritual is self-contained and proceeds at the player's own pace.
