Our Life: Beginnings & Always

Our Life: Beginnings & Always is a nostalgic visual novel centered on creating a deeply personalized experience through extensive character customization and choice-driven narrative. You design your own protagonist from the ground up, selecting name, appearance, personality traits, and pronouns, then follow their life journey across four distinct periods: childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, and adulthood. The story unfolds over fifteen years, beginning when your character befriends the reserved boy next door, Cove Holden, whose personality and appearance evolve based on your interactions with him.

The game emphasizes both intimate personal details and significant life moments. Small touches like having a neighbor remember your favorite drink coexist with navigating major emotional challenges like sadness, anger, and stress. Rather than dwelling on negativity, the narrative offers understanding and support, creating a therapeutic experience alongside the entertainment value. You control relationship progression with Cove across a spectrum—from love at first sight to lifelong friendship or romantic confessions at pivotal moments. Your character's personality, preferences, and feelings influence how other characters respond, ensuring your choices meaningfully shape the narrative. With approximately 397,000 words and 16-24 hours of content, the game rewards multiple playthroughs with different character configurations and relationship paths.