TECHMASH

Tag: #VisualNovel

  • Cold Case in Summer — Zombie Police: Midsummer Unhappy New Year Hits Nov 22!

    Cold Case in Summer — Zombie Police: Midsummer Unhappy New Year Hits Nov 22!

    Summer in Shimofuri Village is frozen solid. A livestream ends in tragedy. And the only detective on the case can detach her own head. Developer Lobstudio is proud to announce Zombie Police: Midsummer Unhappy New Year shambles onto PC via Steam on November 22, 2026, with a Nintendo Switch release to follow later.

    Meet the Undying Duo

    Step into the shoes of Akemi Kabane — an eccentric, unflappable zombie detective — and her sharp, grounded junior partner Yasu Tamura, a diehard fan of classic detective dramas. Together they’re investigating a village where ancient customs clash with modern eyes, and where the season itself has been frozen in place.

    Akemi’s un-deadly advantages:

    • Zombie Dive — literally enter people’s minds (and objects) to uncover buried truths
    • Drink poison to test a theory — no problem when you’re already not-alive
    • Take her own head off to get a better look — yes, really
    • Sleep in a freezer and wake up fresh

    How You Solve the Crime

    • Gather testimony — question villagers, inspect crime scenes, hunt for inconsistencies
    • Connect clues in the Journal — link keywords and statements to build a clear picture
    • Spot contradictions — challenge what you’re told and present hard evidence
    • Choices matter — your responses shape the investigation and the story’s direction

    Comedy Meets Quiet Drama

    The game balances Akemi’s absurd antics with genuine emotion — a story about tradition versus change, old ways clashing with new, and a community struggling to move forward. Expect laughs, heartfelt moments, and genuine mystery.

    “Zombie Police is ultimately a game about older traditions versus newer values and ways of life.” — Tsuyoshi Manabe, CEO, Lobstudio

    Steam Next Fest Demo — Play Chapter 0 Now

    Can’t wait? A free demo featuring Chapter 0 (approx. 10–20 minutes) goes live during Steam Next Fest, October 19–26, 2026. Get an early taste of the case before the full release.

    Game Details:

    • PC Release: November 22, 2026
    • Nintendo Switch: Coming later
    • Price: $10.99
    • Full Playtime: 5–7 hours
    • Languages: English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese
    • Steam Page:

    Wishlist now and join Akemi and Yasu as they thaw out the truth — one bizarre clue at a time.

    Find out more here

    #ZombiePolice #MidsummerUnhappyNewYear #Lobstudio #VisualNovel #DetectiveGame #ComedyMystery #Zombie #SteamNextFest #IndieDev #NintendoSwitch #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Beyond the Counter: Shop Crush Blends Shopkeeping, Storytelling, and Mind-Bending Illusion Puzzles

    Beyond the Counter: Shop Crush Blends Shopkeeping, Storytelling, and Mind-Bending Illusion Puzzles

    Ever looked across a shop counter and wondered what someone is really hiding? Shop Crush doesn’t just ask that question — it turns finding the answer into a game unlike anything else, merging cosy thrift-shop management, character-driven narrative, and a completely original puzzle mechanic that will change how you see every image.

    What Is Shop Crush?

    Shop Crush is a genre-bending hybrid Visual Novel where you run a mysterious thrift store, get to know your customers deeply, and untangle Literal Illusion Puzzles — dark, revealing visual riddles that expose the truths people keep hidden. It’s part shop simulator, part emotional storybook, and part psychological mystery — and every piece fits together beautifully.

    Run the Shop, Know the People

    You’ll manage stock, haggle over prices, and build your business — but the real heart of the game is your customers. Ten unique individuals visit your shop, each with distinct personalities, preferences, and shopping habits. Chat with them, learn what they need, earn their trust — and slowly realise that every single one carries secrets they don’t want to share.

    These aren’t just throwaway NPCs. Each conversation, each transaction, builds a picture of who they are — and hints at something darker beneath the surface.

