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 opens up more questions than answers.
As the clock counts down to midnight on New Year’s Eve, you'll need to choose: piece together the life you painstakingly built in America, or return to the world you left behind in Singapore?
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240,000+ words (at least 12 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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Character customization that matters. Play as straight or queer, define your gender identity and family relationships—the story dynamically adapts with unique scenes and storylines
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Interactive, Branching Narrative: Every decision creates ripple effects, unlocking different storylines, special scenes, and unique endings.
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Complex, fleshed-out characters. Each character has unique and deeply personal backstories and distinct narrative arcs that interweave with yours.
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Southeast Asian setting; Queer, POC representation—rich details that center underrepresented perspectives and bring Singapore to life.
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… Nat comes in clutch.
Chapter One: The Arrival (25th Dec)
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Arrive home for your family’s special tradition & the annual extended family Christmas dinner
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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 for the first time in nearly a decade at your high school class reunion
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, or go boxing in a seedy gym
Chapter Four: The Dream (28th Dec)
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Did Nat just fly halfway round the world to meet you…??
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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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Spend time with your 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
Beginnings
Text-based game
Merry Crisis began as a beloved text-based demo (first 5 chapters written & play-tested). Slowly, a community of ~3,700 fans grew around the game.
Oct 2025
Visual Novel idea
Character and Background artists hired to begin development of visual novel; Playable demo completed.
Nov - Dec 2025
Announce Trailer & Demo
Steam page, demo, and announce trailer to go live as part of "Choose Wisely" Festival in Dec 2025. Funding applications and marketing.
Jan - Apr 2026
Production
Riding the momentum from the demo launch, a big production push to complete the Prologue to Ch 4, and edit + beta-test the first half.
May - Aug 2026
Complete draft, Steam Next Fest
Finish Ch 5 to epilogue, i.e. complete 1st draft of the full game with all character & background assets ready to be play-tested.
Sep - Dec 2025
Release, Winter Sales
Edit and polish. Release extended demo and updated trailer in Oct as part of Steam Next Fest. Big marketing push. Game releases in Early Dec and goes on sale during the Steam Winter Sale.
Fan Art by @aya-m3k