Japan-based indie studio C#4R4CT3R has released a demo for its upcoming lo-fi psychological suspense game Rain98. Set against the backdrop of a blue-tinted 1998 Shibuya, Tokyo, you help Reina Amahara, with everyday tasks as you complete a world-ending ritual. Reina is voiced by Rio Tsuchiya, who you may recognize as the Japanese voice actress behind Madoka Higuchi in The Idolmaster Shiny Colors, Mei Tomi in Cue!, and Misaki in Blue Archive.
Rain98 is divided into visual novel sections and adventure sections, with the latter letting you interact with Reina and explore the city. Helping Reina consists of playing a series of unique minigames, which range from raising a Tamagotchi-like digital pet to playing on an arcade dance machine (both of which were popular in the 90s). Each time you complete a special task, you receive a sticker for Reina’s Angel Passport. This brings you closer to completing the ritual and ending the world.
In addition to following Reina and catering to her whims, you can also earn money by doing odd jobs at home to support your living expenses. Having more money unlocks more activities for the two of you to enjoy when you go out and explore Tokyo.
True to the game’s name, Rain98’s version of Shibuya appears to be under a constant blanket of rain. In addition to the pitter-patter of rain, Rain98’s use of lo-fi music creates a “special kind of comfort” that hides the nature of its narrative.
The demo is roughly three hours long and covers chapter 1 as well as the first half of chapter 2. A future update to the demo will include the later half of chapter 2. For reference, the full game consists of seven chapters and has an estimated playtime of 10 to 15 hours.
According to a recent Game*Spark interview, the Rain98 demo alone has over 300 individual illustrations. Director Shoon T described the game as closer to a “film-like work” than a traditional visual novel, citing 90s anime movies such as Satoshi Kon’s Perfect Blue and Tomomi Mochizuki’s Ocean Waves as inspirations. While visual novels like Sayonara o Oshiete ~Comment te Dire Adieu~ (“Teach Me Goodbye”) provided some influence, the developers explain that the Rain98 was created with the same mindset as a theatrical anime or a movie storyboard, which could explain why the demo has so many illustrations.
Rain98 is set to release sometime in 2026 for Windows (Steam). A free demo is available.
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