Indie Visual Novel Introduces an Emotion System That Expands Player Choice
Fans of story-driven games have a new title to explore as Not A Cat Studios has released the public demo for STARCULT: Night Twisted Age, a dark fantasy mystery visual novel now available on Steam. Developed by the Denmark-based indie studio, the game blends supernatural intrigue, romance, and investigative storytelling while introducing an innovative dialogue mechanic designed to give players greater control over character development.
The demo offers an early look at the game’s unique gameplay systems ahead of the planned full release in the fourth quarter of 2026.
A Murder Mystery Set in a Dark Fantasy World
In STARCULT: Night Twisted Age, players assume the role of Silviya Nebula, a noblewoman whose life is shattered when her husband is murdered on their wedding night. As she searches for the truth, Silviya becomes caught in a complex web of conspiracies, deception, romance, and supernatural forces hidden beneath the surface of her world.
Rather than following a straightforward narrative, the story unfolds through player choices that influence both the investigation and the relationships Silviya develops throughout her journey.
The game combines classic visual novel storytelling with branching narratives, encouraging players to replay conversations and explore different outcomes.
Emotion Palette Expands Dialogue Choices
Up to 15 Dialogue Options in a Single Conversation
One of the game’s standout features is its Emotion Palette system. Before selecting dialogue, players first choose an emotional state, which determines the responses available during each conversation.
Unlike many traditional visual novels that offer only a limited number of dialogue options, STARCULT can unlock as many as 15 different responses during a single interaction. Each emotional choice influences Silviya’s personality, alters relationships with other characters, and reveals information that may not appear in another playthrough.
As players progress, emotional decisions shape how other characters perceive Silviya, creating a dynamic storytelling experience where conversations rarely unfold the same way twice.
Liliia Sitailo, artist and CEO of Not A Cat Studios, explained the philosophy behind the game’s design.
“While making this game, we’re trying to base it on empathy, where each character have their own motivation and goals. The better MC would understand them, the wider choice she would have of how to build relationships with them. I’m super excited to see players react to each dialogue choice with their natural curiosity and choose by themselves which person MC should be in their current walkthrough.”
Demo Highlights Multiple Story Paths
Choices Shape Relationships and Outcomes
The public demo introduces several core gameplay features designed to showcase the game’s branching narrative structure. Players can:
- Use the Emotion Palette to unlock up to 15 dialogue options during a single conversation.
- Explore multiple story routes and experience different demo endings based on player decisions.
- Investigate a supernatural murder mystery filled with hidden secrets and manipulation.
- Search for clues surrounding the identity of the killer.
- Shape Silviya’s personality and influence how other characters respond to her.
According to the developers, the demo represents only the opening chapter of a much larger story.
Players can download the demo and add STARCULT: Night Twisted Age to their Steam wishlist ahead of the game’s planned launch in Q4 2026, following Steam Next Fest.
Indie Studio Focuses on Horror With Emotional Storytelling
Not A Cat Studios describes itself as an independent developer inspired by contrasts, blending charming aesthetics with unsettling horror themes. The team’s mascot—a tentacle cat—reflects its creative philosophy of combining familiar imagery with darker underlying meanings.
The studio says its games are designed around layered storytelling, realistic characters, and gradual world-building, allowing horror elements to emerge naturally as players uncover the truth.
With STARCULT: Night Twisted Age, the developers also explore themes of empathy, emotional understanding, and social inequality through interactive storytelling, encouraging players to consider how emotional awareness influences relationships and decision-making.
Looking Ahead
As narrative-driven games continue to gain popularity among PC players, STARCULT: Night Twisted Age aims to distinguish itself with an emotion-based dialogue system that places player choice at the center of every conversation. With its Steam demo now available, players can experience the opening chapter while anticipating the full release later in 2026.
Nicholas Sparks is an award-winning American writer whose bestselling novels have captivated readers for decades. Renowned for his emotional storytelling and timeless themes of love and hope, he remains one of the most influential authors in modern romance literature.
