#nobreadstudio

[nobreadstudio]

304 Seconds by NoBreadStudio

Another death game approaches... Are you interested in talking philosophy with the mastermind?

The demo for 304 Seconds is now also available on itch.io!

Enjoy it DRM-free!

[tigermousse]

Soulset

⦁ genre: otome, amare, mystery, thriller, drama, comedy, romance, supernatural

SoulSet is one of my favorite visual novels. I've read it before, and for the first time it hit me emotionally so hard, I couldn't stop thinking of it - even three years later. I would like to erase my memories to unravel this breathtaking mystery again. But I can't do it, so I've just erased my in-game progress and gave this novel a re-read.

You awake in a strange gloomy mansion with five strangers and all your memories lost. The only episode from your past that you remember is that your dragon Isshin is dying and to prevent that a strange man (Feathor) casts a spell on you, binding a dragon's soul to yours.

Who are those people? Why are you in this mansion together? Everyone is claiming that they don't remember anything about them, like you. But what if someone is lying? Who can you trust, if anyone at all? Where do you even start? You need to act soon, because around the mansion is a strange barrier that you can't cross. Who made it and how can you get rid of it? But it seems that this isn't even your biggest problem for now…

It is a game that is meant to play several times (about 20 times, actually) to fully uncover the mystery. . Each route reveals just a part of truth, and I should say that reading the novel first time, I didn't get the whole picture until it was presented to me. There are "true endings" for each character, but also the ultimate "true end" which binds together all story lines. In some endings you will find love, in other - gruesome death, but nevertheless each time the game ends, you wake up in the same mansion. And you need to find out why.

I really love how the tension in the game is building in every route, and even after finishing most of them you are still curious what to expect next…There are some complications and small plot inconsistencies, but nothing changes the atmosphere and fact that this story is incredible. Also there is a huge grumpy CAT!

Marco: "Not counting myself, of course" Shira: "Yeah, yeah, You're so powerful, you can barely stand on your own two feet."

The game reminds me of brilliant "Zero Escape" series in several aspects, though I don't want to give major spoilers, but I adore the idea of tampering with fourth wall and the whole visual novel mechanics. Also it has some puzzles.

!This is an adult visual novel and has some sexual content and use of alcohol!

CHARACTERS:

MC Mariko

Even with her memories gone, Mariko' s personality is flamboyant. She is smart, sexy, funny and confident, has an aura of a leader. Also she doesn't remember her past, but Yvonne tells her that she sees that her aura is very dark. Who she was? What did she done? What she forgot and does it really needs to be remembered? Though she doesn't remember how old she is, she feels like a mature woman.

Also in the library there is a portrait of a young girl that looks like her - and it was painted half of a century ago. How could it happen? Mariko is openly showing her affection to the person she is pursuing. She likes to flirt and tease, and the sex for her is the normal part of life. But also she can be caring and attentive.

Mariko DOES some stupid mistakes in bad routes, but that means she's a human with flaws. I like every single thing about her, whatever she does or says is very amusing. I can see why the other characters like her and give her trust.

Likes: having a good time Dislikes: curses Talents: unknown (necromancy)

My rating: 5/5 [probably, my favorite MC]

Lord Mutik

We have a huge black grumpy cat in this game. Feed him sardines! He'll like it. Or will munch your hand instead. Anyway, the game with cat is always better than one without it.

My rating: 5/5

Love Interests (MILD SPOILERS AHEAD):

On the first glance, LIs in SoulSet are look like a strangely arranged diversion of characters, on second glance - nothing about them is as it seems. It is an amare game, and it does have romance and sex scenes (avoidable), but the main point is building trust between characters, and because of that some routes feel less romantic than others. There are poly-amorous options with some characters. The whole game is pretty much LGBTQ+ positive.

Apris's, Yvonne's and Shira's routes can be pursued from the start; other need clues found in other routes to reach true ending. Marco's and Feathor's true routes can be reached only after finishing all other routes.

Apris

Apris is a strong silent giant, who looks like he hasn't slept for several days, but he keeps telling that if he falls asleep, something bad is going to happen. He doesn't talk much and obviously doesn't like to be around people. It seems that talking to him only makes him uncomfortable, despite his calm attitude. But he has a cooking talent, and deep inside himself (har-har) can be really caring. He has some problems with demons, and you will probably learn about it early in game. His route is not very romantic, and his character feels a bit bland, despite his interesting past.

Likes: fresh air Dislikes: being around other people. demons Talents: cooking

My rating 4/5

Shira

Shira is the one who dresses prettily and doesn't trust people easily. She loves reading, and probably her favorites are mystery romance novels and thrillers (I love these too). That is why she tries the hardest to solve the mysteries of the mansion, and questioning everything that happens. She's expecting everyone to have secret motives (and sometimes she's right).

- Do you fantasize about such things often? - Define "such things"...

