7 min read

Tiny Bytes: XOXO for 3/8/23

Here is the Tiny Bytes XOXO for 3/8/23, where we discuss romance visual novels and adjacent games! Read about news, game releases, game jams, and more!
Tiny Bytes: XOXO for 3/8/23
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This week, we interviewed Red Spring Studio, the team behind the upcoming horror romance game TOUCHSTARVED! We asked them a bit about themselves, what it's like to work on this game while also fulfilling their duties at their full-time jobs, and of course, the game itself! If you're interested in learning more about TOUCHSTARVED and the talented people behind it, you can read our interview with them here!

Next week, we will be releasing our interview with Ingrid, one of the developers from Forsythia Productions. Forsythia Productions is responsible for the upcoming queer Victorian romance visual novel Of Sense and Soul. Be sure to look forward to that interview next week!

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The Kickstarter for My Alien Roommate is now live!

Extraterrestrial dating isn't uncharted territory in visual novels, as we have games like I Was a Teenage Exocolonist, where players can date dog-boys and aliens, and the upcoming game KISS/OFF, featuring an alien dating show with romanceable aliens and other intergalactic characters. Dating ET is becoming increasingly popular, and Purple Herring Games has revealed an even more interesting and hilarious concept: what if an alien came to earth and became your roommate?

In 2022, the developer launched the demo for My Alien Roommate, and it was a popular game among VN streamers and content creators. The story is about Enoch, an alien from a distant planet, who has fallen onto the balcony of the protagonist, Riley (nameable). Riley, whose pronouns can also be determined by the player, decides to let Enoch be their roommate, but they must keep this a secret from everyone else.

My Alien Roommate is currently live on Kickstarter, and the developer is asking for just SG $5,500.  You can check out the campaign here.

The completed version of Dual Chroma: Academy Carols just dropped on itch.io and is coming soon to Steam!

Galen Games brought us Deliver Us From Evil during the 2021 Otome Jam. The game reached nearly 200 reviews on itch.io, and it's no surprise, considering the handsomely drawn sprites and heart-throbbing voices. Since then, the developers have been creating new renditions based on the original DUFE, leading to games like DUFE: Masquerade and Dual Chroma: Far Shore. Now, they bring us Academy Carols, featuring the fan-favorite imperial prince Keldran, with a new sprite design too!

Academy Carols takes place in a magic academy during the holiday season. You can choose your name and pronouns and spend wintertide with the beloved Prince Keldran. All chapters for Academy Carols are now available for free on itch.io, and you can also wishlist the game on Steam.

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Heartburn

Content Warning: Non-consensual drug use, homophobia, stalking, a yandere, a gun

Heartburn is a GxG yandere visual novel where you date your favorite streamer, Serze. You play as Levia, an artist who drew fanart that Serze loved, so she agreed to go on a date with you! The game is a VN hybrid created in RPG Maker where players can navigate the game map using their mouse and keyboard. Heartburn has an adorable Valentine's Day aesthetic with various shades of pink and hearts that decorate the date spot/cafe.

You can play Heartburn for free on itch.io.

Reverie of the Lost

Content Warning: Use of profanities, references to sex, references to/occurrences of torture and rape (not graphically represented), occurrences of blood and death.

Reverie of the Lost is a sci-fi adventure following the relationship between Yoru and a mysterious girl who shows him an alien realm. A riveting and imaginative story with a pastel art style, Reverie of the Lost is a kinetic novel that will take you on an adventure of love, fantasy, and an alien war that threatens humanity's existence.

You can play Reverie of the Lost for free on itch.io.

Swallow's Tail

Swallow's Tail centers around a female glaciologist in Anarctica who makes a discovery that leads to civilization's first contact with aliens. The game features a highly realistic art style with GxB, GxG, and GxAlien romance options. Swallow's Tail currently has chapter 1 available, with more chapters expected to release throughout 2023.

You can play the demo for Swallow's Tail on itch.io.

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Holier Than Thou

Long ago, a terrorist attack ripped through protagonist Emil's life, killing his family. Emil is determined to discover who destroyed his life, but will his desperation to find the truth outweigh his desire to live a normal life? Holier Than Thou has one female and one male love interest. The game looks promising, as it has stunning character art and an intriguing and mysterious plot.

You can play the demo for Holier Than Thou on itch.io.

Full Ride! A College Dating Sim

We always need more college dating sims, and that's where Full Ride! comes in. Full Ride! is a dating sim where you play as a college sophomore who has zero interest in dating or making friends, but somehow you've become a magnet for new relationships and everyone is interested in you. The game features phone and computer chat scenes for a true, modern-day college experience. The demo is currently available for Android, Mac, and Windows.

You can play the demo for Full Ride! on itch.io.

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Hypnotic School Days

Content Warning: Some scenes in the game contain mild sexuality and strong language, and may not be suitable for minors or all age groups.

Hypnotic School Days is about a student, Kyoichi, who discovers an app that can hypnotize women into liking him. All he has to do is show them his screen, and they'll quickly be under his spell. There are three cute classmates for Kyoichi to choose to date, but one can only wonder if hypnotizing people into love has consequences. Hypnotic School Days contains mild sexuality and sexually suggestive character artwork.

You can play Hypnotic School Days for US $19.99 on Steam.

Red List Girls. -Andean Flamingo-

Content Warning: Contains violent language, depictions of blood and gore, dead bodies, and partial nudity and implied sexuality.

Red List Girls tells the story of a post-apocalyptic world where all animals are endangered because of humans, and so a group of individuals create an organization with the goal of saving the animal species. The organization, known as Agape, transforms animals into human form so they can have strength comparable to that of a human's. Red List Girls raises the spice level with partial nudity and textual implications of sexuality.  

You can play Red List Girls. on Steam for US $12.99.

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The Yandere Game Jam 2023 took place from January 23rd to February 28th. There were a significant amount of visual novels submitted that stood out to us, so here's a closer look at some of these dark romance games.

My Dreamy Darling Deathwish

My Dreamy Darling Deathwish is a yuri VN where you play as the yandere character, Jessie Hall, a girl who has an unhealthy obsession with her fellow classmate at her university. Jessie wears a pink frilly dress and hair bow, giving the impression that she's innocent, but her obsession with her "girlfriend" is far from innocent, and it's up to you, the player, to decide how far her obsession will go.

You can play My Dreamy Darling Deathwish for free on itch.io.

Where Winter Crows Go (Demo)

Your car breaks down in the middle of a snowy winter wonderland, and to make matters worse, a sudden snowstorm falls upon you. The only hint of civilization is a lone log cabin deep within the forest. Inside, you meet an environmental researcher who saves you from the storm, but were you really saved, or did his hospitality lead you to an even darker storm?

Where Winter Crows Go is currently in development. You can play the demo on itch.io.

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Enoch

Enoch is a purple alien who doesn't know anything about humans, but there's something endearing about his naivety, and his will to learn is admirable. Enoch is a funny alien, and let's be honest, he has exceptionally great hair. You can find Enoch as a love interest in My Alien Roommate.

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Thank you to our wonderful Byters for all of their support!