    The Literal Illusions: See What Others Miss

    Here’s where Shop Crush truly stands out: every customer has a dedicated Literal Illusion Puzzle linked to them. These aren’t standard riddles — they’re images that change meaning depending on how you look at them.

    • Rotate, zoom, and reposition images to reveal hidden shapes, figures, and messages
    • What looks ordinary at first glance transforms into something unsettling and revealing
    • Each solved illusion uncovers a piece of a character’s hidden truth — and draws you closer to the shop’s overarching mystery

    The developer has gone the extra mile, hand-drawing every illusion to ensure quality and emotional impact — replacing earlier versions because players deserved artwork that matched the story’s heart.

    A Rich, Layered Experience

    • Hybrid gameplay: blends Visual Novel, shop management, card-based choices, and puzzle-solving
    • Ten distinct customers to befriend — and understand
    • 50+ progression levels, 70+ products, and five key story locations
    • Atmospheric tone that shifts from warm and welcoming to tense and haunting
    • Every choice matters — your relationships and discoveries shape what unfolds

    Why It Matters

    Shop Crush proves that indie games can do something genuinely new. It takes familiar genres — shop sims, visual novels, puzzle games — and weaves them into something fresh, where the puzzles aren’t just obstacles to clear, but the very way you connect with the story. Seeing the truth hidden in plain sight is a thrill you won’t find anywhere else.

    Keep an eye on this one — Shop Crush isn’t just about running a shop. It’s about seeing people clearly, even when they’re doing everything they can to hide.

    Find out more here

    #ShopCrush #IndieGame #VisualNovel #PuzzleGame #IndieDev #StoryDriven #SimulationGame #PsychologicalHorror #GamingNews #Techmash

  • Dive Into the Mind of a Detective: Psychological Thriller ‘Psycho-Sleuth’ Drops November 5

    Dive Into the Mind of a Detective: Psychological Thriller ‘Psycho-Sleuth’ Drops November 5

    Fans of dark narrative mysteries, psychological thrillers, and rich visual novels have a major date to mark on their gaming calendars. Psycho-Sleuth, the highly anticipated mystery visual novel from indie developer PHOSEPO, is officially set to launch on Thursday, November 5, 2026.

    Published jointly by Thermite Games and Smilegate STOVE, the title will be available globally for PC via Steam and STOVE.

    Unravelling the Mystery: What is Psycho-Sleuth?

    Psycho-Sleuth blends deep, multi-branching detective work with psychological horror elements. Players step into a dark narrative where truth and delusion constantly blur. Rather than relying solely on traditional point-and-click mechanics, the game places a heavy emphasis on psychological profiling, deductive interrogation, and high-stakes choices that shape the ultimate fate of the characters.

    FeatureDetails
    GenrePsychological Thriller / Visual Novel / Detective Mystery
    DeveloperPHOSEPO
    PublishersThermite Games, Smilegate STOVE
    PlatformsPC (Steam, STOVE)
    Release DateThursday, November 5, 2026

    Why Visual Novel Fans Should Be Excited

    The collaboration between Thermite Games (known for backing standout indie hits with deep narratives) and Smilegate STOVE ensures top-tier production values for regional and global audiences alike.

    Key Highlights

    • Complex Deductive Systems: Uncover hidden motives by analysing suspect behaviour, psychological cues, and crime scene evidence.
    • Atmospheric Visuals & Sound Design: A stark, moody art direction paired with an immersive soundtrack crafted to keep players on edge.
    • Branching Plotlines: Multiple narrative threads ensure high replayability, where a single incorrect deduction can lead down a fatal path.

    Whether you are a longtime fan of narrative-heavy mysteries or looking for your next atmospheric PC thriller, Psycho-Sleuth promises a captivating mind game when it hits digital shelves this November.