Despite seeming rude and straightforvard, inside Shira is shy and restricted. She has trust issues and a secret of her own.

Bringing the most comedy into the novel, Shira is also smart, passionate and caring, that makes her route the most romantic, it is cute to tease her, but it is also fun to pair her with Marco.

Likes: alcohol and mystery romance novels Dislikes: losing Talents: illusions

My rating 5/5

Yvonne

Yvonne is kind, soft-spoken, kind and polite girl, who likes to help other people - despite looking so provocative, she is really sweet. There is no false bottom in her, however her route holds a lot of clues and reveals a great deal of game plot. She remembers that she has a spice shop and that she is acquaint with healing magic. Basically, Yvonne is a typical otome MC, but without shyness and stupid actions. She gives people almost too much credit for her own survival. There is nothing not to love about her, she's really cute in every way.

Likes: helping other people Dislikes: violence Talents: healing

My rating 4,5/5

Shirr

Shirr: "I believe I'm not that good at dealing with people"

Shirr is the last person to be found in the beginning of the game and she is seriously wounded. Who did it and is it someone who is still in this mansion? It seems that she doesn't even remembers her name at first, so she can't tell who did it to her. She is self-conscious, quiet and restrained, but also has some unusual talents as lock picking. Is she speaking so little because of shyness or she is hiding something? Can she be trusted at all?

I have to say that for me my favorite part of Shirr's route was how all the other pairings turned out. [I would like a route like this, but with each other LI involved and Mariko staying single]

Likes: vegetables Dislikes: Marco Talents: lock picking

My rating 3,5/5

Marco

Marco looks like he is fourteen, and sometimes acts like the teenager, but he definitely knows too much about magic and the rules of this world despite the memory loss. Despite being the youngest, Marco is behaving pretty serious at times. Since the beginning he is the one who is telling others what to do, trying to help others to regain their memories and telling about how the barrier and illusions work.

Sometimes he's fooling around, flirting with girls, teasing and pushing the boundaries of others. But when Mariko pursuing him on his route he becomes doubtful, backpedaling all of a sudden. Still he is very protective of Mariko, seems that he cares about her. Who is Marco? (that is actually one of the main question in this game). Has Mariko met him before? Do they know each other? What did they forgot about their past?

For me his route was very emotional, I actually freaked out at one point, but luckily it turned out better than I expected. This storyline is still one of my favorite and it will probably stay this way among other dramatic routes in visual novels.

Likes: pretty girls Dislikes: hurting Mariko, being treated like a child Talents: alchemy, magic

My rating 5/5

Feathor

Despite Feathor being present in Mariko's memory, at first he's nowhere to be found in mansion. Yvonne can found him later and after finding 5 green clues his route becomes available.

Not giving too much spoilers, Feathor is a powerful mage, who knows Mariko for a long time. Once he saved her life, but that comes with a price. He's ruthless, cunning, deceptive, psychopathic, selfish man, who doesn't care about other people's life. He is using people for his own needs or just for fun, discarding them later. But with Mariko it was a bit different. The story of Mariko and Feathor is an illustration of co-dependency, and it is portrayed good enough.

Likes: messing with others heads Dislikes: someone hurting him Talents: magic

My rating: 2/5 as a LI - and 5/5 as a representation of someone to keep away from

Secret Apris route (demon)

Apris is possessed by a powerful female demon, which is dormant when Apris is awake and wakes when he sleeps. This demon can kill everyone in this mansion, but if you guess her name (after finishing Apris route and Shira's bad route), she can not hurt you, and MC can make an alliance with her. (And also have sex). If you play your cards right, you'll make it in one piece. Don't forget how deceptive can demons be.

Likes: toying with people, sex Dislikes: other demons, someone calling her name Talents: killing other creatures

My rating: 2,5/5

Overall:

Visual: 5/5

Story: 5/5

Characters: 4/5

Romance: 4/5

Originality: 5/5

My Rating: 5/5

You can get this visual novel from NoBreadStudio on Steam or on itch.io

[coupleskitchen]

The Elevator Game with Catgirls

What would happen if a paranormal game actually worked? That is the question that The Elevator Game with Catgirls, a horror visual novel by NoBreadStudio, presents us with. This tale focuses on Kirin, who accepts a dare from her classmate, Sapporo, to play Elevator to Another World, and what ensues as her girlfriend, Asahi, begins the search for her when she seemingly disappears without a trace. Much to Asahi's dismay, her only hope of finding Kirin is to perform the ritual herself. Steeling her resolve, she returns to the building where her girlfriend disappeared and enters the elevator. The following events can only be described as a nightmare, but Asahi is steadfast in her mission to rescue the woman she loves.

