OBSCURA
A downloadable game for Windows, macOS, and Linux
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, first half of second chapter available in early access.
- Choose the protagonist's name, pronouns, and mask.
- Four mysterious love interests.
- Over 170k words (70k in the demo, 100k 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
Creator 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.
Content Warnings
The game contains unhealthy relationship dynamics, religious themes, drugs and alcohol, violence, and themes of human trafficking. More specific warnings are available in the game and a comprehensive list of warnings is available here (warning for spoilers). This game is recommended for an 18+ audience.
🌠 Wishlist on Steam!
🦡 Join our Discord!
🐦Follow us on Twitter!
Purchase
In order to download this game you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $11.99 USD. Your purchase comes with a Steam key. You will get access to the following files:
Download demo
Development log
- November round-up23 days ago
- October round-up48 days ago
- September round-up80 days ago
- August round-upSep 02, 2025
- July round-upAug 06, 2025
- Oleander Chapter Two is Out!Jul 07, 2025
- Oleander Chapter 2 Coming Out July 7 (June Round-up)Jul 01, 2025
- May round-upJun 02, 2025
Comments
Log in with itch.io to leave a comment.
IM CRYINGGGGG I DONT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO DOWNLOAD OBSCURAAA (lucky me, christmas is tomorrow..)
olly i love you. i need more of olly. please im begging you olly chapter 3
Criem uma versão para Android,Por Favor
Please make android version
This game has made me feral, I'm going to start biting, well done!!!
I haven't actually played the game because it's in English and I'm from an Arab country, so I don't understand much of it, but it looks amazing! I just wish it had Arabic! 🎀
Probably one of my favorite VN ! ❤️
How do u romance Francesco? I'm aware you need to choose Kier and Cirrus route in the 'go to church or remain in street' but i only encountered Francesco after church option but I keep getting bad endings on Cirrus so I can't move on at all.
Also, Im actually glad I started on Kier route accidentally or I would've never gave the game a chance if I started on Cirrus route. Starting with Cirrus route would've made me assume everything I do early in the game would result in a bad ending which sucks because I just met the character and not connected enough with him to have the patience for all these frustrating reloads.
Now I just want a cutie patootie Francesco so please tell me how to romance him.
When you get the option to escape to the church or stick around, you need to pick the "leave" option instead, that's the path that leads to Oleander and Francesco.
Random question: But i saw this random image of the Curch in Munich (Germany): Asamkirche and i kid you not- my mind immediatly went to our lovely church in the underground. Is the background image used there from that church? I just have to know, please xD
omg this comment made me so happy!!! I thought the same the SECOND I saw it lol <3 I hope we get to find out whether that’s the Asamkirche or not ^^
keir help me
keir
save me keir
This is THE best game that I have ever found on itch.io and I have been around the block a couple of times. Your writing is phenomenal and I was immediately hooked! Thank you so much for creating such a wonderful story and I am looking forward to what turns and twists done the road await - 10/10
is there a chance we will see mc's face or without cloak?
Well, never say never, but also probably not. While Vesper, the MC, has a fairly strong personality, there are a lot of things about them that simply aren't important for the story we're telling, and their appearance is one of those things. We're happy to leave that space open for them to imagine the MC with whatever appearance they like.
Ey, I was very interesed on playing but I have 2 questions.
1. Is there any other way to play that is not steam? Let say im super shy 😅
2. I understand the game is still on alpha but of out curiosity, is it gonna a third one and done, or more than that? You dont have to say how many lol or even answer this one, Im super afraid of cliffhanger so I thought i might ask
I understand that a game like this takes a lot of time to do! And it looks incredible, thanks for all the hardwork
1. You can get the game here on itchio if you like, of course! It's the same as the Steam version, and all future updates will be free and come at the same time. The main difference is that Itch doesn't support regional pricing, so if you're using a currency other than USD then Steam may have a better price for you. You can also buy games on Steam and mark them as "private", which does prevent others from seeing it's in your library or that you're playing them, if that's your concern. There's a dropdown menu in the shopping cart page to choose that option.
2. Each route is going to have three chapters, so the story will be done after that! We can't promise we won't add to the game after that, but that should just be fun bonus material, if we're feeling like it. That said, all the routes currently have very intense cliffhangers in Chapter Two, so if you want to avoid that then I'd suggest wishlisting the game or following us here on Itch and waiting for it to be finished.
