Seventh Lair (2013)

Another spinoff-y thing of The House in Fata Morgana... kinda. This game takes characters and dynamics from that game and reframes them into a totally different story / setting. It has some cool elements, but one basic problem which is that it's two connected stories in one, and I am only kinda into one of them.

One story in its early chapters takes on this sort of comic "isekai" anime tone, as characters were transported into a JRPG and have to find their way through the game. The other is a more serious look at the developer of that game, who is a shut-in with lots of social anxiety and other mental issues, who also sheds light on the struggles of Japanese indie developers. I like the latter, but am not into the former almost at all, so the whole experience is a bit of a drag waiting for the good parts to come back. And those good parts are good, but definitely not great for me, with some cringey dialogue and stuff. So I can't say I feel it's worth pushing through for additional hours of reading... I'll probably not come back to finish the game anytime soon.

Some would say that this can be enjoyed independently of Fata Morgana—that may be true, but I would still suggest playing Fata Morgana first. While there are no direct "spoilers" since the stories are separate, it will give you awareness of certain characters and character dynamics that you are better off discovering first in that game with no preconceptions. And I have yet to see anyone online say that that original VN is not much better than this... I continue to feel personally like all the other additions to this universe are kinda unneeded overall.

Seventh Lair is a short visual novel from the studio behind The House in Fata Morgana. Both games are completely unrelated story-wise, but the former does contain reused character sprites from the latter - likely to cut costs, since it is a much smaller project.

Since it is actually a kinect novel, with no choices to be made whatsoever, the main focus is its linear narrative, which try some different ideas - like a real (fake) website you can visit in a browser to complement the story.

It starts as a lighthearted fantasy tale about the hardships of being an indie developer, but spirals into a much darker, bittersweet conclusion about depression and online behaviour. By the end, I was left in tears. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would recommend the game to anyone who likes The House in Fata Morgana, as an extra, good-quality short story.

Oh, and the soundtrack also rules.