In The Elevator Game with Catgirls, the player assists Asahi in her investigation, directing her actions through dialogue choices and point-and-click elements. As she scours the Otherworld for clues, the player will have to solve the occasional puzzle which reveals pertinent information needed to progress the game, or collect red and silver notes to shed light on what else may be occurring. On top of that, Asahi quickly learns that the alternate universe is unforgiving to those who wander its grounds. Danger lurks around every corner, and Asahi is bound to meet her doom in various bad endings. If the player uses their wits and thoroughly examines their surroundings, they can also uncover secret endings, Easter eggs, and other elusive details. Unearthing all of these carefully hidden mysteries can make completing the game feel much more rewarding.

Although the premise of this visual novel is already eerie, the unsettling atmosphere really emphasises that sentiment. From the very beginning, the game does a stellar job establishing a feeling of dread, evoking immersion as Asahi herself is gripped with an unshakeable fear. Stranded in an unfamiliar world, her unease is evident through her thoughts and actions, which only serves to heighten the tension the player feels when navigating the Otherworld. The elevator rides in particular expand upon this dread, with the apprehension building as you arrive at each new floor, unaware of what may be behind the next door. Since the scenery subtly shifts after each new discovery, it keeps the player vigilant for any impending frights. Taking these factors into account, the horror never really feels stale or predictable, and though some plot points may be easily foreseeable, every bit of polish that goes into this visual novel feels fresh and maintains interest until the end.

The well-rounded characters are just another aspect that complements the content of the game. Each character serves a unique purpose, and due to the Otherworld's sinister nature, it casts doubt on whether they seek to help or harm Asahi. Such questionable motivations add intrigue to the experience and, as the game progresses, the true nature of the people she knows becomes less muddled.

Providing voice acting for these characters also significantly enhances the experience. The chosen voice actors are suitable for their roles, and lend their own unique charm to their characters. The delivery of the lines never sounds stilted or misdirected, rather genuine and realistic for the given situation. Having high quality spoken dialogue makes scenes more impactful, especially during the game's emotional moments.

Another beautifully executed element is the art. The rough, sketch-like art style blends in nicely with the dismal backgrounds, forming a distinct flair. Even the 3D-modelled assets feel lovingly crafted, combining with the 2D character art to create an allure that is seldom found in mainstream visual novels. The one flaw we ever found within this game was that the falling snowflakes seemed to have minor visual stuttering whilst moving the mouse, but that hardly impedes the enjoyment.

Lastly, the music plays an instrumental role in highlighting the atmosphere—from scary encounters to poignant scenes, the composition from OddTillTheEnd is masterful, to say the least. The theme song of the game, Masks and Illusions, plays at just the right time as well, sweeping the player up in overwhelming emotion and punching them right in the feels. And that's just what NoBreadStudio does best with their games—taking your breath away.

View the full review here. [blogspot.com]

[marcianek]

Commission for @nayruart / @nobreadstudio , courtesy of Xolf <3

Thank you!

[moridraws]

This really could convey the New Year’s celebration mood a bit better, but I was really running late.

[nobreadstudio]

The Steam Next Fest is now live, and 304 Seconds is taking part! Now's the best time to check out the demo if you haven't already!

304 Seconds on Steam

A newly-turned vampire, her loyal childhood friend, a terminally ill altruist, a morally gray policewoman, and a self-proclaimed mad scienti

We've also put all our games on discount to celebrate!

[nobreadstudio]

304 Seconds on Steam

A newly-turned vampire, her loyal childhood friend, a terminally ill altruist, a morally gray policewoman, and a self-proclaimed mad scienti

The demo for 304 Seconds is now available on Steam!

It focuses on Asher and Violet's side of the story, and shows around 60-90 minutes of gameplay.

The full version of the game will also have subtle but deliberate plot-related differences compared to the demo, so it's advised to play both in order to get the full picture of the story.

I've mentioned in my personal post last December that most of 2025 has been pretty rough for me as well as the rest of NoBreadStudio, and truth to be told I've been beating myself up for 304 Seconds taking me such a long time to make... but when I stopped to think about it, I realized that this demo version took nearly the same amount of work as Blankspace did. It might not be as long as Blankspace, but it's actually very similar in terms of assets made. I suppose this is the curse of being a creative person - when you learn more, you want to do more, and to do it better. We constantly strive to make better games, but they also take more time to develop. And I think I might have gone a little bit overboard with the CG count, especially for such a short part of the overall story.

Either way, I hope you enjoy the 304 Seconds demo!

I will also post it on itch.io next week.

[nobreadstudio]

Big news today, everyone! We are happy to announce that Blankspace is now available on consoles! A big thank you to Penguin Pop Games who made this possible!

I've been a huge Nintendo fan since my childhood days so having my own project available on a Nintendo console is so mind-blowing to me… This honestly feels surreal and a real dream come true!

Making Blankspace available on the console storefronts was also something our late co-developer, Xolf, really wanted, so we're very happy to have finally made that a reality.