#text based game

> learn Roulet's secret > visit the Dreamlands > hang out with your faction > learn your host's dark past > get revenge > go insane > solve a case > torture some humans > kill some humans > get a human pet > let your ghoul have a bite of you > call the mystery number in the Lonely Hearts column > solve a crossword > kiss your ROs (all) > do questionable things with eldritch horrors (in bed)

In the 'detective' path, you need an image to solve a puzzle. I've never added images before, so please tell me if it works for you! (also, sorry it looks so ugly, I made it in paint)

Please send me any errors or mistakes you notice! Especially if you find them in the code!

And please let me know if any text is repeated, if it mentions choices you haven’t made or made differently, or if it jumps in a way that doesn’t make sense!

✦ CHARACTERS ✦

Su Bai Xue (苏白雪)

Minister of the Villain Department

System 008

your former System

System 143

your new System

✦ ROMANCE OPTIONS ✦

[Coming soon. Stay tuned~]

Afterimage is a narrative-driven game that delves deep into character development, complex personalities and psychological layers through the player's choices.

You play as a detective in Graybridge, a bustling metropolis inspired by the fast-paced energy of New York. The plot is carried by a series of mysterious murders happening around the area, and it's your job to follow leads and uncover the truth behind it all – or not.

Inspired by Detroit: Become Human, Law & Order: SVU, Zodiac (2007), and Se7en (Seven).

🔍 Detective D. Jackson

Mid-30s | Male/Female | Dylan/Dina | RO

Your newly assigned partner at the 11th Precinct. Stubborn and relentless, Detective Jackson has a reputation for digging deeper than most. Their intense stare and cranky facade might keep people at arm's length, but once you've earned their trust, their loyalty is unwavering. Route: Slow-burn - Love after tragedy.

🔭 Officer Lilian Harris

Late-20s to early-30s | Female | RO (female MC's only)

The energetic beat cop that strives for more. Curious, clever, and highly skilled, Lilian has been dreaming of being a detective ever since she joined the precinct. Her friendly approach and contagious smile makes newcomers warm up quickly, but her eyes twitch slightly at the mention of how "better" she'd be if she followed in her brothers' footsteps.

Route: Friends-to-Lovers - Mutual Pining.

🩺 Thomas Lopes

Early to mid-30s | Transgender man | RO

The annoying downstairs neighbor who's always knocking at your front door. Hard-working and impatient, Thomas is training to become a surgeon at St. Brigid's Memorial Hospital. Petty complaints, delivered in a soft Brazilian accent, are often the first thing you hear after the pounding on your door, though you can't help but wonder if, deep down, he's just a lonely man looking for attention.

Route: Enemies-to-Lovers - The Insufferable but Hot Neighbor.

🚬 E. Lavigne

Early 30s | Male/Female | Elliot/Evelyn | RO

The noisy journalist who flirts like it's a sport. Charming, bold and annoyingly good at getting into places they shouldn't. Lavigne's flattery may come off as playful and uncompromising, but behind the calculating eyes and cigarette-tinged breath lies a lifetime mission: to serve social justice and expose the dirty secrets of those who deserve it.

Route: FWB / One Night Thing - Innocent Flirting Turns Real.

⌚ Detective Asahi Kurosawa

Mid-30s | Non-binary

The missing partner. Their unexplained disappearance led to your assignment with Detective Jackson, and whispers about their case echo quietly through the precinct. What really happened to them remains a mystery.

🍁 Dr. C. Rivers

Mid-30s | Male/Female | Cole/Célia

The kind coroner who works closely with Graybridge PD, and Detective Jackson’s closest confidant. Gentle, thoughtful, and surprisingly caring for someone who spends their days among the dead, Dr. Rivers can light up a room even with a quiet smile. Some wonder whether their bond with Detective Jackson is purely friendship... or something more.

Important: Rivers' gender will always be the opposite of Jackson's.

🚔 Captain Lenora Vélez

Mid-50s | Female

With an earnest attitude and the patience of a saint, Captain Vélez runs the 11th Precinct with a steady hand and a commanding presence. She may look stern, but her thoughtful approach towards her officers reveals genuine care.

