Indie studio Kinmoku is inviting players to log back on to a gaming era many thought was lost for good. VIDEOVERSE, a decision-based narrative adventure, captures the warmth, chaos and heartbreak of early online gaming communities — and it is available now on PC and consoles.

A fictional 2003, and a network on borrowed time

VIDEOVERSE puts players in the shoes of Emmett, a video game-obsessed teenager navigating life on the Videoverse, the online social network of the beloved — but ageing — Kinmoku Shark console. When Emmett strikes up a friendship with a mysterious new user named Vivi, and the company announces the network will shut down within months, players have to decide what kind of person Emmett becomes, and whether the community he loves can be saved.

The network is the interface

Gameplay unfolds through the lens of the network itself. Players browse community pages, share fan artwork, make friends and report trolls to help the retro-inspired social network become a better place. Every choice carries weight: decisions shape how Emmett grows, how he treats the Videoverse, and ultimately which of the game's several endings you arrive at — a structure built to reward repeat playthroughs.

Key features

  • A heartfelt, branching story about friendship, first love, fandom and digital communities facing extinction.
  • A lovingly detailed 1-bit art style drawing on Miiverse, MSN Messenger, early internet forums and 2000s consumer technology.
  • A chill, retro-inspired soundtrack composed by Clark Aboud, known for Slay the Spire and Kind Words.
  • A complete narrative experience playable in around six hours.

Critical reception

Critics have embraced the game since launch. The Guardian called it a profound exploration of love, games and fandom, while Hardcore Gamer named it a highlight of the genre. Reviewers have repeatedly described it as a time capsule of early online communities — one that takes on difficult subject matter without losing its warmth.

VIDEOVERSE comes from the developer behind the acclaimed visual novel One Night Stand, and continues Kinmoku's tradition of intimate, character-driven storytelling.

Availability

VIDEOVERSE is available now on Steam and Nintendo Switch. Trailers, press assets and further information are available at kinmoku.games/videoverse.

About Kinmoku

Kinmoku is an independent game studio focused on emotionally resonant narrative games. Its previous title, One Night Stand, was praised for its honest, human storytelling.