I wanna talk about this visual novel. It's not new-in fact it was released in October 2021 and won that year's Spooktober VN Jam.
It's called Stillwater, by Studio Clump.
From the itch.io page:
"I'LL NEVER FORGIVE YOU"
Private Investigator Hugo Laurent was ready to busy himself with more paperwork until a young disturbed woman entered his office to request an investigation regarding her grandfather's safety. What danger awaits underneath the surface of this mystery?
(From picture left to right are Hugo Laurent, Colby, and Noah De Leon.)
What's the danger, and what mystery?
Well, the mystery turns out to concern the grandfather of this woman, Nina Mortimer. His name is Henry Mortimer, and despite being Nina's grandfather...
...He looks like this--a young man.
Yeah, it's been that way since a few nights ago. The Mortimers' caretaker also quit because she kept noticing random puddles of water everywhere in the house, stopping in front of Henry's room.
Anyway, Henry received a letter from someone named Louis-someone Nina doesn't recognize. She shows the letter to Hugo, who notices an ominous message on it: "I AM COMING FOR YOU HENRY".
Later while investigating at the estate, Hugo checks the letter again. It looks different-no more creepy message.
This is the locket Louis was talking about. Looks like Henry did keep it.
After finding the locket, Hugo can choose to take it or leave it. Water appears, followed by an ominous figure that tells him "don't get in my way"-then the door jams shut. Hugo has to leave via the window.
Outside, Henry is heading towards the lake, as Nina tries to stop him. Hugo goes after him in her stead. He first tries to appeal to Henry's love for his granddaughter, which works briefly before Henry resumes blaming himself for the death of Louis. Hugo then tries to tell him that Henry dying won't resolve anything for him or for Louis.
If Hugo didn't take the locket, he'll fail to save Henry and end up dying in the lake as well (mundane: drowned, supernatural: killed by the entity). If he took the locket, he can give it to the entity, which lets him and Henry go. Hugo ends up unconscious, meeting the ghost of Louis, who thanks him. Fortunately, Louis tells him he can't "rest" there, and he and Henry are saved by Noah.
Henry has now returned to what's he's supposed to look like in the present. He tells Hugo about how he never got to say goodbye to Louis, how he kept wishing if Louis stayed longer in the world with him. He thanks Hugo for doing so much for a stranger, and also tells him he hopes Hugo can also overcome whatever's troubling him.
Who's Louis?
My interpretation is that Louis was Henry's romantic partner from when he was younger. One day, Louis asked Henry to meet him by the lake, but Henry didn't show. Louis, who's described as "troubled" in the newspaper article about his death, ended up drowning himself. Henry felt guilty after he heard the news, but eventually moved on with his life and had a family.
What's going on with Henry?
Noah mentions that the Mortimers faced many deaths over the years, to the point people believed they were cursed. All these deaths likely took a toll on Henry, who's reminded of the death of someone he loved and who loved him, all those years ago. Over time it culminates-until Henry is returned to the age he was that fateful day, and he tries to drown himself in the lake on what's likely its anniversary.
What's with Henry's eyes and the ominous figure?
Henry's eyes were glowing green. If Hugo took the locket, a green entity will appear at the lake and drag Henry down with it.
I suspect that's part supernatural, part manifestation of Henry's feelings.
What's the thing Henry hopes Hugo can overcome?
In the good ending, Henry says he hopes that Hugo can overcome "it". What's "it"? His troubles with work, troubles with experiencing supernatural shit, troubles with Noah who he maybe wants to be more than coworkers with? I think Henry was speaking in general, but no matter which is it it looks like things are looking up.