    Find out more here

    #PsychoSleuth #VisualNovel #IndieGames #GamingNews #SteamGames #ThermiteGames #PCGaming #GamingCommunity #Techmash

  • Explosive Heads, High Stakes, and Filipino Folklore: Jester Under Pressure Is Coming to Steam!

    Explosive Heads, High Stakes, and Filipino Folklore: Jester Under Pressure Is Coming to Steam!

    Get ready for a visual novel experience where keeping the crowd entertained isn’t just about earning applause—it’s a matter of literal survival.

    Game developers Orca Martian Games and Viridian Software have officially announced that Jester Under Pressure, a captivating fantasy visual novel set in a vibrant Filipino-inspired archipelago, is officially heading to Steam!

    Originating as a standout entry in the beloved NaNoRenO visual novel game jam, Jester Under Pressure takes dark comedy, rich cultural mythos, and high-stakes choices to an entirely new level.

    A Royal Court Where Mistakes Are Fatal

    In Jester Under Pressure, players step into the colourful yet dangerous shoes of a royal jester serving a ruthless queen. In this tropical archipelago, the monarch rules with an absolute—and terrifying—iron fist: underperforming subjects are executed on the spot by having their heads exploded.

    No pressure, right?

    As the court’s entertainer, you must navigate high-tension comedic performances, complex political intrigue, and delicate personal relationships. Every joke, dialogue choice, and performance counts. One bad punchline could literally be your last.

    Inspired by Rich Filipino Culture and Mythos

    Beyond its darkly comedic and explosive premise, Jester Under Pressure shines through its rich world-building. Set against the backdrop of a fantasy archipelago heavily inspired by Filipino culture, history, and folklore, the game brings fresh, diverse representation to the visual novel genre. Players can expect unique aesthetic design, culturally rooted storytelling, and memorable characters.

    What’s New for the Steam Release?

    While the original game jam version captivated players with its unique premise and striking artwork, the full Steam release is expanding the experience significantly. Orca Martian Games and Viridian Software have confirmed that the enhanced Steam version will feature:

    • Brand-New Story Routes: Explore deeper narratives and shape the fate of the archipelago.
    • Multiple New Endings: Discover various outcomes depending on how well you handle the queen’s volatile temper.
    • An Expanded Soundtrack: Immerse yourself in fresh music tailored for every high-stakes moment.
    • Polished Visuals & Expanded Lore: More dialogue, character interactions, and world details than ever before.

    Wishlist It Today!

    If you love visual novels with deep choices, unique settings, and a healthy dose of dark humour, Jester Under Pressure should definitely be on your radar.

    Head over to Steam today to add Jester Under Pressure to your wishlist and keep up with the latest updates from Orca Martian Games and Viridian Software!

    Find out more here

    #JesterUnderPressure #IndieGames #VisualNovel #SteamGames #GamingNews #OrcaMartianGames #ViridianSoftware #FilipinoIndieGames #NaNoRenO #IndieGameDev #PCGaming #GamingCommunity #TechMash

  • Digital Hauntings: Uncover the Unfinished Nightmare of Print I Love U, Out Now on Steam!

    Digital Hauntings: Uncover the Unfinished Nightmare of Print I Love U, Out Now on Steam!

    Every gamer who has ever bought a second-hand PC or picked up a forgotten hard drive at a boot sale knows the faint, nervous thrill of wondering: What did the previous owner leave behind? Publisher Red Hog Studio and developer Claudio Moltedo are taking that exact eerie curiosity and turning it into a chilling, immersive experience. Their new first-person psychological horror visual novel, Print I Love U, has officially launched on Steam, and it’s ready to creep into your digital library.

    A Found-Footage Nightmare on Your Hard Drive

    Print I Love U pulls players into a tightly wound narrative centred around a mystery sitting quietly on a used computer. After booting up the second-hand machine, you discover an unfinished, obscure game left behind by its previous user. But as you begin to explore its code, assets, and narrative, the boundary between the game-within-a-game and your own reality begins to distort.

