Rakuen follows a hospitalized young boy through the journey of his mysterious illness, having players guide him through his wanderings in the hospital to his adventures in a fantasy world drawn from his favorite storybook. As they do, players will also be joining on an emotional journey, sharing in the boy’s optimism and joy in a place of sorrow and despair.
Players will help the boy find new friendships at the hospital by speaking with the colorful patients and doctors there, getting to know each of them while finding a strange, hidden side to the facility. When not spending time amongst his fellow patients, players will guide the boy through a fantasy world built from a storybook, one filled with cute mythological creatures. There, the boy will have to find items to solve problems, dealing with things like roughhousing golems, needy tree roots, and plant-based musical groups.
Despite the highly-charming nature of much of this adventure, not every aspect is happy. Elements of horror creep into the game with some unsettling appearances and beings, adding fear to the list of emotions the game looks to well up. Also, this is a story of illness, so players can expect to feel a little heartache by the game’s end.
Rakuen’s emotional journey is available now on Steam.