Ohh supeer! I will definetly will be getting it once it's completed. Thank you for all the information and the private option from steam 😆
"Surely I won't be obsessed with THIS white haired character, he's not even my type" - I say, foolishly, like a fool
(Also I will say the soundtrack is phenomenal, and suits this setting so much. And the masks! The world building! This game really is so clever. I cannot wait for the full release)
I have bought this on Steam but had to comment that I really like what you have done with this game, but I have to give extra credit for the SOUNTRACK. It is so distinct and feels like it has forever wormed inside my brain and will evoke nostalgia by the time the whole game is out LMAO. Props to you all (I also learned something new about myself when I started Cirrus route and liked it)
The visual are stunning!!!!
Played the demo for this and was absolutely hooked. It really felt on par with the higher-quality otome games I’ve loved in the past. While I did die in the demo (entirely my own fault lol) I enjoyed every second and plan to come back for the full game when I have more time. I really enjoy darker media like this and wish more people would explore the genre. Thank you for creating something that hit the mark for me.
I love cirrus but I love Francesco more
I have a love-hate relationship with Cirrus
I love this game sm it feels like I have a little worm that's buried itself into my brain and won't let me stop thinking about my glorious king Oleander (AND Keir, love my gigantic husband number two <3)
I just want to say first, this game is gorgeous. The art, the soundtrack, the vibe, everything feels so carefully crafted and original. I can tell how much love and effort went into this project, and it really shines through. I will definitely be supporting the early access when I get my paycheck.
SPOILERS BELOW
Okay, so. Keir.
This man drives me insane. Perfect enemies to lovers fuel, but also the most frustrating hypocrite alive. He literally set up MC twice in one of the endings and did not even apologize. I get that technically he does not owe MC anything, but if you are out here saving people from the auction out of your morals and values, how are you so chill with risking MC’s life? Make it make sense.
And yet… he is still my second favorite. I know, I know, I am a walking contradiction too. He pisses me off beyond belief, but he is also sinfully delicious. His design is stunning, his dynamic with MC is fiery and fun (her being mouthy is everything), and I can already see his romance arc being genuinely beautiful down the line. For now though, he makes my blood pressure spike and I really hope MC gets their lick back one day lol.
Now Francesco… my sweetie pie. He is such a cutie, and even though I know he is hiding something, I cannot help but adore him. His bad ending route wrecked me so badly I had to take a break, but he is still my favorite. There is something so mysterious yet endearing about him, and I need to see where his story goes.
What really blows me away is how this game makes me feel. Keir had me boiling, Francesco had me soft, but both got such strong emotions out of me that I was hooked the whole time. That is such an amazing thing for a VN to pull off, and I loved every second. I finished Cirrus's route and I am going to read oleander's soon.
Huge thanks to the dev team and creator for crafting such a beautiful, emotional, and fun experience. I cannot wait to see what comes next!
Hello! I am a professional translator looking to grow my portfolio and I was wondering if you'd be interested in translating the game into Spanish (LatAm). Feel free to contact me any time!
Hi! Thank you for the offer, but we're not looking for translation or localisation at this time. We're waiting until our script is completely locked before we even think about that.
I totally get it! Thank you for your reply and I hope you'll consider my offer when the time is right :)
The storyline for this game is EXTREMELY well written. It simultaneously makes you fall in love with the characters while displaying the intense and cruel nature of the marketplace. It's a addicting story and I cant wait to play the game in its entirety when it releases!
FRANCESCO has completely captivated me—what an incredibly adorable and charming character!! Even long after finishing Chapter 1, I'm still reminiscing about the romantic storyline between them, which inspired me to start creating OBSCURA-themed works lately. However, I occasionally run into difficulties, particularly when it comes to fully rendering the characters' clothing. I wanted to ask if the development team has considered releasing an official art book or design collection, whether in physical or digital format. I would absolutely love to purchase it!!
I started playing Obscura this past weekend! AND OMG IT’S SO GOOD! Keir and Oleander caught my eye at first glance. And I unlocked Keir first and I am working through getting all his endings. BUT I HAVE FELL FLAT ON MY FACE FOR KEIR! I’m still on the floor, madly in love with him. Keir has invaded the inner most recess’s of my thoughts. I think about him 24/7! My heart yearns for him! I’m so looking forward to more of his story! Keir’s a thief and he has STOLEN my heart, and he can keep it for all eternity! Goodness, I’m so madly in love with this red headed, freckled, grumpy thief! 🥰
wait do i have to pay again?
Nope, just go to the download page (there should be a link at the top of the page saying you've already bought the game if you have, as well as access to the download page in your library, and in the email from when you bought the game) and you can download any and all updates.
didn't know if this was stated somewhere and I'm just blind, but will the game eventually be free? It's absolutely incredible and I fully understand wanting compensation for the work, just curious because in the description the paid part is referred to as early access.
