OBSCURA

OBSCURA

Early access since Sep 2024

Descend under a mountain to the marketplace below, where everything has a price. Meet the four men who can each give you what you need, but beware: they have their own hidden motives and uses for you. OBSCURA is a dark fantasy romance VN that asks how far you'll go to get what you need.

98% positive · 492 reviews
Not yet
In early access, content still planned
High confidence
Content Planned
Not yet
In early access, content still planned
High confidence
Content Planned

Where to buy

Steam $14.99
Can't confirm — worth a look
We couldn't confirm these stores carry this game.
Green Man Gaming Steam key Search IndieGala Steam key Search
Prices in USD, as listed by each store.
Buying through an affiliate store helps support the site

Evaluation

OBSCURA is a dark fantasy romance visual novel in Early Access on Steam. The game is structured as a three-chapter story across four love interest routes and is explicitly unfinished — only two of three chapters are currently available for each character. Development has continued at a steady pace. The game entered Early Access on September 9, 2024 with Keir and Cirrus's second chapters. Oleander's second chapter launched on July 7, 2025, and Francesco's second chapter launched on February 14, 2026. The team has maintained monthly round-up posts throughout, providing a transparent picture of ongoing work. The most recent developer post, dated August 12, 2026, confirms active Chapter Three development across all four routes. Artist Mugi and a new collaborator (Nekome) are producing NPC sprites, and some are already being integrated into the game. On the writing side, Tobi has completed the full skeleton draft for Cirrus's Chapter Three and has moved into writing polished prose; Violet is working through the more complex non-linear skeleton for Oleander's Chapter Three. The team also hints at an unannounced business development ("Yamiochi is reaching the conclusion of a business dealing") they expect to share soon. There are no signs of development trouble. The team has been candid about busy periods (spring 2026, summer vacations) and consistently returned to active work afterward. The 1.0 release — completing Chapter Three for all four characters — remains ahead.
Evidence
Monthly round-up confirms active Chapter Three development: Tobi has finished the skeleton for Cirrus's Chapter Three and is now writing full prose; Violet is working through the non-linear skeleton for Oleander's Chapter Three. Art team is producing NPC sprites for Chapter Three locations.
news post · Aug 12, 2026 source development ongoing
high
Developer confirms Chapter Three is in active planning and writing, with a one-character-at-a-time release structure. Cirrus's Chapter Three opening is being written by Tobi; Oleander's skeleton is in progress by Violet.
news post · Apr 2, 2026 source content planned
high

Content

1 of 1 released · no outstanding content
Released
Jul 2025

Media

Details

Publisher
Kaguya Project
Achievements
11
Platform
Windows, macOS, Linux
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player

About this game

I once heard a story...

There's a marketplace under the mountain where anything can be bought and sold. Visitors wear masks to become faceless strangers. It's home to the unscrupulous, the outcast, and the desperate.

You're one of the desperate.

Strangers with their own secrets and ambitions can show you ways through the market. They'll guide you to your goal, but don't trust them to have your best interests at heart.

Features

🔹First chapter available as a demo, second chapter of three available in early access.

🔹Choose the protagonist's name, pronouns, and mask.

🔹Four mysterious love interests.

🔹Over 200k words (70k in the demo, 130k in the early access release)

🔹A dark, mature story with many ways to fail.

🔹Timed choices! Or turn them off for an easier game.

🔹Original music by Cajsa.

🔹Use the default, OpenDyslexic, or Atkinson Hyperlegible font for ease of reading.

Characters

Keir - Sarcastic Thief

"When I compliment you — if that ever happens — you’ll know."

Where there is a market, there are thieves. Keir steals to feed hungry mouths, but never forget that to survive at the fringes requires the most ruthless kind of pragmatism.

Cirrus - Humble Priest

"Penance is of the utmost importance here, and I think you'd best keep that soul of yours unblemished."

The church of the Lunar God offers sanctuary to all who come to its doors and Cirrus will give aid to those who request it. But there is no such thing as a gift in the market, and whatever aid Cirrus grants, he will want something in return.

Francesco - Spirited Adventurer

"There are so many sensations I've never felt before, and I'm making it my mission to finally live my life to the fullest!"

Sweet and sun-kissed, people such as him does not typically come to the marketplace. Can you trust this seemingly innocent man, in a place where everyone keeps dark secrets and appearances could be the most misleading of all?

Oleander - Merchant Gadfly

"You want my attention? You've got it, minx. Meet me later and you'll see what that gets you."

A market needs things to sell, and Oleander is happy to provide anything you can ask for, at a price. Hedonic and charming, he makes all his work into games, but he won't say to what end he's playing.

Vesper - Cursed Protagonist

"The people down here have beautiful taste..."

No one goes under the mountain without a good reason. Unfortunately, you have a great reason. Whatever you were aboveground, now is the time to abandon it.

Choose between 3 different masks

Streamer Policy

All information is available on our website, but in short: show as much of the demo content (Chapter 1) as you like, you may stream paid content freely as long as there is commentary, but VODs of paid content should only show ~20% of the script; this currently comes out to approximately 30-60 minutes of material for Chapter 2 total depending on reading speed.

Last evaluated Aug 27, 2026
Something about this evaluation looks wrong Report illegal or harmful content