Why Early Access?

“We plan to launch HABROMANIA in Early Access to give players the chance to experience the story chapter-by-chapter as we develop it, rather than waiting several years for a complete release. This format allows us to keep the game’s momentum going, invite our community into the creative process, and steadily build on a strong foundation of code, systems, and player feedback.

The game is designed as a 12-chapter, story-driven experience with puzzle-solving, branching dialogue, and collectables that reward exploration Because narrative pacing, emotional impact, and mechanical balance are central to the experience, releasing chapters gradually allows us to test and refine each piece. We want to make sure each new installment builds on player expectations, while staying polished and engaging.

We’re also using Early Access to gather meaningful feedback on player experience: What puzzles feel too easy or too obtuse? Are there sections where the story or interface could be improved? Early Access gives us the chance to listen and adapt, rather than designing in a vacuum.

Once the first chapter is complete, creative director Sydney Collings plans to make the game’s development a full-time focus. Many of the artists, animators, and programmers who worked on Chapter One will be continuing with us, and we also plan to expand the team as needed to keep up with development goals.

Our current target is to release about three chapters a year, with clear communication and updates along the way. This project has been in the works for years, and now that its creator has graduated from university, it has her full attention. HABROMANIA is deeply personal, and we’re committed to completing it with care, creativity, and the support of the community that joins us on this journey.

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Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“Based on our current development pace, we anticipate HABROMANIA will remain in Early Access for approximately three to four years - so leaving early access in 2028 or 2029. Our plan is to release about three chapters each year during early access, with a full version hopefully launching once all major story content is complete.

This is a rough estimate, and while we’re doing our best to account for unexpected delays, we recognize that game development is often unpredictable. We’re committed to keeping players updated with clear communication and transparent timelines throughout the process.”

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

“The gameplay should be similar in the full game as it is in the early access version of HABROMANIA, with point-and-click mechanics, exploration, and branching dialogue. However, we intend for the full game to include more story and more elaborate environments, character interactions, and puzzles. We want more characters, more lore, more collectables- basically, a more expanded-upon narrative and world than exists in early access. We also want to use early access as an opportunity to use player feedback and refine the game before the full version release.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“Currently, we have 1 chapter almost completed (we are hoping it will be up by September 2025). This chapter includes 16 unique environments, multiple cinematics, puzzles, branching dialogues with different characters, and original musical compositions. We plan for future chapters to have similar content- puzzles, immersive art and animations, new songs, and more collectables. This is a narrative-focused game, so more of the story will reveal itself as we add more chapters. We have the plot of the game all written out and will be moving to flesh out each chapter as we continue development.

You can refer to the "about this game" section of the page for more details about the features included.”

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

“We plan to raise the price of the game slightly after we leave early access to account for the amount of new content and features.”

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

“Since this is a project we will be actively working on, we'll be sharing our progress with the community as we go. We hope to do so both here on steam and on Symphony Sonata's YouTube and Instagram pages. We'll provide relevant updates and sneak peeks to keep everyone in the loop. ”