I can understand your perspective tbh. I personally don't find it a downside if a VN doesn't have voice acting - I'm happy to let my imagination create voices. But I do also appreciate voice acting when it appears, as it automatically adds an extra dimension to each character.

I've worked hard to find VAs that could really give my characters voices that I felt were authentic to them, and hopefully players will enjoy them!

Hehe thanks!  Making progress on it already and it adds SO much!

Thanks so much!  The demo is certainly innocent enough...  can't promise the same for the full game though  😉

Ahh thank you so much!  💜

Ahh thank you! 💜

💜

Very late, but it's always better late than never, right? 😉

I'm glad you agree!  True Colours is shaping up wonderfully thanks to them!

I said this on the main game page, but I'll put it again here because I want to support this game!  It was short but pretty compelling.  The visual style perfectly suited the dark subject matter, and I enjoyed the replayability factor in that you could keep trying again to get different results.  Also, in a moment of random serendipity, I just so happened to come across this game today, which is the 10th anniversary of the funeral of my best friend, who committed suicide a decade ago.  Made me identify even more.  Good job dev.

This game was short but pretty compelling.  The visual style perfectly suited the dark subject matter, and I enjoyed the replayability factor in that you could keep trying again to get different results.  Also, in a moment of random serendipity, I just so happened to come across this game today, which is the 10th anniversary of the funeral of my best friend, who committed suicide a decade ago.  Made me identify even more.  Good job dev.

Hehe thank you!  <3

Okay, I have to say that this game was honestly brilliant, Julien!  If this is your first proper attempt at making a game, then you've set the bar really high already!  As a solo dev myself, I really understand the struggle of doing everything alone, even if you get the occasional bit of help.  Big admiration for this game, and please make more!

Wonderful game, filled with realism, tough topics brought to life in a careful way, and ultimately heart warming.

Hehe thanks!

Thank you so much! I'm hyped!

Thank you so much! 💜

Yay thank you!~

Considering how short this game is, the devs have put a lot of work and care into the amount of artwork in it - there are some effective moving scenes, and the art itself is really nice.  It was an interesting and enjoyable short story that suggests that the devs could really make something amazing if they tackled a larger project.

I really enjoyed this sweet little game!  It demonstrated a really thoughtful insight into people's lives, and I got to be a cute li'l plant!  Very endearing, and lovely artwork.

Thank you so much for the kind words! It really means a lot! 💜

I just left a rating and review, but this was an adorable little adventure!  Perfect length for this light-hearted, casual, one-sitting style of VN, funny without being too overblown, sweet and kawaii, and just overall great!  I'd like to see more by you!

Thank you so much for buying the game!  I'm really touched that you're enjoying it! I'd love to hear your thoughts when you've finished  <3

Hey everyone!

I'm solo dev Borealis, and my visual novel, Venus: Improbable Dream, just released today!  It's an emotional exploration of mental health and disability, portrayed in a realistic and relatable way.  It aims to spread the positive message that there is always hope!  In its story, two young musicians join forces to overcome their problems and find happiness - through the power of music!  If you like realistic stories, emotional adventures and music, then this game's for you!  With around 35 hours of gameplay, and 4 possible endings, you can choose your own journey!

Itchio Page:

https://borealisgames.itch.io/venus-improbable-dream-free-demo

Thanks so much!  <3

Thanks for taking part!

I think in this version of events, Haruka and Kakeru are on two completely different pages about what their relationship is  😅

I love the retro style of this!

It's going to be paid, but I'm working to make sure that it's a good price, so not expensive!  Thank you!

I actually need to update that word count - that was an old count that's been sincerely exceeded since then!  Thank you for bringing this to my attention!  35 hours of gameplay is the more accurate statistic.

Venus: Improbable Dream is a story rich, choice-based visual novel, centred around music, friendship, romance and mental health.  Its aim is to portray mental health struggles realistically, and take the player on a transformative, emotional journey to show that it's always possible to improve and have amazing experiences in life, even if you don't believe it at first.  It's also a fun and touching adventure that explores how powerful music can be, and features real life pieces by celebrated composers!

