itch.io

Checked this out because of CryptidGames' recommendation; this was incredible. The art, the atmosphere, the character designs, the way everything falls apart as the characters' grasps on reality loosen, the fact that we don't get a true answer for what's happening and have to try and piece things together ourselves... 

The relationship between Algernon and Vandra was SO fascinating, I loved seeing all the different possibilities, the different facets, the ways in which their relationship can go... 

I definitely need to like, replay the endings again to try and piece together everything more firmly, but man!!! This was so good! There's nothing like playing a game that immediately shoots onto your favorites list. Thank you so much for making and sharing this game!

Gorgeous art, and really well executed concept! I really love Oyun's design, and your art style!

This is such an awesome concept!! I've always loved the symbiotic relationship that forms between tarantulas and frogs, so it was cool to see a game based on it! I wasn't very good at the game haha, but I still really loved the idea behind it, and the gameplay loop! Thank you so much for taking part in the jam!

This is SO delightful, I love the concept, and the graphics, music, and art are SO charming!!The only critique I have is that I noticed sometimes the ball will just stop letting me interact with it, and I can't move it any more; it might be getting stuck on an object I can't see though. But I really loved this! Thank you so much for taking part in the jam and making more bug themed games ^^

Such an awesome proof of concept! I love the art style so much, and just the premise and little bit of world building we get from the demo is so intriguing. I can definitely see the Hollow Knight inspo, but it really does shine as an original concept as well. I can't wait to see this project continue!

Still such a fun demo and concept Kitsu! The art is so charming and the gameplay is fun with just the right bit of challenge. I'm so excited to see this project continue <3 ^^

Oh my gosh, thank you so much!! I'm so glad that you enjoyed it! This is my first time doing something intentionally in the horror genre, so I'm really glad that it was impactful ;w; And I'm glad that you liked Lamna and Muse! I wanted their relationship to be a nice foil to The Horrors, so I'm glad that that was successful ;w;

Green Fish!!

Thank you so much! I'm glad that I was able to convey the feeling of endlessness <3

AND AH tysm for letting me know!! I should have double checked that >3<

Thank you so much! I intended this game to have a lot of like... implied backstory tidbits? For the universe I set a lot of these games in. So I hope it didn't feel like too much lore packed in ^^' But I'm really glad you liked the visuals and the music! It was the first game I made all my own music for, so I'm glad it seemed fitting ^^ And that's so sweet! Lamna was a fun one to write for, I'm glad he reminded you of your partner <3

Thank you so so much for taking the time to play it!! Waking up to this was so wonderful, I'm really glad you enjoyed it ;w; Thank you for your suggestions and feedback too- I am trying to get a web version working, I just need to get 7zip on my computer again because I forgot you can't use a rar file for that ^^'

I'm on Windows 11. Nothing pops up when I try to open it, either... 

That's okay! I was just hoping maybe there was an obvious issue I was missing ^^' I'll keep playing around with it and see if I can figure something out!

For some reason I'm having trouble getting it to run on PC? ;w; Even when I click 'run anyway', or try to open it from right clicking it, nothing happens... 

This is so cool... I love the glitchy, sketchy animation style for Cas, love the use of different fonts, and the grainy eyestrainy backgrounds and settings really help to set the mood and create a surreal, almost disassociative feeling. Cas is really going through it. The vibes of this are immaculate. I can't wait to see more.

Aaaaah thank you so much!!! I'm so glad that you enjoyed it ;w; I did set out to make something emotional, so I'm really glad that you had an emotional experience with it ;w; AND TY I wanted the ending to feel hopeful after such a sad fate for the two of them :'3 Thank you so so much for playing!!!! <3

Snails are so good... peak critter. I have not been able to get this game out of my head since I played it; I got the other two endings and I'm definitely not normal about these boys. Seeing the different possible ways Riley could handle the situation, and just what it takes for him to be willing to achieve each outcome, is so fascinating. I really loved him in the Self Sacrifice Ending, but the Compliance Ending gives me SO many brain worms... Riley you're so normal you're so so normal I love you bestie... I haven't been able to stop thinking about all the possibilities of a Post-Compliance Ending..... uwah...

