Crafted by Japanese indie studio Cynical Honey, Summer Snow. (the period is part of the title) is an upcoming mystery visual novel centered around high school sophomore Akira Setouchi. After suffering a romantic betrayal, Akira feels overwhelmed by his school connections and heads to his coastal hometown for summer break. Unbeknownst to him, his life is about to become entangled in a time loop.
As Akira withdraws from his childhood pals and stepsister out of fear of another betrayal, he meets an unusual young girl who asks him to “fulfill a certain girl’s wish.” When he goes to sleep, he wakes up to find that the previous day has repeated itself, and a mysterious MAZE app has appeared on his phone. With only an enigmatic warning to “avoid the confession” and various tasks from the app, Akira must hunt for an “exit key,” using his memories and emotions to escape the time loop.
Similar to the initial warning, the missions from the MAZE app are deliberately obscure. To succeed, you must notice the hints and conditions provided and uncover clues that advance the plot. As this is a visual novel, you’ll know you’re on the right path when your decisions result in subtle dialogue shifts. By assembling the story using locations, keywords, and relationships, Akira gradually recovers memories of his hometown and companions.
Although escaping the time loop is the primary goal, Akira’s journey also helps him understand those around him (some friends discover his predicament and offer assistance). Your choices may wound others or even Akira himself. While there are no bad endings, the day will keep repeating until you find a solution.
Summer Snow. is scheduled for a 2027 release on Windows (Steam). The game includes a fully voiced Japanese script with English localization.