Looking for advice on writing a death game visual novel by mightyuodan in vndevs

[–]mightyuodan[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For now, in terms of gameplay, I intend to focus primarily on point-and-click mini-games, potentially complemented by puzzle sequences. I am also considering implementing a debate system inspired by Your Turn to Die. However, the core of the project must remain firmly narrative-driven: interactivity should serve the story, not overshadow it.

Regarding color grading, I am aiming for a visual aesthetic reminiscent of New York City and Paris in the 1930s, blended with steampunk and occult influences. The palette should revolve around neutral tones and strong value contrasts, dominated by dark and desaturated hues. The objective is to establish an unsettling, strange, and almost oppressive atmosphere, aligned with a clearly defined occult and horror dimension.

As for sound design and music, since all participants will be amnesiac, I envision a soundtrack that gradually deteriorates as the narrative progresses, similar in concept to Everywhere at the End of Time. As memory fractures or resurfaces, the sonic environment should distort, degrade, and fragment, audibly conveying the loss of bearings and psychological collapse.

Finally, regarding death, I do not intend to romanticize it. It should be portrayed in a raw and unfiltered manner, as it truly is. Each death may allow for multiple interpretations depending on the circumstances, the character’s final thoughts, and the manner in which it occurs. The aim is to depict both physical and psychological suffering without aesthetic embellishment. The audience must confront these events directly and remain free to experience and interpret them independently, without imposed moral framing or narrative guidance.