You did SUCH a good job conveying that though. It really hit hard when Austin calls you out on your choices too, accusing Riley of carrying on like normal and not even looking for him, even when you know it's not 100% Austin that's saying these things- Riley doesn't know that, and it hurts so bad :') And the fact that Asutin seems to somehow know exactly what you were doing is so chilling too. I love that it the only time you even can find him seems to be when you're not pushing yourself, it really speaks to the fact that no matter how responsible or desperate you feel, pushing yourself past your limits doesn't help anyone in the long run. Can't pour from an empty cup, and all that. 

BUT YEAH I'm so obsessed with this game. Such an incredible first project!! I can't wait to see what you do next ;w; 

Really awesome concept! I love the use of business and financial terms replacing the RPG lingo, it felt very unique, and really helped flesh out the roles that the characters were playing! Also fit well with the themes of precious metals and the focus on the worth of things. I'm really intrigued to see where you go next with this, if you continue it!

Waaaah this was so good! I was immediately drawn to it by the art, but the story was really wonderful. The plotline with Whitney and Christy was handled really well, and really tugged at my heartstrings. Christy's diary entries about her feelings hit close to home, so it was a really emotional experience playing through the game and worrying about this poor kid. I really liked how the actual end, after the boys have their little meet up and go of on their date, was with Christy getting to say goodbye. It felt like a fitting sort of reminder, that even if the main characters' involvement with her story is over, the horrors of her reality are still something she's going to have to live with, and it just felt... respectful, if that makes sense? Idk, I wasn't expecting to get so emotional going into this haha, but the game really made me feel things.

Also the post credits scene >.> Very intriguing... I was already thinking this game felt like an interesting set up to a sort of episodic mystery series, but the end cemented that to me- I really hope to see more of this setting again sometime!! 

Hooouuugh this is such a good demo, I'm already SO hooked, and excited to see more! The setting and little world building hooks we get are so intriguing, with the dolls and the living lighthouse, and none of it being explained yet. And I'm obsessed with Fran and Mario's dynamic; Mario is so endearing, he makes me really nostalgic for like. Early 2000s internet type characters, in the most positive way possible. And I really love how Fran matches his energy and rolls with all the punches, they have such a fascinating dynamic, and I can't wait to see it explored further!!

HOORAY EXTENDED DEMO!! Can't wait for other people to get the chance to play it ^^/

Checked out the page beccause the title screen art really appealed to me, and when I saw the snail I was immediately intrigued. I've only gotten the Self Sacrifice Ending so far, so I don't have the full picture of what's going on, but I feel like I have enough to understand the gist of certain plot points >.> 

You did such a good job at creating a believably messy friendship. Both of the boys broke my heart in different ways, and even with only one ending under my belt, seeing Austin go from trying so hard to be a better friend to Riley and to put his life back together and overall just be a healthier person, to what he becomes in the end os just.... heartbreaking, through and through. And of course, guiding Riley through such self sacrifice was painful too.

I think you also just did an incredibly job of showing how the world doesn't stop when you're in the middle of a crisis. Still having to go to work, still having to go get your mom's meds, having to juggle self care with trying to navigate a crisis, having every task be a step you have to guide Riley through that tires him out even more... it really added to the atmosphere, to the feeling of helplessness, having to slog through work the day after you've been mauled by a bear and aren't sure if your friend is even alive, because Capitalism Hell never takes a day off and your family can't afford you skipping more than a day... Just it's own little slice of the overall nightmare.

This is SO incredible for your first game! I'm so excited to play the other two endings, and to see your future endeavors!! ^^

Another great read... I really like how blunt Utsuko is? In talking about her experiences and her feelings? It's kind of like a splash of cold water to the face, starting the game and reading her harsh words about herself, shocking at first, but then sort of refreshing, to not feel like there's any tiptoeing around what she's going through, what she's been told, how she's living her life. 

