I understand your disappointment. The game won't be completely free, but I'm considering a model similar to what the developer of Sarah's House does: a free version on itch.io that is behind the latest updates, while supporters on Patreon could get earlier access to new versions and extra content.
I want people to be able to try the game and enjoy it, but I'm still deciding the best way to handle releases and support the development. Creating a bigger 3D game takes a lot of time and resources.