With countless games released on Steam every single day, Japanese games from smaller independent devs tend to get lost in the shuffle, but there’s no shortage of unique titles featuring original ideas with their own distinct identity. So, AUTOMATON has recently decided to start “Steam gems from Japan you might be missing out on”, a new series which aims to shine a spotlight on these overlooked indie gems by highlighting one game per article and sharing its appeal.
A yuri mystery about searching for the truth from within dreams
For the third article in this series, I’d like to introduce SeaBed, a visual novel developed by the doujin circle Paleontology. First distributed for PC in 2016, this title was later released on Steam by Fruitbat Factory with English, Korean, and Chinese (Simplified and Traditional) language support. A Nintendo Switch version with a new additional scenario came next in 2020, followed by the SeaBed Audio Novel Collection drama, all of which have earned this title a dedicated following both in Japan and abroad.
The story is set in 1990s Japan, from the perspective of protagonist Mizuno Sachiko, a female office worker running a design firm. Ever since her childhood friend and romantic partner Takako’s sudden disappearance, Sachiko has been tormented by visions of her. Initially believing these to be fragmented memories of their time together, she has herself examined by Narasaki Hibiki, a psychiatrist who has also known her since childhood. The plot blends reality and delusions alongside scenes from the past and present, jumping between the perspectives of Sachiko, Narasaki, and the missing Takako as the story gradually develops.
While the initial impression is that of a light-hearted slice-of-life yuri VN, a distinct feature of the story is how it blurs the lines between reality, memory, and fantasy. The essence of the mystery lies in its structure, which challenges players to create their own interpretation of how much of what the characters experience is real and how exactly their fragmented memories are connected.
The thing that makes this game truly one-of-a-kind is its unique literary style. By weaving together a restrained, somewhat dry style of prose to depict everyday life and emotions with occasional poetic allegories and philosophical meditations, it creates a distinctive atmosphere. One defining feature is how the characters’ inner selves are depicted through descriptions of the scenery, their dialogue, and their casual behavior, rather than blunt exposition of their emotions. Despite its detached tone, the writing’s appeal lies in the emotions lingering beneath the text that gradually emerge as you read on.
SeaBed is a mystery story, but it’s not the kind of game that relies on having the player solve puzzles to keep them engaged. Through the gradual accumulation of everyday fragments – like idle conversations while traveling and peaceful moments spent in the office – the nature of the characters’ relationships and the weight of time’s passage steadily sink into the player’s consciousness. While the slow pacing may seem monotonous to some, the feeling of drifting through a hazy world alongside the characters as they steadily approach the truth is part of the game’s unique appeal.
When I finished reading this title, what I felt wasn’t a sense of accomplishment at having understood the truth, but rather a gentle aftertaste that made me want to retrace the passage of time in its world. The heartrending feelings that slowly emerge from the restrained prose and the loneliness of keeping someone in your thoughts while harboring emotions beyond words do not fade easily, even once the story has reached its conclusion. Instead of just following the story, players will find themselves drawn in by the characters’ fluctuating emotions and be left with an impression that invites them to overlay their own memories and feelings they’ve had for others onto the narrative.
SeaBed is available now on Steam and Nintendo Switch.
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