The progression of the story does such a great job of easing us into the hell of Aiko's life. At first it's easy to just kind of take at face value that she's 'crazy', but as it goes on you can't look away from the fact that this poor girl has been indoctrinated from birth and never had a choice in what she believes, and once you realize the physical abuse that's going on too, you feel so cruel for ever having taken her situation lightly.

I really, really loved the message of the good ending. For a game that hinges so heavily on suicide and wanting to die, I was really touched by the message that yeah, the meaning of life is to just live. Life may not have a meaning, but that doesn't make it pointless, or not worthwhile. And I feel like that's always an important message, that just being alive, even if it hurts or is miserable a lot of the time, is worth holding onto, because there will always be beautiful moments that make you glad you stuck around.

I'm really excited to see your future projects!! I love your art style, and the way you approach darker/heavier themes in your stories, so I'm looking forward to whatever you work on next ^^

Thank YOU for making such a poignant game! I've already downloaded tmolitj so I'm really excited to play that as well ^^ 

This was so sweet... I downloaded it the other day not being quite sure what to expect, but I'm so glad I did! The conversation between Dodie and Vera reminded me a lot of late night convos I've had with my friends ;; It felt very real and grounded, despite the surreal nature of certain aspects. A really lovely read ;w;

Another absolute banger... Loved this! From the get go I was obsessed with the premise of a sex robot being roped into cage fighting, and as expected this did a brilliant job of exploring that concept! 

The art was awesome, I really adored Nikko's design especially, she's so cute. And I loved the exploration of her feelings, and how earnest and honest she was with them? Even in spite of having those feelings diminished or outright denied, she didn't let anyone truly tell her how she should feel, or accept the idea that her love wasn't real. The final scene was so good. Chef's kiss...

I'm also so intrigued by the concept of the Bride Co dolls, and just like, the ethical implications of them? It's such a cool piece of world building, and I think you did a great job of giving us just enough info to understand how things work without overloading us, or making it feel dissatisfying not to learn more. I'm curious purely because it was so well written.

Another wonderful VN, you both did an amazing job on this!

First off, I want to say, I love your art style so much! Claire's design especially is so cute and lovely, and all of the CGs in the game were so cute ;w; 

This was such an emotional read... knowing the content warnings really helped with building a sense of unease and dread, I think- seeing how even as things started to improve for Claire, knowing that the other shoe hadn't dropped yet, and having a good idea of what it is but just not knowing how or when we'll find out...

I really loved how Scarlet's trauma was portrayed in this, how difficult it is for her to let go of her mother in spite of everything she's done, how she can't help but demonize herself at every turn and try to blame herself for everything and make herself out to be as manipulative and vile as her own abuser. You did such a good job of portraying how running away with your true love doesn't automatically undo all that trauma, or magically fix everything. I loved how messy and complicated it was, how Scarlet is still haunted by everything she's been through and done, but still showing that there's hope for the future, that she still has the rest of her life to learn how to live without her mother, and that she has an incredibly supportive partner there to help her through it ;w;

A really good, heart wrenching read.

Sorry that people are being weird about the zine... I found it really thought provoking, so you absolutely accomplished what you set out to do with it, I feel. Personally I think it's weird that people find it weird? That they like it? 'even if' they're white? More people need to learn how to sit with their discomfort and guilt and process that and not make it other people's problems, especially irt making a Black person hold their white guilt. Ty for making such cool art, and for sharing your thoughts with us. Also I'm really looking forward to reading Love (Battle) Doll, I downloaded it the other day and I'm excited to play it this week!!!

