3rd Place *Tie* ($75 each): CE-5 by PrismProjections and Bound by Fate by Mayhem Makers

Overview:

A Paladin and a Little Devil, both are tasked to steal the artifact that powers the evil overlord. He calls himself “Fate” because, according to him, even that he overcame. The paladin wishes to destroy the stone and the devil to use the power for herself.

However, they are both captured, and Fate decides to chain them together.

Now they both, imprisioned and one week away from execution, must find a way to escape the overlord’s castle. Will they both, now chained by fate (literally) succeed?

Judging Summary:

Ranks high on the “d’aawwww” scale. Starts out rough, but improves significantly, and has one of the most memorable characters of the entire roster of entries. The banter between the two main characters is funny and engaging, and the character art, though rough, is appealing and conveys personality.

Overview:

Sometimes running from something brings you closer instead.

You’ve left your home and everything you’ve ever known behind for the city life for a reason unknown even to yourself. What does your new home hold for you?

CE-5 is a first-person visual novel exploring events surrounding a group of people at a communal complex in the city.

Judging Summary:

One of the tightest games in the jam, technically and visually speaking. Suffers from some narrative pacing issues, but these are more forgivable given the jam context. A nice building of tension and the twist, while abrupt, is interesting enough to sell the story overall.