    Rather than relying on cheap jump scares, Claudio Moltedo’s project focuses on building deep, atmospheric dread. Designed as a compact, focused narrative, it delivers a punchy psychological ride that respects the player’s time while leaving a lasting, uncomfortable lingering effect.

    Key Features:

    • First-Person Immersion: Experience the unsettling story directly through your own virtual monitor.
    • Meta-Horror Storytelling: Dive into a game-within-a-game setup where every file and text prompt could hide a disturbing secret.
    • Atmospheric Visual Novel Mechanics: Perfect for fans who love story-driven horror, retro tech aesthetics, and unravelling dark digital mysteries.
    • A Compact Experience: A tightly crafted narrative designed to be played in a single, edge-of-your-seat session.

    Should You Play It?

    If you are a fan of indie psychological horror titles like Doki Doki Literature Club!, Killscreen, or creepy creepypasta-inspired games like Welcome to the Game, Print I Love U should be at the top of your wishlist. It captures the unique nostalgia of early internet horror and marries it with polished indie visual novel design.

    Will you conquer the mysterious files left on the hard drive, or will the game leave its mark on you?

    Print I Love U is available to download on Steam right now.

    Find out more here

    #PrintILoveU #IndieHorror #PsychologicalHorror #SteamGames #VisualNovel #PCGaming #RedHogStudio #IndieDev #TechMash #GamingNews #HorrorGamers

  • Step Into the Arcane: Utopia: Birth of the Heroes Arrives on Steam Early Access!

    Step Into the Arcane: Utopia: Birth of the Heroes Arrives on Steam Early Access!

    If you’re a fan of rich narrative-driven games, deep lore, and moral dilemmas that genuinely test your values, there’s a brand-new title on Steam you need to put on your radar. Indie developer Mana Core Game Studios—a brother-duo studio founded by Dante and Daniel Arjona—has officially launched their debut visual novel, Utopia: Birth of the Heroes, into Steam Early Access!

    Whether you’ve been following the game’s progress through its popular demo or are diving into this war-torn realm for the very first time, this Early Access release is packed with content that promises to keep narrative enthusiasts hooked for hours.

    What is Utopia: Birth of the Heroes?

    Utopia: Birth of the Heroes is an ambitious, character-driven visual novel set in a medieval fantasy realm ravaged by war, political intrigue, and arcane magic.

    The story revolves around three distinct protagonists, each holding a drastically different vision of what a “perfect society” should look like. Rather than offering a simple tale of good versus evil, Utopia forces you to see conflict through multiple perspectives. Every hero truly believes their actions are right, leaving players to navigate tense political climates, deep personal hardships, and high-stakes moral choices that ripple across nations.

    What’s Included in the Early Access Release?

    Mana Core Game Studios isn’t just dropping a teaser—they are delivering a massive chunk of the adventure right out of the gate:

    • Chapters 0 through 17: Early Access players gain immediate access to the entire first half of the game’s epic narrative, offering roughly 8 to 10 hours of story content.
    • Seamless Demo Carryover: If you played the free 5-chapter demo, the Early Access build automatically detects your save data and lets you pick up right at Chapter 6 without missing a beat!
    • Expanded Lore & Visuals: Beyond new regions, story arcs, and turning points, the game features a fully realised in-game Encyclopedia and Gallery to track world-building lore, artwork, and character entries.
    • Evocative Soundtrack: To set the atmospheric tone, the game features an emotionally charged musical score by Peter Reid Jones (with additional guest composer surprises teased for later in development!).

    Shaping the Future of Utopia Together

    The Early Access period isn’t just a release—it’s an invitation to collaborate. Mana Core Game Studios plans to actively listen to community feedback to refine narrative pacing, English localisation, UI polish, and overall balance as they work toward adding Chapters 18 through 32 for the full 1.0 release.

    Best of all? Buying into Early Access guarantees you will receive the complete 32-chapter game upon its full release.

    Ready to Build Your Utopia?

