Planned Release Date: 2026

About This Game

Game introduction

During the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty, the ancient city of Sui'an had not yet sunk beneath the lake; it was still a thriving, prosperous city in western Zhejiang.

Shuijsheng's opera troupe received an invitation to perform for a ritual sacrifice to the "River God," and the destination was none other than this ancient capital, nestled between mountains and water.

However, during the journey, he slipped and fell into the river. Contracting a severe illness, his life hung by a thread, until he was saved by Qingqing, a drowned ghost.

From then on, cloaked in a sinister "demonic skin," he was reduced to a half-human, half-ghost existence. His flesh gradually decayed, and his time grew short.

Qingqing informed him that only by consuming her spectral form could he extend his life;

His junior apprentice sister, however, said it would be better to pray for divine mercy to overcome this calamity.

The solemn-looking sacrificial ceremony concealed untold secrets.

Shuijsheng gradually realized he had stepped into a labyrinthine plot that connected the realms of humans, ghosts, and gods...

He must uncover the truth within the profound depths of the ancient city,

Make a choice between Qingqing and his junior apprentice sister,

And find his own path to redemption.

Game background

This work is adapted from Pu Songling's collection of classical Chinese short stories, Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, incorporating elements from tales such as The Painted Skin, Old Master Zhang, The Fox's Daughter, and Wang Liulang.

Character introduction

Li Qingqing, an 10018-year-old girl who drowned, refused to be reincarnated and instead became a water ghost, lingering in the rivers of Sui'an.

Huang Cuicui, a 10016-year-old girl, is the daughter of an opera troupe leader and Shuisheng's junior fellow apprentice.

Game experience

Under the River is Nightfire Games' debut title, with initial script drafting by Huyu and subsequent refinement and production by Huyan.

The game features 150,000 words of text, 11 unique endings, and fully voiced dialogue throughout all 1,500 lines.

Players will take on the role of an opera performer in the Ming Dynasty, making choices based on their own judgment and ultimately deciding between two female protagonists.

The game contains some adult content elements:

Combat and weapon imagery without bloodshed or gore, depictions of bones/skeletons, derogatory language, intense pain, criminal behavior, bleeding, violent acts, accidental death, physical injury, corpses, violent depictions, suicide, partial nudity, and alcohol consumption.

The game is currently in full development, and we warmly welcome everyone to come and take an early look.

Mature Content Description

The developers describe the content like this:

The game contains some adult content elements:
Combat and weapon imagery without bloodshed or gore, depictions of bones/skeletons, derogatory language, intense pain, criminal behavior, bleeding, violent acts, accidental death, physical injury, corpses, violent depictions, suicide, partial nudity, and alcohol consumption.