If you, like me, are fairly ignorant of classical fairytales, don't worry; although themes and story beats are clearly inspired by a menagerie of them (all of which are helpfully summarized in the game's archives), they are woven together into an engaging and believable narrative that stands on its own. Familiarity with the source materials is nice, I'm sure, but in no way a prerequisite. At its core, Chronotopia is the story of a young princess named Kionna who finds herself stuck in a time loop, trying to escape a terrible fate. She starts out naive and immature, but as she makes various attempts to lead different lives (all of which culminate in some horrific manner), Kionna gradually grows and changes into someone who can truly earn her happy ending. Watching her growth over the course of the story was sincerely enjoyable, and perhaps the most exceptional facet of the game. The game's art is terrific as well; lots of beautiful sprites and backgrounds, great music (always an impor...
Chronotopia: Second Skin
- Release Date:
- Oct 13, 2023
- Developer:
- Träumendes Mädchen
- Publisher:
- Träumendes Mädchen
- Platforms:
- Windows Mac Linux
Game Tags
About This Game
~~~~~~~~ Fairytale princess dies; she gets better. Love in the bargain. ~~~~~~~~
The plan was supposed to be simple, almost ridiculously so.
When her father, driven mad by years of grief, suddenly decided to force her into marrying him, Princess Kionna enlisted the help of her childhood friend. Together, they managed to contact her long-lost fairy godmother. Surely, her powers would save her from this hellish fate. Kionna would be able to escape the castle, a prince charming would find her, and they would live happily ever after.
Alas, magic can only do so much. Things keep spinning out of control. Trapped in an endless nightmare, the princess ceaselessly rewinds time in a race with death itself. Is a happy ending truly waiting for her at the end of the tunnel?
Kionna perfectly encapsulates what you would expect from a fairytale princess. Naive and sheltered, she means to do good but comes across as haughty due to her upbringing.
Unfortunately for Kionna, she cannot rely on others forever. To escape her fate, she will have to learn to fight for herself…
Nahima’s whole world revolves around Kionna. She has been her confidant for as long as she can remember and she is dead set on staying this way.
Deep down, she knows this is impossible but she is not ready to let go. After all, if Kionna truly leaves, she wouldn’t have use for her anymore, would she?
Médeia is not quite the traditional fairy godmother. She makes it abundantly clear she is not interested in becoming Kionna’s magical sidekick. The sooner she helps her, the sooner she can return to the magical realm. And that is all that matters as far as she is concerned.
Or is it? For someone who always appears so unfazed, she seems to care an awful lot...
While life is not as convenient as Kionna had hoped, her dream might not be completely out of her reach. Indeed, there are numerous handsome lords in her vicinity who would make perfectly fine suitors. Could one of them be her Prince Charming?
- A captivating plot full of unexpected twists and existential dread
- Over 200 000 words of content with multiple endings (20-30 hours of playtime)
- 2 GxG (Nahima and Médeia) and 1 GxB (the "Prince") romances can be chosen at the end of Kionna’s journey
- Unlockable archives connecting the story to real-life European folklore
- Several gameplay phases to experience the semi-realistic medieval world in a different light
- Beautiful artwork, with animated backgrounds and special stained-glass illustrations
- Frequent use of cinematic shots to make the reading more immersive
- A full original soundtrack with celtic influences
- Available in both English and French!
Screenshots
User Reviews
I had written 4 paragraphs praising the game, but the page closed and it wasn't saved. Take my advice and buy the game, you won't regret it. It's a heart wrenching, beautiful, visual novel that pays tribute to dark fairy tales written in the medieval and renaissance times.
This is a very good game. Well worth the wait.
Disclaimer: I worked on some of the art for this game and tested earlier builds. I bought this copy of the game. Chronotopia is fun. In the sort of... twisted... gut-wrenching... thrilling... painful way. Kionna's journey to find a happy ending is one that I loved observing, as painful as it was, with a twist on time-loops and in-depth explorations of each attempt. She grows so much as a character, but has flaws that is equally satisfying and painful to read. I really love Chronotopia - it's a hefty game with a lot of content, and I think absolutely worth it.
Still have got to finish the game so I'll update it then but so far I can say this is a very interesting and very compelling narrative experience in the form of a videogame. Good job, devs!
A very interesting visual novel!
System Requirements
Minimum
- OS *: Windows XP and later
- Processor: 1 GHz Intel or AMD Processor
- Memory: 1024 MB RAM
- Graphics: OpenGL or DirectX Compatible Graphics Card
- DirectX: Version 9.0
- Storage: 1 GB available space
FAQ
How much does Chronotopia: Second Skin cost?
Chronotopia: Second Skin costs $24.99.
What are the system requirements for Chronotopia: Second Skin?
Minimum: Minimum: OS *: Windows XP and later Processor: 1 GHz Intel or AMD Processor Memory: 1024 MB RAM Graphics: OpenGL or DirectX Compatible Graphics Card DirectX: Version 9.0 Storage: 1 GB available space
What platforms is Chronotopia: Second Skin available on?
Chronotopia: Second Skin is available on Windows PC, macOS, Linux.
Is Chronotopia: Second Skin worth buying?
Chronotopia: Second Skin has 100% positive reviews from 7 players.
When was Chronotopia: Second Skin released?
Chronotopia: Second Skin was released on Oct 13, 2023.
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