Indie games on Steam encompass virtually every genre, and visual novels are no exception. Though the golden era of choice-based, story-driven games came and went in the 2010s, with the shutdown of Telltale being a big blow to fans of the genre, narrative games have been seeing a resurgence lately. Not only has Telltale reformed, but Life is Strange has returned to the beloved duo of the original game, appealing to long-time fans of the series. And then, of course, there’s Dispatch, the brilliant new IP from AdHoc Studio that Steam’s Crimson Frontier: Youth bears a clear resemblance to.
While Dispatch’s team management sections were surprisingly addicting, the game really shined because of its characters and writing, which is what Crimson Frontier: Youth aims to replicate. Two great romance paths, catchy music, tons of adult humor that sticks the landing, a gorgeous art style, and a fresh spin on the superhero genre via SDN all made Dispatch a hit with audiences. And while living up to Dispatch is a big ask, Crimson Frontier: Youth is aiming to let players shape its protagonist just like how Dispatch players could decide how their Robert Robertson would act in...
