I just updated Demonheart: The Cursed Trial with the final chapter!
As always, I've been very busy working on it, testing and polishing for the past several weeks, so I feel like I don't have an objective view of the game at all, now that it's finally out. I hope I didn't break it at the last moment!
Waiting for your feedback 😅
2025-03-29 14:13:36 +0000 UTC View PostI've been waiting to feel more secure before announcing a time estimate, so here it is.
I've completed one editing pass on the script, fixed some bigger issues and changed some scenes. Next, I'll be doing a second pass where I will focus on player choices. I will possibly edit the text some more, and then move on to testing the game and setting up any missing visuals and sounds.
I think Chapter 7 will be ready to see the light of day in the second half of March! The game will stay...
2025-02-15 12:56:19 +0000 UTC View Post
Lately, I've been working with text files, writing and editing the second major route. I don't have any new screenshots to share for now, so here is a sketch of Ran's romantic illustration. I hope it's not much of a spoiler. =')
2025-02-05 20:03:01 +0000 UTC View PostHello, patrons! ;)
It's time for another progress update about The Cursed Trial.
I've done a lot of work on the visual novel's script, writing and editing the second major route.
I sorted out my plans for the routes and choices and decided there will be one major choice in the last chapter that will send you into one of two major routes. And then there will be some choices or consequences for individual characters - romance, who lives, etc. =) Some outcomes will be fixed, fo...
2025-01-27 22:32:03 +0000 UTC View Post
This month, I've continued working on the last chapter in-game, adding choices and polishing the content that exists so far. There was a complicated part near the end where something wasn't making sense, so I sorted that out. I'm still mainly working on the "Kaisar route." I will still have to see how the other routes will differ and how much they will intersect with this one.
There are some choices I've added as a "to do" and am still unsure about. For example, it might make sense for ...
2024-12-28 20:20:50 +0000 UTC View Post
This month, I've continued working on the text for Chapter 7 of the Cursed Trial. I've focused on finishing "Kaisar's route," so to speak. I have written notes on what will be different if you choose someone else to be your primary ally. I will need to work out how it's all going to come together with the different choices, and which scenes will appear in all of them.
I've finished the first version of the text for this route, but am still editing and adding choices, which haven't been ...
2024-11-27 15:23:26 +0000 UTC View Post
Hello, everyone!
I've been deep into the planning for the next and final chapter of our story. This chapter will be the most complex yet, and I want to make sure it brings all the plotlines together in a meaningful way, while still giving you some crucial choices - like which of the survivors will make it through to the end. :')
I've mapped out the main plot points as best as I could. Next, I'll gather my notes and start writing one complete version of the chapter, focusing first ...
2024-10-27 11:25:50 +0000 UTC View PostI have some exciting news about official Demonheart merch!
The Demonheart and Cursed Trial acrylic keychains finally exist and they are at my home! I hope they will find their new owners. =)
I wanted to make Demonheart keychains for a long time. That's why I originally commissioned the artist Lavendel for the chibi art. But I got stuck in the process. This year I got around to having the...
2024-09-30 14:40:02 +0000 UTC View Post
The new chapter is now included in the game on both Steam and itchio!
The word count is similar to that of the other chapters, but I don't know how the play time will measure, since there are two instances where you choose where to ...
2024-09-23 17:28:37 +0000 UTC View Post
We finally have screenshots from The Cursed Trial, Chapter 6!
I tried to show you ones that won't spoil anything, they're pretty out of context. I swear, I don't even remember what Ran and Kaisar are talking about. ='D
I did the first test run of Chapter 6 and still need to set the backgrounds and sprites in all the choices I didn't make. I'm also still writing some choices, to make the new chapter equal in word count to the others. Since there are branches and choices you won't s...
2024-08-27 13:02:44 +0000 UTC View PostI forgot to say this earlier, but let's say the first draft of the text is finished and in the game! 🥳
(In my game, with the graphics still missing. 😳)
I was also replaying the Cursed Trial from the start and made some changes, especially early on. I was paying attention to the characters' introductions and the way they interact with one another in the beginning, as a lot of it will become relevant soon. The devlog that lists the changes in the latest update is 2024-08-12 21:36:33 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi all,
I've been quiet as I don't have any screenshots from Chapter 6 of the Cursed Trial yet, but the writing is going well!
Some time ago, I finally untangled the branched beginning of the new chapter. In the previous one, you could end up resting in the house or the watchtower. In Chapter 6, something happens with Kaisar and Ran in the beginning and you need to meet them both, but you wouldn't be looking for Kaisar if you didn't rest in the same house. There were some branche...
2024-07-30 17:18:00 +0000 UTC View Post
Here are the sketch variations we had for Kaisar's special CG in Chapter 6. I requested some edits after this, and only one of these poses will be in the final image. I also wanted the main character to look less sheepish, but now we have these different expressions in the sketches. :)
I don't know why I have such resistance toward sharing this CG. I never know if sharing before the chapter is released is good or bad. Then again, Ran's waterfall scene has been around for ages!
I h...
2024-07-12 16:13:40 +0000 UTC View Post
While Chapter 6 is still in early development, we have this chibi art to keep us going (while you wait and I plan and write) =)
2024-06-27 22:22:15 +0000 UTC View PostWhen it comes to the Cursed Trial, I am in the phase of planning what will be discovered in the next chapter and what will be left for the last one. As the VN progressed, the unanswered questions only multiplied instead of getting a definite answer. :') But there isn't much time left, so I better start answering those questions.
