Players of visual novels who are weary of predetermined choices and seek a more immersive experience will appreciate Crimsooon Sun. Drawing inspiration from the 1998 PlayStation mystery visual novel Mikagura Shoujo Tanteidan, this title employs “contradiction spotting” gameplay instead of traditional branching storylines, challenging players to meticulously examine files and dialogues to solve a linear mystery.
Set in Shirase, a fictional city in Japan’s Tohoku region, Crimsooon Sun follows Mio Fujimaru, a university student who reappears after an absence of nearly six months. Though Mio remains tight-lipped about her disappearance, a disturbing video shown during a university festival captures her being wheeled down a wedding aisle by an unseen figure. Additionally, the phenomenon of Dual Suns is visible outside a window, a meteorological occurrence that defies explanation.
While the game involves conversing with characters and reviewing documents in a linear, text-based format, Crimsooon Sun distinguishes itself through its Trigger system, which echoes the Inference Trigger system from Mikagura Shoujo Tanteidan.
Players can activate the Trigger system when they uncover details that conflict with prior information or suspect something amiss, earning Information Bullets that aid in solving the case. Even if a Trigger attempt fails, the narrative progresses without interruption, and there are no game overs. In the game’s final phase, a deduction segment awaits, where players must utilize the 26 clues they’ve collected to unravel the mystery.
The absence of branching narratives and multiple endings may limit Crimsooon Sun’s replayability, but it allows for a more focused narrative, akin to reading a classic detective novel. Not all information is readily available in the game’s files and conversations, requiring players to make informed guesses to reach the conclusion. Whenever something or someone seems questionable, it’s advisable to use Information Bullets to dig deeper.
Created and distributed by solo developer Buri Kino under their indie label Old Retina Museum, Crimsooon Sun was initially launched on iOS and Android in 2025 and is scheduled for a Steam release for Windows, SteamOS, and Linux in 2026. It’s worth noting that AI-based translation tools were employed for the game’s text and store page localization, with the developer subsequently reviewing the results.