MONSOON GAMES
MERRY CRISIS PRESS KIT
An intimate, contemplative visual novel about figuring out if home is what you built, or what you left behind.
After a break-up turns your world inside out, you return home for Christmas hoping the change in scenery will give you space to mend a broken heart.
Instead, a charged encounter with your estranged first love, an unexpected visit from your recent ex, and an undeniable connection with the musician-next-door leaves you more confused than ever.
As the clock counts down to midnight on New Year’s Eve, you'll need to choose: piece your life back together in America, or return to the life you left behind in Singapore?
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200,000+ words (at least 10 hours of playtime)
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Branching storytelling, multiple endings, and meaningful choices
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Beautiful hand-drawn art-style
KEY FEATURES
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Player customization. Pick your gender, sexual identity, relationship to your family, language proficiency, and many more
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Narrative branching, multiple endings. Each choice has far-ranging consequences, leading down different paths and unlocking special scenes
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Authentic, textured settings. Experience vivid memories and present-day moments that bring Singapore and New York to life
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Character-Driven. Each character has their own backstories, growth arcs, and deeply personal stories that interweave with yours.
CHARACTERS
Warm, funny, and generous to a fault, Nat’s the best flatmate and partner you could ask for. But as the years go by, cracks begin to show.
After Nat finally decides to call it quits, you're forced to ask where things went wrong, and if there's still something worth saving.
Aloof, ambitious, and intense, Qiu’s the first person you fell in love with, and the first person to break your heart. After leaving for New York, you do your best to bury this part of your past.
But when you meet Qiu again at the class reunion, you find yourself being sucked back into their orbit…
Your neighbor's new tenant is bold, confident, and deliciously unconventional. Shay’s roguish charm is yet another curveball—but it just might be the perfect antidote to heartbreak.
But when this week is up, how difficult will it be to say goodbye?
Other characters, including your family and high school best friend, all have their own poignant scenes depending on the choices you make.
STORY OUTLINE
Prologue: The Departure (24th Dec)
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You are very late for your flight back home…
Chapter One: The Arrival (25th Dec)
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Arrive home at last—just in time for your family’s special Christmas tradition
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Christmas Dinner with your extended family takes a dramatic turn
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Call Nat, or accept Shay’s invite to a late-night music gig
Chapter Two: The Reunion (26th Dec)
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Meet Qiu at a class reunion after nearly a decade
Chapter Three: The Chance (27th Dec)
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Lunch at Qiu’s office, or make dumplings for dinner at their place
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Mountain bike with Shay in a nature preserve, or go boxing in a seedy gym
Chapter Four: The Dream (28th Dec)
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Did Nat just halfway round the world…??
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Visit a Christmas festival/market with someone special
Chapter Five: The Crisis (29th Dec)
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Spend a full day with Nat, Qiu, Shay, on an idyllic island…
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Disaster strikes.
Chapter Six: The Aftermath (30th Dec)
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All's well that ends well?
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Spend time with family at a Columbarium
Epilogue: The Beginning (31st Dec/1st Jan)
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Seven distinct ending variations, with detailed epilogues
Demo
Text-based demo
Visual novel demo Dec 2025
Mailing list
MEET THE TEAM
A diverse and talented team of writers/coders and artists are currently working on bringing Merry Crisis to life!
Allie
Lead Writer/Programmer
Founder of Monsoon Games
I'm an urban planner and a game developer based in Singapore. As a queer woman of color, I am passionate about making games that center these experiences.
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Naz
Character Artist
Naz loves to illustrate other people! When not drawing, she's probably trying new restaurants. Fondly dreams of getting a dog and naming it Peter Barker.
Fie
Background Artist
Fie has a deep love for drawing, games and big fluffy blankets. When not perched at their desk, you can find her watching movies, or climbing nearby trees.
And more to come!
TIMELINE
2023-2025
Text-based game
Merry Crisis began as a beloved text-based demo (first 5 chapters written & play-tested). Slowly, a community of ~3,900 grew around the game.
Jan - Aug 2025
Beginnings
Character and Background artists hired to begin development of visual novel; initial coding for a playable demo is underway.
Sep - Dec 2025
Announce Trailer & Demo
Steam page, demo, and announce trailer to go live as part of "Choose Wisely" Festival in Dec 2025. Big marketing push to let the world know about Merry Crisis.
Jan - Apr 2025
Production
Riding the momentum from the demo launch, a big production push to write & code the prologue, and chapters 1-4. Extended demo to be prepped & polished.
May - Aug 2026
Complete draft, Steam Next Fest
1st draft of the full game with all character & background assets to be completed. Play-testing and polishing begins. Extended demo to be released as part of Jun Next Fest.
Sep - Dec 2025
Release, Winter Sales
Release updated trailer in October. Final editing & marketing push before release in End November! Game goes on sale as part of Steam Winter Sales.
Fan Art by @aya-m3k