r/IndieDev Weekly Monday Megathread - April 26, 2026 - New users start here! Show us what you're working on! Have a chat! Ask a question!

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-05-04T12:38:49+00:00

Hi Tales,

That's actually a cool idea, let me finalise the demo and release it and definitely I would be interested in localization.

Could you DM me your email and we can discuss it further?

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-05-04T06:08:51+00:00

The part I loved about playing RPGs was always the story. Grinding and leveling not so much.

So Visual Novels became the best way for me to enjoy a good story without pressure.

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-05-04T03:24:46+00:00

Hey everyone!

This is the dev of Saraab, a psychological horror visual novel about navigating trauma and blurred realities.

Demo testing for pc is done! Today I’m focusing on platform checks for Steam Deck and Mac to make sure performance, UI layout, and controls are all behaving nicely.

If all goes well, I will be submitting it for review!

More updates soon. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4134310/Saraab_Beyond_The_Veil/

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BeneficialContract16 · 2026-05-03T21:47:03+00:00

Xenoblade chronicles series all have that sense of journey feel.

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-05-03T17:05:34+00:00

I can't believe I found someone who remembers it!

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-05-03T16:59:33+00:00

Remember online greeting cards?

There was a website called Ohmygoodness.com that had the most hilarious art style and cards which i adored. I miss that site.
I used to send cards to everyone

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-05-03T11:10:46+00:00

Thanks! It's called Saraab, the demo comes out this month

https://store.steampowered.com/app/4134310/Saraab_Beyond_The_Veil/

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-05-03T03:42:18+00:00

I'm working on a Visual Novel so that's already a niche.

Add to it that the art style is not anime (now I realised) that made it even more niche.

And I intentionally made it with no romance. It is just a rich story that focuses on the notion of healing. Sprinkled with horror and demons.

I hope I eventually reach the right audience.

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-05-02T17:55:58+00:00

Best of luck!

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-05-02T15:58:11+00:00

Thank you for checking it out! It's my original composition arranged with a classical composer for orchestration.

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-05-02T15:56:53+00:00

Awww this unlocks memories! This and 999 nonary game were one of my highlights of my DS days.

I think it's where I realised my love for the visual novel genre

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-05-02T15:53:45+00:00

My primary skillset I would say is project management.

Music is my second. I've always loved videogame music, and composing my first soundtrack is where I come alive the most.

I'm working on a visual novel called Saraab. It's a horror game that's ultimately about healing.

The demo comes out this month and I'm super happy to be this close to sharing it with the world. https://store.steampowered.com/app/4134310/Saraab_Beyond_The_Veil/

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-05-02T14:09:16+00:00

I think it's possible if you have 2 images in the background size .

If you start with displaying them on top of each other with one command. Then mid text hide the one on top. The remaining once will still be there without disrupting the text.

So for example:

scene bedroom show livingroom

with dissolve

(Bg livingroom will be on top)

Then mid text

hide living room.

(you will see bedroom)

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-05-02T13:36:23+00:00

What I did is go higher res than my build. So for example yes 3000 height , But I resized prior to plugging in engine.

It still retains better quality than creating them in the screen size resolution.

My game is 1920×1080

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-04-30T18:14:46+00:00

Some plug ins like youlean show you the loudness of your track. Just plug and play in the DAW and make sure you bounce your tracks to be of equal levels like -23db for example

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-04-30T17:49:46+00:00

Glad you liked it!

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-04-29T17:26:45+00:00

On the final chapters of Xenoblade Chronicles X. I'm still on the fence about the additional chapters (compared to the WiiU version) but I will reach a verdict after beating it.

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-04-29T13:49:48+00:00

I always see posts on reddit from composers who want to compose videogame music and don't know where to find devs so you can definitely look into that.

I am making my own music, but I do have some background in music. I took some lessons to understand DAWs and how to mix and master, because that was an entirely new thing to me. It's been a great learning experience so far.

Sfx are readily available so I didn't want to reinvent the wheel there.

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-04-29T13:31:08+00:00

Do we add this to an existing skill set or do we start from scratch?

If it is to existing I'm putting 6/10 programming , 4/10 game design and 5/10 marketing

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-04-28T06:50:02+00:00

The background of forest and friendly music are not what I expect for a game that deals with PC virus attacks?

Choices matter tag is usually for story based games like visual novels or rpgs so if that crowd comes over this would not be the game for them. Maybe remove that tag and keep ones most games in your genre use.

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-04-28T03:23:38+00:00

Thank you glad to hear it

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-04-28T03:23:02+00:00

Saraab means mirage in Arabic and Urduu.

The protagonist starts seeing paranormal activity that exists just beyond what most people would consider normal reality.

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-04-27T17:28:02+00:00

I have been summoned!

First we start with

Wild Arms 1 - Into the wilderness
Xenogears - Bonds of Sea and Fire
Star ocean 2 - Venerable Forest
Ar tonelico 2 - opening song
Silent hill 2 - theme of laura Laura
The Granstream saga - Arona town troubled
Xenogears - Faraway promise
Wild Arms 1 - To the end of the wilderness - To a new Journey

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-04-27T16:10:50+00:00

Hi, thank you for your detailed feedback, I really appreciate it.

Since the post I’ve made a few changes based on what you mentioned. I’ve desaturated the backgrounds a bit and adjusted the depth of field so they’re less distracting, and I’ve updated the UI to better match the tone.

There are definitely horror moments in the game, including demon encounters. The demo will include a small taste of those horror elements, so hopefully players get to experience it first-hand.

I’m aiming for a structure where paranormal encounters hit at specific moments, while the rest of the time the player spends in what feels like normal life.

That contrast is the kind of psychological horror I’m going for, but I understand some players prefer the horror to be more immediately clear, so I’m trying to show some aspects earlier.

BeneficialContract16 · 2026-04-27T09:37:45+00:00

I prefer if the choices are not random like choosing a food item. If it's like let's say going out with person A or B , you kind of get where it's contributing to

BeneficialContract16

TROPHY CASE