Premise:

Akane Kakeru is not your average 17 year old.  Thanks to a disfigurement he gained at birth, he spends his days struggling with social anxiety and wishing to be invisible.  Everything changes for him when he's placed into the after school music club, in an attempt to coax him out of his shell.  It's here that he meets Fujiwara Haruka, a disabled girl with a shy disposition, and a gift for music.  As the two of them begin to connect, Kakeru remembers what it's like to yearn for friends, to be confident in himself, and most importantly, to have a dream. Will he be able to truly face his inner fears once and for all, and achieve something he never thought possible? That’s up to you!

Venus: Improbable Dream is set to release in late February 2021.  The game page features a free demo that offers roughly 5 hours of gameplay!

Game page:

https://borealisgames.itch.io/venus-improbable-dream-free-demo

Aww thank you! 

I just played the Aquadine demo and I'm impressed!  The visuals are gorgeous, the music lovely, and the premise is intriguing.  Can't wait until its full release next year!

Hey there!  I played Palinurus on Steam last night and I have to say, I enjoyed it!  I left a review there recommending it.  Space is a love of mine, and the premise of this story was great, as was its pacing and emotional ending.  I wish you luck with all your future endeavours!

It is made with Ren'Py, but I know nothing about the Android side of it.  However, it's definitely something I'll look into before release!

Hey gamers!

I'm Borealis, English solo game dev and musician, and I'm here to share with you my upcoming visual novel, which is aiming for a February 2021 release!

"Venus: Improbable Dream" is a single player, story-driven, choice based visual novel in the slice of life/romance genre.  With Japanese anime art style and an expansive soundtrack, it's a slow-burning, emotional story that tells the tale of two people coming together and reaching for their dreams, through the power of music.  Player decisions along the way will affect the outcome of the game, and with four possible endings and lots of route-exclusive dialogue and scenes to find, the game has a lot of replayability.  Its aim is to portray the struggles of mental health in vivid detail, and take the player on a transformative journey towards a more positive future, giving hope and encouragement to those with mental health issues!

Premise:  Akane Kakeru is not your average 17 year old.  Thanks to a disfigurement he gained at birth, he spends his days struggling with social anxiety and wishing to be invisible.  Everything changes for him when he's placed into the after-school music club, in an attempt to coax him out of his shell.  It's here that he meets Fujiwara Haruka, a disabled girl with a shy disposition, and a gift for music.  As the two of them begin to connect, Kakeru starts to remember what it's like to yearn for friends, to be confident in himself, and most importantly, to have a dream.  Whether he's able to truly face his inner fears once and for all, and achieve something he never thought possible, is up to the player!

The game's Itch.io page is below, where you can find a free demo that's approximately 5 hours long:

https://borealisgames.itch.io/venus-improbable-dream-free-demo

"Venus: Improbable Dream" is a single player, story-driven, choice based visual novel in the slice of life/romance genre.  With Japanese anime art style and an expansive soundtrack, it's a slow-burning, emotional story that tells the tale of two people coming together and reaching for their dreams, through the power of music.  Player decisions along the way will affect the outcome of the game, and with four possible endings and lots of route-exclusive dialogue and scenes to find, the game has a lot of replayability.  With a February 2021 release date, its aim is to portray the struggles of mental health in vivid detail, and take the player on a transformative journey towards a more positive future, giving hope and encouragement to those with mental health issues!

Premise:  Akane Kakeru is not your average 17 year old.  Thanks to a disfigurement he gained at birth, he spends his days struggling with social anxiety and wishing to be invisible.  Everything changes for him when he's placed into the after-school music club, in an attempt to coax him out of his shell.  It's here that he meets Fujiwara Haruka, a disabled girl with a shy disposition, and a gift for music.  As the two of them begin to connect, Kakeru starts to remember what it's like to yearn for friends, to be confident in himself, and most importantly, to have a dream.  Whether he's able to truly face his inner fears once and for all, and achieve something he never thought possible, is up to the player!

The game's Itch.io page is below, where you can find a free demo that's approximately 5 hours long:

https://borealisgames.itch.io/venus-improbable-dream-free-demo

No problem!

I'm afraid it's only going to be available for PC, Mac and possibly Linux.  It's not intended to be a mobile game and would require different software, as the software I've used to create this game isn't fully compatible with android technology.