This was a really thought provoking read. It was really nice to hear more of your perspective on these things, particularly in relation to things like Hazbin Hotel, which is definitely something I've seen a lot of discourse around. I really love your art and writing, so I'm glad I got the chance to read your thoughts and feelings about representation! Thank you for sharing your words, and I hope you're able to continue making the sorts of stories you want to see in the world <3

I really enjoyed this visual novel. The moment in class where the professor shares a story about a 'fox' dying horribly, and then flippantly talks about schizophrenia, and poor Fox just being left in a shock and not knowing how to react and just feeling like getting out of there... It really hit hard, you did a great job of expressing that kind of moment, and just all the little ways in which Fox feels alienated and othered so casually by others... I was really scared during the part where Fox comes out to Lilly, and so relieved by Lilly's casual acceptance. The ending was so sweet too ;w; And I think your art and character designs really made everything stand out- I love Fox's design especially, and the choice to use a fox as a symbol of being somewhere in the middle, in a world of cats and dogs.I'm glad that I found this and had the chance to read it <3

I'm so excited to play this!! The art and the concept are both really awesome. Thank you so much for submitting to the jam ^^

The June Bug Jam is officially over, so I just wanted to thank everyone who joined and took part! It always makes me happy to see bugs get more love, so thank you all for taking the time to make bug themed projects for this jam ^^

I feel like I didn't really promote this jam as much as I could have, but I would really love for this and the Love Bug Jam to be annual things, so I want to take what I've learned from the past two jams to make an even better and more fun jam for next time.

If anyone has any suggestions or ideas on how to make the jam more fun or accessible, please feel free to share your ideas here! Next time I will likely be making a discord specifically for the jams, so that people can more easily contact me or create teams, but if anyone else has ideas, please let me know! And thank you again for joining the jam <3

Thank you! I have a lot more planned for them so hopefully it'll be worth the wait ^^

Leaving one here as well- this was so cute omg!!!! First off, thank you so much for taking part in the June Bug Jam! I love the art and design for this so much! Wasps are my favorite bug, so seeing a wasp girl protagonist made me especially happy ^^ Vespi's design is so cute and fun, and I love the animations for her attacks and flying around! Even if it's only one level so far it's really fun, and I was able to get the hang of it pretty easily (I'm not the best at platformers xD).

Thank you again for taking part in the jam! I'm really excited to see this project continue! 

This was so cute omg!!!! First off, thank you so much for taking part in the June Bug Jam! I love the art and design for this so much! Wasps are my favorite bug, so seeing a wasp girl protagonist made me especially happy ^^ Vespi's design is so cute and fun, and I love the animations for her attacks and flying around! Even if it's only one level so far it's really fun, and I was able to get the hang of it pretty easily (I'm not the best at platformers xD).

Thank you again for taking part in the jam! I'm really excited to see this project continue! 

Great concept! A huge part of what fascinates me about bugs from a creative standpoint is thinking about how short their lifespans are, especially ones like cicadas that spend such a vast majority of their life sleeping, only to be conscious and 'living' for such a short amount of time. Making a journaling rpg based around that is really cool. And I really love the graphics, this is gorgeous ^^ Thank you so much for taking part in the June Bug Jam!!

Oh yeah, of course! Sorry, I forgot that's how jam comments work, it is a bit weird that they don't also show up on the game page itself.  And of course! I'm hoping to turn both the Love Bug Jam and the June Bug Jam into annual things, so if you're ever wanting to make more bug themed projects, keep an eye out ^^/

Great concept! A huge part of what fascinates me about bugs from a creative standpoint is thinking about how short their lifespans are, especially ones like cicadas that spend such a vast majority of their life sleeping, only to be conscious and 'living' for such a short amount of time. Making a journaling rpg based around that is really cool. And I really love the graphics, this is gorgeous ^^ Thank you so much for taking part in the June Bug Jam!!

Super cool!! I'll definitely check it out, thanks for letting me know! ^^/

This is so cool! The visual presentation is great, the prose and writing is great, and the concept is just really cool! I love seeing the different types of solo rpgs that are out there and how people craft them. Thank you so much for taking part in the June Bug Jam! <3

That's fine by me! The point of this jam is largely just to encourage people to make bug themed projects, so supplemental material for other stuff as long as it's focused on bugs is still good in my book ^^ Thank you for checking though!

Oh tysm, I didn't know about this!