Story
Ryugaku Ren’ai is a narrative RPG adventure game about coming of age as a foreigner in Japan.
A nerdy teen moves to quiet suburban Japan and learns that life’s not exactly the exciting manga she expected. But with culture differences, school problems, language barriers, and blossoming love–maybe is is?
Vee Urban, an anime-loving American sixteen year old, moves to Japan with her father–only it’s not the flashy streets of Shinjuku and glitzy fashion of Akihabara she always dreamed of; it’s quiet, calm Joyo City, a suburb of Kyoto. Vee’s a fish out of water in a brand-new country, facing language barriers, culture misunderstandings, and a whole school of unfamiliar people.
Vee makes new friends, tries new activities, and has a chance run-in with Kosagawa Yuuka, the aloof, alluring soft tennis star who’s also the most popular girl in school. Through a series of chance encounters, they enter a messy romantic relationship that creates a whirlwind throughout the school.
It’s a slice-of-life comedy, an LGBTQ+ coming-of-age drama, and an expansive adventure game that follows a year of school life through real-time story episodes.
Features
- Life in Japan – Experience high school life as a foreign exchange student and learn about Japanese culture and daily life. Overcome language barriers and find your path into adulthood!
- Make new friends – Meet a large cast of diverse characters and deepen your bond, both platonic and romantic. There are over twenty characters to get to know, and each one is fleshed out in their own way.
- Explore a realistic Japan – Ryugaku Ren’ai takes care to present a true-to-life story of teen life in modern-day Japan, depicting actual locations in and around Kyoto Prefecture, existing events, and the genuine experiences of foreign residents.
- Choose and grow – Characters change over the course of the school year, and so will you. The choices you make early on–what club you join, what friends you prioritize–may make a significant difference many months later.
- Real-time episodic release – The game will release in real-time episodes throughout the year, following the real-life calendar in Japan–play Vee’s summer vacation in summer, enjoy the Culture Festival in fall, and ride through Valentine’s Day in winter, among many other events. Buy the game once, and look forward to each new free episode.
Fact Sheet
Developer: Yuri Kissaten
Based in Kyoto, Japan
Engine: Godot
Price: TBA
Platforms
Itch.io
Epic Games Store
Other platforms are yet to be determined.
Release Date and Price
PC & Linux Release: Spring 2027
Android Release: TBA
Mac and iOS Release: TBA
Other platforms are yet to be determined.
Key Art
Download all assets in full resolution here.
Social Links & Contact
Contact us at yurikissaten@gmail.com, or fill out our press list form.
About Yuri Kissaten
Yuri Kissaten is a game studio that makes narrative-focused games about girls loving girls, founded in 2024 by Fruz and Beatrice Baker. We create experiences with strong stories and memorable characters. All Yuri Kissaten projects focus primarily on LGBTQ+ characters and their relationships, romantic and otherwise. We hope you enjoy our games!
Ryugaku Ren’ai Developers
Directed by: Beatrice Baker
Art by: Fruz, Ryuichirou, Flicky
Story by: Beatrice Baker
Game Design & Scenario Planning: Beatrice Baker, Fruz
Programming by: Ikuti
Sound & Music by: Various wonderful Creative Commons artists