    If you’re ready to test your convictions and see how far you’d go to protect what you love, Utopia: Birth of the Heroes is available right now on Steam for PC, Mac, and Linux.

    Head over to Steam to check out the Early Access build, watch the developer deep-dive video, and share your feedback on the community hub!

    Find out more here

    #UtopiaBirthOfTheHeroes #ManaCoreGameStudios #SteamEarlyAccess #IndieGames #VisualNovel #GamingNews #PCGaming #IndieDev #ArcaneFantasy #TechMash

  • Trapped in the Dark: Psychological Sci-Fi Mystery Advent: Dawn Descends onto PC, Mac, and Linux Today!

    Trapped in the Dark: Psychological Sci-Fi Mystery Advent: Dawn Descends onto PC, Mac, and Linux Today!

    If you’re a fan of mind-bending sci-fi mysteries, claustrophobic psychological thrillers, and deep, narrative-driven visual novels, your next obsession has officially arrived. Australian indie developer Spire Games has officially launched Advent: Dawn, pulling players deep into a web of paranoia, living crystals, and fractured trust beneath a remote island.

    Advent: Dawn is available today on PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam—and if you jump in during launch week, you can even snatch it up with a special launch discount!

    What is Advent: Dawn About?

    In Advent: Dawn, you step into the shoes of Dr. Atlas Everly, a neuroscientist who accepts a lucrative invitation to research a unique, mysterious crystal formation hidden within an island cave system. But what starts as a scientific expedition quickly devolves into a nightmare.

    A sudden, catastrophic collapse traps Atlas underground alongside six strangers. With no clear route back to the surface, the group must navigate a sprawling labyrinth of darkened caverns. As if being buried alive wasn’t terrifying enough, strange symbols, cryptic messages, and the claustrophobic atmosphere begin to take their toll.

    As paranoia sets in, survival becomes more than just finding an exit—it’s about figuring out who you can trust. Every companion is hiding something, and the danger in the dark might not just come from the cave, but from the people trapped inside it with you.

    Key Features & Gameplay

    Drawing inspiration from legendary story-driven thrillers like Zero Escape, Steins; Gate, and Ever17, Advent: Dawn blends atmospheric prose, psychological suspense, and puzzle-solving into a rich, choice-based narrative:

    • Interactive Flowchart Navigation: You won’t get lost in dead ends. The interactive flowchart map allows you to jump back to key decision points, test new theories, and explore alternate narrative paths smoothly.
    • Environmental Puzzles: Uncover clues and open new paths forward by solving light environmental puzzles and riddles woven directly into the cave’s core mystery.
    • Branching Routes & True Ending: Every choice you make pulls you closer to a different survivor—and a different set of secrets. You’ll need to explore individual character routes and piece together every terminal ending to unlock the final, mind-bending True Ending.
    • Immersive Original Soundtrack: Set the mood with an atmospheric original score composed by Caleb Coles, designed to amplify the game’s tension and emotional depth.

    Descend into the Mystery Today

    Whether you’re a long-time fan of mystery visual novels or looking for a thrilling narrative experience to dive into this weekend, Advent: Dawn delivers a tense, character-driven descent into the unknown.

    Can you unravel the lies and escape the abyss before the subterranean world consumes you?

    Grab Advent: Dawn on Steam today for PC, Mac, and Linux!

    Find out more here

    #AdventDawn #SpireGames #IndieGames #VisualNovel #SciFiMystery #GamingNews #SteamRelease #PCGaming #MacGaming #LinuxGaming #IndieGameDev #TechMash

  • SURPRISE DROP: Free Bonus DLC ‘Civil Forfeiture & Perjury’ Out Today for Paper Perjury!

    SURPRISE DROP: Free Bonus DLC ‘Civil Forfeiture & Perjury’ Out Today for Paper Perjury!

    Court is officially back in session! If you’ve been itching to put your legal prowess and sharp detective skills to the test again, we’ve got some fantastic news to brighten up your week.