I'm really sorry if i sound rude btw, not my intention in the slightest!
Chapter One, the demo, will be free forever, but the rest of Obscura is going to remain a commercial product. The early access label is describing that the paid portion of the game is still in progress, but when it's complete the price will actually be going up to reflect that it's a complete product, not down.
I haven't played such an amazing V/N in so long! The soundtrack and plot are absolutely perfect... FRANCESCO is just too adorable!! I'm super excited for his Chapter 2 storyline!
I purchased the paid version tonight but forgot to link it to Steam. As a result, I didn't see the Steam activation code on the download page. What's going on, and how can I resolve this? 😭😭
Thanks for playing! Francesco's second chapter is in the works right now, so we hope you have fun with him when the time comes! 💙
As for getting your Steam key, if your itchio and Steam accounts are linked (and the emails of those two accounts match), you should be able to return to the download page and get your key. There should be a link to the download page in a grey bar at the top of this page, saying that you've already bought this game. If not, there should also be a link to the page in an email from itchio after you made your purchase. Follow one of those links back to the download page and the Steam key redemption option should be there.
If things still aren't working for you after that, you'll need to reach out to Itchio's support. As it stands, we have no control over the backend that makes Steam key distribution possible, we only have the power to add or remove keys.
Vesper doesn't get enough hype. What a BAMF!! Such a competent, charming MC. I would fall for them too. Oleander's chapter two is fantastic. He remains my favorite.
I love how ya'll get creative with the UI. Creepy, shocking and cool. Surreal horror vibes. It's clear you care for you audience's enjoyment and comfort even with the disturbing elements. I checked out the safe zone and it was sweet and helpful.
OMDSSS OLEANDER IS SO HOTTTTTT. Why keep such a beauty behind a mask, and those blue eyes, GOD DAMNNN! Tbh Im an all rounder when it comes to the characterss, but now I believe Im tilting more on Oleander. And yes, I trust his expertisies on being good on the wall, table and etc. If you konw what I mean.😝
I just finished chapter two from Oleander and I was once again BLOWN AWAY! It just hit the right spot again, as expected like the whole game. And omg I'm such a simp for Oleander even as a devoted Keir girl. 😍 And to top it off the CG's at the end of the chapter??? The only negative part I have is that it ended and now I have to (im)patiently wait for new content to come. ❤️
literally just came here to say that I love the little intro you did, for some reason it was just so nostalgic for me
Do you guys have any plans on releasing this on android? 🥺 I bought this on Steam but I can't play it there rn becoz my PC isn't working atm 😭
Android is a "would be nice to have" for us, but not a high priority at the moment, since it would require us to redo the UI to work for mobile. Sorry about that.
I totally get that! No worries at all, I'll just wait until I can get my PC working. Thanks for the response 😄
[shouts into the comment void]
HELLO??? ANYONE???? I NEED SOMEONE TO SCREAM AND PANIC WITH ME FROM OLEANDER’S CHAP 2 END!!! PLEASE TELL ME IM NOT THE ONLY ONE FREAKING OUT (im avoiding spoiling anything but ASKJDJGKLKF IM NOT OKAY… I THOUGHT I WAS GONNA GET THE SPICIEST BITS YET BUT….. WHY AM I THROWING UP CRYING………….)
Here - HERE I'M HERE TO SCREAM AND SHOUT WITH YOU! TOOK ME BY COMPLETE SURPRISE AND AM EVEN MORE OBSESSED WITH HIM NOW ❤️❤️❤️
Came here because of its reputation. I rarely buy games usually. When I watched a streamer play this game, I was a bit tempted. After many days, I got addicted again. I have Steam, but I need a VPN (virtual private network), which is very troublesome. It's hard to find one in my country. I want to ask, if I buy it on itch.io and download it directly, is it the same? I don't understand the difference between buying here and on Steam. Hope to get a reply. I'm a bit confused about these. Love to the author.
Hi, sorry for the delay! The Steam and Itchio versions of the game are completely identical for the moment, and unless we're forced to change that by Steam or Itch's adult content policies, we'll continue keeping them the same.
If you buy it here on Itch you do get access to a Steam key as well (as long as you've connected your Itch and Steam accounts), which will work for unlocking the game on Steam.
Holy shit, this VN easily makes it into my top 5 out of all the ones I’ve played over the years (and that’s hundreds!). THAT scene with Cirrus left me speechless. As soon as I finish the demo, I’m buying it on Steam ASAP. Please keep it up!
i lowkey hate cirrus like he is written well but so well that it makes me hate him, i like mc and kier the most