Horror game Parasocial by Japanese developer Chilla’s Art releases on August 25 for the PC (Steam). The game is available in the English language.

Parasocial is a psychological horror game that centers around a Japanese live streamer. The protagonist of the game appears to be a Vtuber. In the trailer for the game, she can be seen livestreaming herself playing a video game using a 3D avatar, and scenes of her life in her apartment can be seen. With the Steam entry stating that the “game will drive players insane,” we can expect that the protagonist may get involved in a fearful incident related to her livestreaming activities.

While details of the gameplay were left unknown leading to the release, commands can be seen on the in-game computer the protagonist uses for streaming, so players may make commands while the protagonist is live. Screenshots on the store page show locations such as a convenience store and a dark alley. The protagonist seems to venture outside at night, apart from doing streams.

According to the Steam store page, this title belongs to the psychological horror genre. Its believable graphics and realistic environment, as well as VHS-like aesthetic are all described as elements that contribute to the immersiveness of the chilling game. In terms of the system, the game features an auto-save function for each chapter. The term “parasocial” in the title refers to an unhealthy, one-sided relation with a person with whom one is not directly acquainted, such as an idol or celebrity. The game will likely delve into the relationship between the streamer and the viewer.

Parasocial was developed by the game dev brothers Chilla’s Art, who have previously released numerous short horror games such as Red Cloak, The Closing Shift and The Convenience Store. Their games have continuously received attention from the community, especially being popularized by streamers and Let’s play videos. Their most recent title, Night Security, was released in June 2023 and has a “Very Positive” status on Steam with a 91% positive rating at the time of writing. The scary atmospheres and fearful stories of their games are well-received in the community.

Parasocial is scheduled to release on August 25 for PC (Steam).

Written by. Amber V based on the original Japanese article (original article’s publication date: 2023-08-24 15:02 JST)