    Paper Cat Games has just dropped a surprise free bonus DLC case for all owners of Paper Perjury! Titled “Civil Forfeiture & Perjury,” this brand-new addition is available to download and play right now.

    A Personal Case with High Stakes

    If you thought police clerk Justina had seen it all, think again. This time, the stakes aren’t just professional—they’re deeply personal.

    In Civil Forfeiture & Perjury, Justina’s world is turned upside down when her own sister, Jean, is brought in for questioning. The police suspect that Jean’s newly acquired car was used as a getaway vehicle in a recent local robbery.

    Was Jean unwittingly drawn into a criminal conspiracy? Is someone trying to frame her? Or is there more to her shiny new ride than meets the eye? It’s up to you to help Justina untangle the web of lies, cross-examine witness testimonies, spot contradictions in evidence, and protect her sister from an unfair miscarriage of justice.

    Why You Should Play It Today

    • It’s 100% FREE: If you already own Paper Perjury, you don’t need to pay a single penny. Just update your game and dive straight in!
    • More Ace Attorney-Style Drama: Packed with the sharp writing, witty dialogue, and satisfying “Aha!” moments fans of classic court-investigation visual novels love.
    • Emotional Character Moments: Explore the relationship between Justina and Jean in a case where the emotional stakes are higher than ever.

    How to Get the DLC

    Simply boot up your game on PC (Steam) today, ensure your game is updated to the latest version, and the new Civil Forfeiture & Perjury case will be waiting for you in the menu!

    Are you ready to head back to the courtroom and clear Jean’s name? Let us know your thoughts on the new DLC in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #PaperPerjury #PaperCatGames #IndieGames #GamingNews #FreeDLC #VisualNovel #AceAttorney #PCGaming #TechMash #IndieDev

  • Arcane Fantasy Beckons: ‘Utopia: Birth of the Heroes’ Lands on Steam Early Access This Month!

    Arcane Fantasy Beckons: ‘Utopia: Birth of the Heroes’ Lands on Steam Early Access This Month!

    Indie gaming fans, it’s time to expand your wishlists. Mana Core Game Studios has just dropped a major announcement regarding their highly anticipated debut title. The Monterrey-based studio has officially revealed that Utopia: Birth of the Heroes will launch on Steam Early Access on July 27!

    If you’ve already played through the gripping five-chapter demo currently available on Steam, you know exactly how captivating this world is. Starting later this month, you’ll finally be able to dive much deeper into this dark, beautifully crafted arcane fantasy realm.

    What is Utopia: Birth of the Heroes?

    Developed by a passionate two-brother team (Dante and Daniel Arjona), Utopia: Birth of the Heroes is a character-driven, choice-heavy visual novel. Set in a war-torn medieval fantasy realm, the narrative doesn’t follow your typical “good vs. evil” tropes. Instead, it revolves around three distinct protagonists—Frederick, Diomedes, and Eskil—each driven by their own conflicting, intense vision of what a “perfect society” should look like.

    The Early Access Deal: Diving into Early Access gives you immediate access to Chapters 0 through 17, which covers the entire first half of the game! That translates to roughly 8 to 10 hours of rich, narrative-driven gameplay. Even better? Everyone who jumps into Early Access will automatically receive the full game upon its official launch.

    Why You Should Keep an Eye on This One

    • Morally Grey Dilemmas: Your choices ripple across kingdoms. A heroic decision from one protagonist’s perspective might just be an absolute tragedy for another.
    • Massive Replayability: With branching paths, multiple perspectives, and numerous distinct endings, your choices genuinely dictate the fate of the world.
    • Stunning Atmosphere: The game features gorgeous hand-drawn artwork and an incredibly atmospheric, emotionally charged score composed by Peter Reid Jones.
    • Community-Driven Polish: Mana Core is using this Early Access period to actively collaborate with players, refining the narrative pacing, UI, and localisation before the 1.0 release.

