Message in a Melody

$4.99

Release Date:: Feb 6, 2025
Developer:: Hosted Games
Publisher:: Hosted Games
Platforms:: Windows Mac Linux

Indie Adventure RPG Steam Achievements Family Sharing Single-player Steam Cloud

About This Game

Can the power of music save the human race?

When you and the Raqullan regime descend upon Earth, the plan is to force all humans into submission. Otherwise, exterminate. But when you learn about this curious practice they call music, you realize the humans may be worth more than just labor.

Music does not exist in Raqullan society, and your curiosity to learn more may be enough to keep the humans alive long enough to understand it. Is it an art? A tool? A weapon? You may have to come to a conclusion when the fate of the human race rests in your claws.

Message in a Melody is a 150,000-word interactive science fiction novel by Tyler S. Harris in which your choices control the story. It is entirely text-based—without graphics—and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination. There are some opportunities to click a link and hear the song that inspires the scene. Open in a new tab to listen if you'd like.

Play as male or female. You do not have to choose a sexual orientation and can play as straight, gay, bi, or aromantic.
Become a master of science, oration, weapons, or perhaps even a musical instrument.
Build relationships in a manner similar to humans. Find a partner, a companion, or even a lover.
Help a friend to research weapons, cure a disease, bring animals from your home planet to Earth, or become a musical prodigy.
Be the first of your kind to perform music for a human audience.
Gain enough power to become a member of the Raqullan High Council, or throw it all away to become a starving artist.
Discover songs (achievements) as you play. Can you discover the entire playlist?

Will music be the bridge that crosses the divide between Raqullans and humans? Or will the troubled waters from the first contact be too much to overcome?

Screenshots

User Reviews

Overwhelmingly Positive

2 user reviews

100%

Positive

User #123924 english

9 hrs at review

Recommended

Disclaimer: while I DO recommend this game, I also recommend reading the review first and waiting for a sale to get it. This is a weird one and I have conflicting emotions about it. First things first... this may be the single most unique premise I've read in any IF (aside from that unfinished salmon one). A game about an alien invasion, but where not only the invasion is basically done when the game starts, but you also actually play as one of the invaders... AND then the whole thing revolves around the discovery of music and the role of music in diplomacy and the relationships between the two species? Yeah, I don't think I've ever seen anything like that. And on that premise alone, I think it's an interesting read. I also really appreciate the fact that while it does have stat checks and some of them are pretty high, it's extremely easy to build up the stats you want, and you can also toggle indicators for what is enhanced, weakened or tested for each choice option. My buil...