Sigh of the Abyss: Shadow Bonds

Sigh of the Abyss: Shadow Bonds

Released Apr 2022

Embrace the monster within to free yourself from a curse in this dark fantasy visual novel, a standalone introduction to the characters and setting of Sigh of the Abyss.

93% positive · 104 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence

Where to get it

Free on Steam

Evaluation

Shadow Bonds is a free standalone visual novel that launched on April 5, 2022 as an introduction to the world of Sigh of the Abyss. It was always intended as a prologue/companion piece rather than a game with ongoing content. The only paid DLC — an artbook — released alongside the game on launch day and is the only DLC that was ever offered. The developer has continued to post occasional updates for Shadow Bonds, but these have been maintenance-only: a feature patch in August 2022 (art updates and quality-of-life fixes) and a security patch in October 2025 (Unity vulnerability fix). No new story content, expansions, or additional DLC have ever been announced or released for Shadow Bands itself. The developer's post-launch focus has been on the main game, Sigh of the Abyss, which fully released on October 15, 2024. A January 2026 announcement confirmed the developer is now working on an entirely new project called fulgor. Shadow Bonds was explicitly confirmed to remain available as a free, non-canonical companion piece to the main game. With no unreleased DLC, no announced future content for Shadow Bonds, and the developer having moved on to new projects, Shadow Bonds launched as a complete, self-contained product and remains so.
Evidence
Developer confirms Shadow Bonds is now non-canonical but will remain available as a free introduction to the setting and characters. No new content announced for it.
news post · Oct 15, 2024 source development ending
high
Shadow Bonds launched as a free standalone prologue to Sigh of the Abyss, with an artbook DLC available at launch.
news post · Apr 5, 2022 source content shipped
high

Content

1 of 1 released · no outstanding content

Media

Details

Publisher
Rascal Devworks
Achievements
15
Platform
Windows
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Not rated
Players
Single-player

About this game

Shadow Bonds is a standalone, non-canonical introduction to the world and characters of Sigh of the Abyss that doesn't spoil the main game's story beats.

You have been chained to a stranger, a boy foolish—or brave—enough to flee the gilded cage where magi are kept docile and pliant.

The curse will kill you both unless you find a way to break it. Anyone else would already be dead, but not you—for you hear the ancient voice of the Abyss, and have been blessed—or cursed—with powers dark and terrible.

Did the Abyss bestow upon you supernatural strength and agility? Do you have the power to manipulate the shadows and see what they see? Perhaps your dark gift is prying open the minds of others only to break them and have them do your bidding.

Embrace your emotions. The four humors color the tone of your responses and your personality: will you be the carefree sanguine, the thoughtful phlegmatic, the anxious melancholic or the fiery choleric?

Will you stay friends or seek something more? Learn more about your companions, see how they react to the curse placed upon you, accept or reject their aid. Shadow Bonds will give you a glimpse into the friendship and romance system of Sigh of the Abyss.

  • A free, non-canonical introduction to the characters and setting of Sigh of the Abyss

  • Customize the protagonist's name and skills

  • A branching narrative with hard choices and terrible consequences

  • Three unique endings with several variations each

  • Sample what the romance interests have to offer, or stay friends

  • Learn more about the rich setting of Sigh of the Abyss through codex entries

Last evaluated Jun 22, 2026
Something about this evaluation looks wrong Report illegal or harmful content