    Alongside the release date announcement, the studio also unveiled a brand-new character spotlight trailer for Eskil Ilhamy, giving fans a closer look at the steady, calculated perspective of the game’s third playable hero.

    Mark Your Calendars!

    The journey to find out what you’d sacrifice for a perfect world begins in earnest on July 27. Head over to Steam right now to check out the 5-chapter demo and add Utopia: Birth of the Heroes to your wishlist!

    Find out more here

    #UtopiaBirthOfTheHeroes #ManaCoreGameStudios #VisualNovel #IndieGames #SteamEarlyAccess #PCGaming #FantasyGaming #IndieDev

  • Dialling Into the Finale: Schrödinger’s Call Chapter 5 Trailer Teases an Emotional Conclusion

    Dialling Into the Finale: Schrödinger’s Call Chapter 5 Trailer Teases an Emotional Conclusion

    If you’ve been following the beautifully haunting journey of Schrödinger’s Call, you might want to grab a box of tissues. Independent publisher Shueisha Games and indie developer Acrobatic Chirimenjako have just dropped a brand-new trailer for Chapter 5, giving players a dramatic, bittersweet look at the narrative adventure’s upcoming emotional climax.

    Check out what’s in store for the finale below.

    The Beginning of the End

    For the uninitiated, Schrödinger’s Call is a unique, picture-book-style visual novel set in the final 21 nanoseconds before the moon crashes into Earth, ending all life. Players step into the shoes of Mary, a girl with amnesia who finds herself guided by a mysterious cat named Hamlet. Together, they act as the “World’s Last Confidant,” answering an old telephone to listen to the final regrets, unspoken words, and raw emotions of souls caught between life and death.

    The newly released Chapter 5 trailer promises to bring the central mysteries to a head. It teases the long-awaited truth behind Mary’s forgotten past, her strange connection to Hamlet, and the ultimate meaning behind the falling moon. It’s the beginning of the end for Mary’s journey, challenging players to finally answer the last calls and put down the phone.

    Available Now on Switch and PC

    If you haven’t started this beautifully melancholy adventure yet, there is no better time to dive in. Developed by a passionate three-person team, the game won the Grand Prize at the Shueisha Game Creators CAMP and has been praised for its theatrical presentation and intimate approach to grief, love, and human connection.

    Schrödinger’s Call is currently available to purchase on PC via Steam and the Nintendo Switch.

    Are you ready to witness the end of the world? Let us know your theories on Mary and Hamlet in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #SchrodingersCall #ShueishaGames #AcrobaticChirimenjako #IndieGames #GamingNews #VisualNovel #NintendoSwitch #SteamGames #CozyGames #TechMash

  • Pushkin Meets Punk: Classic Russian Lit Gets a Glam Rock, Zombie-Slaying Remaster!

    Pushkin Meets Punk: Classic Russian Lit Gets a Glam Rock, Zombie-Slaying Remaster!

    If you thought high school literature class was a bit dry, Dreamlore Games is about to completely shatter that reality. The developers have officially announced a full HD remaster of their cult-classic 2009 comedy-horror visual novel, Eugene Onegin vs. the Undead.

    Get ready, because this is easily the most wonderfully unhinged gaming news you’ll read all week.

    A Bizarre Cult Classic, Lovingly Restored

    For those unfamiliar with the 2009 original, it was a massive milestone for the Russian visual novel scene (technically the third ever produced in the country). At the time, it turned quite a few heads—and caused plenty of controversy—by taking Alexander Pushkin’s defining masterwork of Russian literature, Eugene Onegin, and tossing it into a blender with anime aesthetics, flesh-eating zombies, blood-sucking vampires, and heavy doses of 1980s glam rock.

    Yes, you read that correctly. This is 19th-century high society poetry, but with a chainsaw and a guitar solo.

    Now, Dreamlore is giving this bonkers dark comedy a massive facelift for modern platforms.

    What’s New in the Remaster?

