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We are back and so is LudoNarraCon! This yearly narrative gaming convention, hosted on Steam, is returning once more. To celebrate, we have some wonderful games due out in 2022 and 2023 that you should add to your wish list as soon as possible. For the last four years, we have attended LudoNarraCon, The Daily Fandom has reviewed many independent games from all over the world and we have discovered some outstanding games that have been enjoyed outside of the convention as well as purchased and played on multiple devices.
Although LudoNarraCon is a Steam virtual convention, remember to also support these games when they are released on their other platforms after the PC. Until then, we hope you will enjoy the convention and the indie narrative games!
What Is LudoNarraCon?
A virtual convention hosted on steam for indie visual narrative gaming. The Daily Fandom is pleased to announce LudoNarraCon‘s fourth consecutive year of their celebration of narrative video games, in which games and their developers will be featured in a variety of streams, panels, fireside chats, and demos throughout the weekend of May 5th to May 9th.
The fourth edition of LudoNarraCon, the digital storytelling games festival, took place from May 5th – 9th, 2022, and was hosted on Steam. LudoNarraCon will have 42 exhibiting games and 56 panelists.
“Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly” — Toge Productions, Sometime In 2023
Having played the first “Coffee Talk” installment, it was thrilling to see this at LudoNarraCon 2022. (I did not know it was getting a second episode at all! I still replay the previous episode on the Nintendo Switch.) This is one of the most chill games that you could ever play, about a Barista who listens to other people’s stories. There is a multitude of diverse characters who pass through the coffee shop, all ranging in size, color, and age. As the barista, you listen to them, make drinks, and share sympathy, a listening ear, or advice (through beverages). Being an unnamed (you may name the character) barista, the chill vibe, as well as the leisurely pace of the game, make it extremely enjoyable. During the pandemic, “Coffee Talk” was a nightly ritual for me, and this episode is equally satisfying as the previous one.
Dust off your coffee machine and prepare your warmest smile to meet your customers again in the second episode of the much loved coffee brewing and heart-to-heart talking simulator.
(( Steam Wish List: “Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly.” )).
Several of the characters from the first episode are recurring, but there are also new characters. Furthermore, there is an updated user interface, which I particularly loved. The use of social media and the telephone in “Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly” has/have been enhanced as we are now able to ‘like‘ the tweets and status updates. Additionally, past coffee drinks are stored in the phone system, which is very useful. Aside from the overall game updates, the soundtrack remains as enjoyable as ever. It is still a very chill game.
“Coffee Talk Episode 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly” will appeal to fans of the first game, as well as those who enjoy narrative-based games and slower-paced games. My favorite genre of game is narrative games, especially those that are slower-paced. This game was designed with me in mind. We enjoyed it and cannot wait for it!
“A Year Of Springs” — npckc, Sep 2021
As someone who has enjoyed playing “A Year of Springs” on the Nintendo Switch, this was a great surprise to see at LudoNarraCon 2022. It is a visually stunning story about Haru, Erika, and Manami. The story follows three friends navigating their feelings, emotions, and the notion of identity.
Throughout each chapter, their lives become intertwined, providing a heartwarming tale that is well told. The functionality of the game is easy to absorb as well as play. It is a narrative visual novel, but you are able to choose dialogue and alter the relationships around you. It is a very stimulating game.
Experience the stories of Haru, Erika, and Manami, a trio of friends navigating their feelings of love, connection, and just wanting to belong.
(( Steam Wish List: “A Year Of Springs.” ))
“High Elo Girls” — Split Fate Studios, Spring 2023
“High Elo Girls” is one of the first games I have played with both a feminist viewpoint as well as an eSports theme. This is a game that was completely new at LudoNarraCon, both in terms of theme and game layout. Firstly, I am not the most experienced ‘gamer’ in the world, and I had to Google certain phrases, but this game is so much fun, even for me. This eSports visual novel is about the courage to pursue your dreams, which makes it a delightful game to play.
“High Elo Girls” is a coming-of-age Visual Novel set in the esports scene. You play as the latest recruit for a new all-girls team. Can you help your squad achieve their true potential, or will you only squander your own?
(( Steam Wish List: “High Elo Girls.” ))
Former college dropout Rafaela joins Momentum Gaming (MMG), where she competes with a highly competitive team of five girls for a coveted place in an eSports league. While navigating Rafaela’s new team and relationships, you must decide whether victory is more important than friendship. This game is so entertaining as it incorporates the eSports theme into the actual gaming aspect of it. (You play the game as well as communicate through text and private messaging.)
It was very interesting to find out more about eSports, its links to girls, how the eSports world is structured, and its lingo. As a woman who is not a serial gamer, the lingo is unique and I learned so much from “High Elo Girls” that it expanded my understanding of regular gaming terms laboriously. The characters and representation in “High Elo Girls” are excellent.
“High Elo Girls” features Black characters, and I was amazed to begin a game and immediately see a character named Rafaela and her mother, alongside a team that included Black girls or girls who were diverse in their ethnicities. Many of the basic aspects of the game, as well as the lingo used, were easy to understand.
“Mask Of The Rose” — Failbetter Games, Oct/Nov 2022
If you enjoy book visual narratives, then “Mask of the Rose,” a London-based visual novel, is an excellent choice. In “Mask of the Rose,” you are able to choose three to four different dialogue options that alter the course of the game. The art in this game is excellent, the dialogue is intriguing, and the premise is fascinating. The game controls allow you to modify your clothing in order to present yourself as a specific individual in the London neighborhood as you collect census and attempt to figure out who is romantically involved. (Which at this point, you don’t know why.)
A marvelous romance with a hint of murder. Lose your heart to a stolen city in this game of amorous intrigue! Seek love, for yourself or your friends. Help a murdered man find justice. And watch out for the bats.
(( Steam Wish List: “Mask of the Rose.” ))
Despite this being a game connected to a larger universe/series of similarly styled games, as per the live stream on Steam by Failbetter Games, it is possible to play the game without any prior knowledge (of their style or other games). In spite of knowing very little about it, I really enjoyed it. The wide range of choices you can make is a wonderful feature that allows you to shape the game and dialogue in a variety of ways. It is possible to have a romantic relationship with the other characters, to have a more goofy personality, to be direct, or to simply ignore the census responsibilities and not make money. The game is a visual novel in which most of what happens is akin to reading a book; I thoroughly enjoyed it.
