Why Early Access?

“The traditional visual novel is typically told through the viewpoint of a single character. It's a solid system, but we feel it’s limited in some ways, especially when it comes to emotional storytelling. So, we opted for an ambitious, dual-protagonist system in Heartsworn Abyss. You’ll experience a heartwrenching love story through the eyes of the graceful starlet, Akari Hashimoto, and her mysterious male companion, Rei.

We’re releasing our game in Early Access to hear your thoughts on our approach! Are the characters engaging in their biases, experiences, and aspirations? Is it interesting to learn about events and information privy to only one character? Your early feedback will allow me to fine-tune their scenarios to provide the most… “maddening” sense of intrigue and jealousy between the two parties, as well as address any glaring flaws in perspective.

Moreoever, as a game where choices matter (for real!), there are a variety of bad routes and endings awaiting the characters. With your guidance, I can hopefully tune the story’s progression so there’s a satisfying amount of player agency, while also allowing the characters to "breathe" and express their unique personalities. So please, let us know if you want more "choosing" or "watching!"

Like all visual novels, the gameplay in Heartsworn Abyss is primarily text-based with a focus on reading. There is a variety of illustrations and music, along with voice acting. As Early Access progresses, we plan to use some of the proceeds from Early Access to enhance the reading experience by adding bonus illustrations, scenarios, and voices.

The world of Miyogawa is a vast place, and we are always looking for places to improve on!”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“We expect to wrap up development in early 2026. Bug fixes and maintenance will continue past that, but the main storyline will be concluded.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“We expect the full version to have at least ten chapters, two full character sprites, ten full-page event illustrations, voice acting, and an extensive selection of backgrounds and music. More content may be added if our Early Access is really well-received!”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The current Early Access version (v0.1) contains: Prologue and Chapter 1 (24k words), full heroine character sprite, voiced protagonist and heroine, CG gallery, backgrounds, and music.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“We don’t any plans to increase the price at this time. We might increase the price slightly near launch, as additional features and content are added, but this isn’t set in stone.”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“We have a discussion forum and a contact email listed to answer any player concerns. In addition to that, we have an active Discord where players may chat and voice their feedback.”