    Dreamlore isn’t just upscaling old sprites; they are bringing some serious upgrades to the table for this Fall 2026 release:

    • Crisp 1080p HD Graphics: The game’s unique anime-meets-gothic style has been entirely remastered for modern displays.
    • A Fresh Script: An updated and revised script promises to keep the dark humour sharp and the pacing tight.
    • Global Language Support: For the very first time, the game will be fully playable in English, Chinese, and Japanese, making it accessible to a whole new audience of global gamers.
    • Bonus Game Included: The remaster includes an unlockable, remastered version of Book of the Dead: The Lost Souls—historically recognised as the very first Russian visual novel ever made.

    Pushkin, But Make It Bonkers

    Technically, the narrative follows Pushkin’s classic characters, but it also throws in unexpected guest appearances from other iconic literary works. Whether you are a scholar of 19th-century prose looking to see your favourite characters reimagined as glam rock icons, or you just want a colourful, chaotic visual novel with multiple endings, this remaster is shaping up to be an absolute treat.

    When can you play it? Eugene Onegin vs. the Undead is slated for a Fall 2026 release on PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam.

    Are you ready to swap poetry for a shotgun? Head over to Steam to wishlist it now, and let us know in the comments if you’re brave enough to face the literary undead!

    Find out more here

    #EugeneOnegin #DreamloreGames #VisualNovel #IndieGames #GamingNews #ZombieHorror #GlamRock #RetroGaming #TechMash

  • Return to Liamson: ‘Afterimages’ DLC for Award-Winning Adventure ‘Until Then’ Out Now

    Return to Liamson: ‘Afterimages’ DLC for Award-Winning Adventure ‘Until Then’ Out Now

    Get ready to have your heart broken and beautifully mended all over again. Publisher Maximum Entertainment, in partnership with indie developer Polychroma Games, has officially dropped Afterimages—a brand-new, highly anticipated downloadable content expansion for the critically acclaimed, award-winning narrative adventure Until Then.

    The DLC is available right now across all major platforms, meaning you can dive back into its stunningly detailed, Philippine-inspired world on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X/S

    Emotional Scars & New Beginnings: What is Afterimages About?

    For those who played the base game, Until Then left an indelible mark with its “Overwhelmingly Positive” storytelling, striking pixel-art aesthetics, and bittersweet exploration of adolescence, memory, and trauma. Afterimages promises to deepen that emotional resonance across two brand-new narrative chapters that explore grief and the quiet persistence of life in the wake of loss.

    The expansion splits its focus between two beloved central characters navigating their separate journeys forward:

    • Sofia returns home, forced to confront the haunting memories and ghosts of the past she thought she left behind.
    • Mark finds his world shifting once again as he encounters both a new love interest and a familiar old friend, trying to figure out how to move on while carrying the weight of absence.

    Bonus for Physical Collectors: If you prefer keeping your games on a shelf, Maximum Entertainment also revealed that a physical edition of Until Then will launch on 3 September. This physical release will handily include both the base game and the Afterimages DLC on one disc/cartridge!

    New Minigames and Phone Features

    It wouldn’t be Until Then without some incredibly immersive, everyday slice-of-life mechanics. Alongside the heavy emotional narrative, Afterimages introduces a variety of fresh interactive activities and expanded features to play with:

    • Fresh Interactive Minigames: Tap into the mystical with all-new tarot reading mechanics, or clear your mind with a cosy baking minigame.
    • Upgraded In-Game Phone: Mark’s smartphone features have been expanded significantly, allowing players to scroll through newly integrated dating apps and dedicated video platforms that flesh out the game’s modern, digital world.
    • Familiar & New Faces: Reconnect with the original cast you fell in love with while crossing paths with entirely new characters.

    Whether you’re looking to dive straight back into the digital trauma on Steam and consoles today, or holding out for the physical release this September, Afterimages is a must-play companion to one of the finest modern narrative adventures in recent memory.

    Until Then: Afterimages is available now for $4.99 / £3.99 on your digital storefront of choice.

    Find out more here

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