Japanese indie studio Hokuto has launched their complimentary visual novel, Kobayakawa-san is a Soulslike, accessible via browser (through PLiCy) and PC (available on BOOTH). As the title suggests, the game draws significant inspiration from the “soulslike” genre established by FromSoftware’s acclaimed titles.
In this narrative, the player chooses to spend time with their romantic interest, Kobayakawa-san, after classes. However, instead of winning her affection through conventional flirting or compliments, the protagonist must “battle her” for her approval. When Kobayakawa discovers the player was with another girl, she transforms into a “Twilight Inquisitor,” giving them mere seconds to answer her pointed questions.
Much like traditional soulslike games, players can respond with a light attack, heavy attack, parry, or roll. Selecting the wrong option leads to an immediate “YOU DIED” message, requiring players to carefully interpret the girl’s emotions to avoid defeat. Fortunately, the game allows for unlimited retries.
The developers report that the game surpassed 13,000 plays within a day of its release, and it appears that fans are already clamoring for a sequel.
With a playtime of roughly five minutes (assuming players aren’t repeatedly defeated by their love interest), the game is available in both Japanese and English.
Kobayakawa-san is a Soulslike is now available for free on browser (PLiCy) and PC (BOOTH).