Well, it’s time: the very last obstacle in whether or not we get to make our visual novel. I have to admit, it’s a bit scary. And exciting. A bit relieving too, I think. Regardless of the outcome, I’ve had fun – a great deal of fun.

Last month, we released a demo for the purpose of showing off our ideas in action that covers about an hour of gameplay. We were happy with its overall reception, and we are now taking the next step forward. I wrote the majority of the demo's scenario in a bit over a month this winter after having mapped out future major plot points. After that, we spent around a month polishing the text and rewriting segments we weren’t happy with. The artwork came along nicely, as did the scripting. Suddenly, we had a working demo. Engine features aside (we plan on switching to Unity), the demo should accomplish what it set out to do. If you haven't tried it out yet, you can do so here:

It can also be played in the browser!

“Some would call this a dystopia. It is, after all, a time in history where your individual will cannot be respected as it once could. We are, after all, on the brink of becoming a dying breed. Or so they say, anyway.

I am being ripped out of my ordinary life, and I will be put into the system's hands. I understand why. I understand why it's necessary. On some level, I am even relieved by it. Social disinterest. Isolation. They have a plan for making this right, because so far it has all been so, so wrong. Every fiber of my body can attest to that.

I am soon getting on a bus together with the rest of the young, healthy people of my neighborhood. We are leaving for a settlement. It's a settlement where futures are made, supposedly. Where free wills are neglected, presumably. Where the human race will get another chance at surviving, hopefully."

―Quentin, protagonist of Anomie

Anomie is set in a fictional world that resembles our modern day. The protagonist, Quentin, finds himself experiencing a chain of events that leads him to what can only be described as a new life. A new place with new rules—a new life, a new future. Will the public authority's desperate efforts bear fruit?

The visual novel is well-rounded in its genres: drama, slice of life, and romance – but at its core, Anomie is a psychological thriller with elements of mystery and philosophical ponderings. These ponderings consider not only life, but also society as a whole, as well as its possible collapse in the universe of Anomie. What happens in society when people alienate each other, when isolation is widespread, when social disinterest is prevalent? How do we conquer it? What happens if you try to revert it... forcibly?

The term itself – anomie – signifies a breakdown in the norms, values, and culture of a group or society. Anomie is a recurring, major theme in this visual novel. The total playtime should be around 10 hours.

Early character sketches

Isak Björn Hedlund - Once

LeafCascade - Shatter

LeafCasade - Grand

I’m LeafCascade (the name I go by on the visual novel subreddit), and I’m the writer as well as the project lead for Anomie. I have also composed a fair bit of Anomie’s music. After being inspired by a great deal of visual novels over my years of being interested in them, I decided to make one of my own. I’d say my motivation partly stems from all the intriguing themes and ideas I feel could have been expanded upon in works such as Umineko no Naku Koro ni; Sharin no Kuni, Himawari no Shoujo; and Harumade Kururu/Natsukumo Yururu, but also because I wanted to contribute to the western visual novel scene with something that I believe it has been lacking.

I'm Veera, a student from Finland, and I'm responsible for everything visual in Anomie: sprites, backgrounds, CG's, UI, and graphics (like the images here on Kickstarter). I'm able to draw a variety of different things ranging from photorealism to cartoony visuals. My art is inspired by a little bit of everything – from both western and Japanese styles. This project has introduced me to visual novels, and I'm doing my best to make Anomie one of the better looking OELVN's.

My DeviantArt can be found here. I can be contacted through Reddit (/u/DulcetDove) or Discord (Veera#6808).

Supporting staff include but is not limited to: insanityissexy & Gustav (QC & Editing), Isak Björn Hedlund (secondary composer), Majk (secondary composer). I'd also like to give special thanks to qhp, MotivatedRed, and Don for helping out with various things pertaining to the Kickstarter. Thank you all for your continued support.

If you'd like to follow us on Twitter, you can do so here: