Arcade Spirits

Arcade Spirits is a romantic visual novel set in an alternate timeline where the 1983 video game crash never happened. The story takes place in the year 20XX at the Funplex, a thriving arcade where you've just begun working after a difficult employment history. The game centers on building relationships with the unique personalities you encounter at the arcade and determining what kind of connections you'll form with them.

Character customization is central to the experience, allowing you to design your protagonist's appearance—including pronouns, hairstyle, skin tone, hair color, and eye color—which is reflected throughout the game's visuals and gameplay. The narrative branching system uses role-playing-based choices that let you shape your personality through traits like Quirky, Steady, Kindly, Gutsy, and Basically. You can develop relationships with seven potential romance options in various ways, whether as friendships, platonic connections, or romantic partnerships.

The game tracks your progress through the IRIS system, which monitors your relationship statuses and personality traits. Your decisions influence not just your personal storyline but also the fate of the arcade itself, creating a sense of meaningful agency throughout your playthrough.