Über diese Demo

SYNOPSIS

After a break-up turns your world inside out, you return home for Christmas hoping the change in scenery will give you space to mend a broken heart. 

Instead, a charged encounter with your estranged first love, an unexpected visit from your recent ex, and an undeniable connection with the musician-next-door leaves you more confused than ever. 

As the clock counts down to midnight on New Year’s Eve, you'll need to choose: piece your life back together in America, or return to the life you left behind in Singapore? 

DEMO FEATURES

• 30min of gameplay with meaningful choices 

• Pivotal scenes that shape the overall trajectory of the story

• Meet the 3 gender-selectable love interests & key side characters 

• Beautiful hand-drawn art that bring New York and Singapore to life

An unforgettable introduction to the world

Play key scenes from Chapter 1 of the full game. Experience the flashbacks and emotionally charged present-day moments that set the stage for the full story.

Define your character

Choose your gender identity, sexuality, family dynamics, and parts of your backstory. See Singapore and New York through the eyes of the character you create.

Interactive, branching narrative

Make meaningful choices that unlock different scenes in the demo and go on to shape the trajectory of each playthrough in the full game.

Encounter the lovable cast of characters 

Meet the three romance options—Nat, Shay, and Qiu—along with your family and best friend Juni; step into the messy, tender web of relationships that tie you to Singapore and New York.

LOVE INTERESTS

Nat - the recent ex, current flatmate

Your ex. Your flatmate. Your best friend. Warm, funny, and generous to a fault, Nat’s still the one who has your back when shit hits the fan. Do the lingering feelings between you mean something… or should you finally move on?

Shay — the stranger (and fling?) 

Your neighbor's new tenant is bold, confident, and deliciously unconventional. Shay seems to find every excuse to bump into you in the hallway... and maybe a Christmas fling is exactly what your heart needs? 

Qiu — the estranged first love

Aloof, ambitious, and intense, Qiu’s both the first person you fell in love with, and the first person to break your heart. When you come face-to-face again, however, long-buried feelings threaten to surface... 

SIDE CHARACTERS  

Your family

Like many families, they're equal parts endearing and a pain in the ass—especially when they badger you about returning to Singapore every time you visit. This time, though, it seems they're keeping something from you... 

How long is the demo, what can I expect in terms of demo content?

About 30 minutes. The demo covers key moments from Chapter 1, including:

• last moments in NY and arrival in Singapore

• encounters with Nat, Shay, and Qiu (all 3 romance options), your family + best friend

• glimpses of the flashbacks that shaped your past relationships, teasing their larger narrative arcs in the full game

• some major choices that nudge your story in different directions

Is this solely an LGBTQ+ game?

No. While the writer/creator is a queer woman and the story is deeply informed by queer Southeast Asian experiences, you can play as straight or queer, and as a man, woman, or non-binary protagonist. All three love interests are gender-selectable, and the full game includes unique scenes and storylines that respond to your chosen identity—including some queer arcs that hit hard.

Overall, Merry Crisis is both the LGBTQ+ Southeast Asian late-20s holiday rom-com representation nobody asked for but the world needs, as well as a heartfelt romance game designed for players of all genders, ages, and sexualities.

Do my choices in the demo matter?

They influence scenes within the demo—and reflect how branching works in the full game—but the full game, thanks to its length, will have far more branching and unique scenes. 

Is there room for asexual or non-romantic playthroughs?

Absolutely. If you’re asexual, romance-averse, or simply want to take things slow, the demo (and full game) lets you opt out of physical intimacy and keep every interaction strictly platonic. You can also choose not to date anyone and end the story single. 

The protagonist does have canon past romantic relationships with Nat and Qiu, which shape the story you’re stepping into, but how you navigate these relationships in the present is entirely up to you.  

Is the demo spoiler-safe?

Yes. It introduces emotional stakes and character dynamics while keeping major twists, reveals, and late-game conflict hidden.

I loved the demo—what's planned?

• An Extended Demo will release in Summer 2026 

• The full game will release Christmas 2026

• In the meantime, you can check out Monsoon Games's other games-in-progress, and join the community on Tumblr (established) or Instagram (newly created)