I wanted to take a photo of my own notes and board, but someone might read something on them, so here is a stock photo I very much relate to. :D
2024-06-09 17:42:00 +0000 UTC
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I've realized that sharing any special illustrations from the upcoming chapters would be a spoiler... But maybe at some point I will share a part of one - if you don't mind?
Anyway, here is the beginning of a Kaisar chibi that is currently in the making. I'm planning to commission Ran and Aeryn/MC ones as well.
I've wanted to make Demonheart keychains for a while, and I commissioned this ...
2024-06-07 18:21:37 +0000 UTC View Post
Hello, demonhearts =)
I'm excited to announce that the latest update is now live! Here's what's new:
Chapter 5 has been added to the game, taking the total word count over 110.000!
There has been a slight redesign of the user interface, including displaying your character's name on the "Character" screen (previously "Alignment".)
There have been some small changes to Chapter 4, in particular the approval values.
In a prev...
2024-05-27 12:40:49 +0000 UTC View Post
In the past few months, I've secretly worked with a music producer and a singer. Yay! This was a new experience for me, and the first time one of my games has its own song. 🥲
The video effects were done by yours truly, since I was unable to find someone who could do what I needed without a several months waitlist and top-secret prices. And while I prepared a script to send to a video producer I haven't found yet, I realized I had to design ev...
2024-05-20 22:34:17 +0000 UTC View PostIn the otome remake of Jester / King, where the protagonist will be female, which one of these ladies would you like to romance, if only one of them could be a romance option?
(If you have played Jester/King and know their personalities, that's even better, but if not, I guess you'll have to go by the art :') )
Madion and Calix will be love interests, so some things about the other characters are going to be different.
2024-05-16 15:34:29 +0000 UTC
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Hello everyone!
I'm thrilled to announce that the text for Chapter 5 is not only finished but also fully scripted into the game (at least for me!)
I'm excited to be one step closer to sharing it with all of you.
While the text is pretty much done, as usual, there's still some polishing work ahead. The next steps involve thorough testing and tweaking. I'll also be adding the final touches like music, sound effects, and any missing choices.
If I failed to include a conve...
2024-05-10 14:42:22 +0000 UTC View Post
Hi everyone!
On my end, Chapter 5 of The Cursed Trial now has around 15.500 words of playable content, out of the planned 20.000+. You will be able to have a little philosophical conversation with the Seer, annoy Kaisar a lot, and have that special encounter with Ran.
Today I'm sharing a screenshot, because with a large part of the content now playable, I can finally make some screenshots. :')
P. S. I was testing with an Aeryn who has high Kaisar approval, so she got the ...
Hello!
I wanted to share a sketch for a special illustration, but also didn't want to spoil, so here is a part of it. :) I hope you enjoy his beautiful face. :')
Meanwhile, I'm still working on the text of Day / Chapter 5 and getting pretty excited about it.
Hello, demonhearts =)
I wanted to keep you updated on the game's progress. I've worked on the text for Day 5 some more. It's not completely finished, but I've started to script the content into the game. Now I can start testing this chapter that immediately branches into three distinct starting points. :') Playing it will help me identify what needs editing before I finalize the rest of the chapter.
Thank you for following and supporting my work!
There have been a couple of updates this month. One addressed Elos's tales - he can now mention Ari while talking about Bright (if you chose that as Bright's backstory.) The Seer complains accordingly. The other update potentially changed the way the protagonist thinks about Vita in Chapter 3, and added a few choices related to Vita and Kaisar.
When it comes to the upcoming content, I've revised the plans for the 3 remaining chapters and settled on a plan for Chapter 5. The plans always...
2024-03-20 13:46:07 +0000 UTC View Post
I've already discussed this with some of you on Discord, but now it's official. I've started working with a new artist, Salshaa, to make new character sprites, and I will be re-writing the VN Jester/King for a female protagonist.
Right now, I'm only working on designing the new sprites with the artist, and my main focus is still on the Cursed Trial. I hope to work on this VN while taking a break or if I have writer's block with the Demonheart series. :')
Anyway, we have the sprite...
2024-03-06 17:42:33 +0000 UTC View Post
Chapter 4 of Demonheart: The Cursed Trial is now included in the game builds on both itchio and Steam!
You can read the Steam update announcement here .
I hope you enjoy the new chapter!
Discuss it on
2024-02-22 19:44:03 +0000 UTC
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I'm doing some final testing, trying to play the fourth chapter with three different main characters to see if I'm getting the right lines. :)
After that, I'm planning to upload Chapter 4 to itchio first for a sort of "soft launch" and to Steam a few days later. This chapter hasn't been tested by anyone but me yet, and I'm always scared to publish to everyone at once, in case something terribly wrong somehow ended up there (like a game-crashing bug or an unintended spoiler.)
In an...
2024-02-18 14:15:25 +0000 UTC View Post
Hello everyone, I hope this announcement finds you well. =)
I wanted to provide an update on the progress of Demonheart: The Cursed Trial.
After the recent content update to 2024-02-02 11:21:54 +0000 UTC View Post
I've pushed the Windows build to Steam and itchio! =)
I hope there aren't any big issues with the new version, although it would be safest to play it by starting a new game.
You can read about the changes here!
Greetings, dear supporters!
The holiday season is almost over in my country =') so I'm coming back to game dev.
I finished the conversations with the remaining NPCs for the Hunters update, so now I need to test the new content and replay the game. My goal is to publish the update before Hunters celebrates its 4th birthday (which will be on January 29th.)
After that, my focus will shift to polishing the fourth chapter of the Cursed Trial. This next installment might be a d...