🥼 Dr. Marla Wess

Mid-40s | Female

Analytical, sharp and understanding, Dr. Wess is the precinct's assigned psychologist, tasked with assessing every officer and staff member at GPD. Knows more about you than you think she does.

You might meet and flirt with other characters, such as:

Thorin Andersen, Zain Rafiq, Iris Blake Gallagher, Adam Collins, and Wyatt Fernsby.

In this game, you will:

Choose your gender, sexuality, and appearance.

Customize your past: choose your former division, the reason for your transfer, and how it shaped your reputation and skills.

Build your personality with meaningful dialogue choices.

Investigate crime scenes: solve a mysterious killing spree that's been hunting the department - and now you.

Romance your partner, your neighbor, the flirty journalist who's way too nosy, or one of your cop colleagues (with two gender-selectable choices)!

Access confidential personnel files to glimpse the minds and motives of those around you.

Have a sibling: choose their gender and how close you are after the tragedy that has shaped your past.

Keep your own secrets - what brought you here, and what you're running from.

💔 Every path is carved in blood. Whether you pursue love, revenge, or survival… you will pay a price.

💞 Renwei – House Chen'morith (Main RO) he/him

"You once told me you would love me forever."

The only son of High Lord Haldir, Renwei was born into power as the heir to a powerful House that has served the Empire for generations.

But with you, he is just Renwei. You are the only one he allows himself to feel for, truly feel.

He is your first love, with him, love feels inevitable. Fated. Like every path leads back to his side. But sometimes, love asks more than you’re willing to give. Either way, no matter how far you run or how high the walls around you, his love always finds you.

He is your main romance route and is central to your story, no matter which path you take.

?̷̸̴̴̢̯̗̀͜͟͢͟͠͠͠͠ͅ?̸̷̸̵̵̳̀͘͘͜͞͝?̵̶̡̢̗̇́̀̀͘͟͟͠ — S̸̷̷̡̢̖͚̆́͘͟͝͝͠𝖍̶̶̵̷̷͓̠́̀͜͝͞͠𝖆̶̵̴̵̵̢̢̢͍͙ͭ́͠𝖉̵̶̴̷̶̞̖̀̀́͘͟͞͠͠𝖔̵̴̸̴̷̵̸̡̫̄́͘͟𝖜̴̷̸̶̢̢̱̜̓̉͘͘͟͢͠ █̵̸̶̵̶͙̇ͩ́́̀͜͢͠█̵̸̷̶̡̢͔͚͛̒̀́͘͝͞ͅ█̶̷̶̷̵̹̍̆́́̀͜͜͠͞͠ █̵̸̶̵̶͙̇ͩ́́̀͜͢͠█̵̸̷̶̡̢͔͚͛̒̀́͘͝͞ͅ█̶̷̶̷̵̹̍̆́́̀͜͜͠͞͠ █̵̸̶̵̶͙̇ͩ́́̀͜͢͠█̵̸̷̶̡̢͔͚͛̒̀́͘͝͞ͅ█̶̷̶̷̵̹̍̆́́̀͜͜͠͞͠

█̸̵̵̸̷̵̵̀͜͟͠͞█̸̴͉̏̀͘͟͜͝͠█̴̴̸̴̸̷̡̠̟̞ͧ͊̀͢͝͝͞█̵̸̸̡͂̀͟͝͞͝█̡̖͓ͬ̐̀̀͟͟͟͟͞͠█̶̵̢̤̥̿́͢͞͝͠͠͞█̵̶̸̸̡͉͖͘͜͢͠͠ͅ█̸̸̱̘́́̀͜͜͜͟͝͞█̵̷̶̡̯̟̿̋̀́͢͜͟ ̷̸̸̶̪͉ͧ̊̀̀͠͝█̶̴̶̸̢̘͇̤͕ͪ͟͟͜͠█̷̷̵̡̭͇̌ͧ͘͘͜͜͜͢͠͠͝█̴̸̷̷̷̢̢̜ͬ͟͢͝͠ ̶̪͚͒́́͢͢͢͟͞͠͞█̷̶̡͎̳̮̀͘͢͞͠͝█̸̵̴̵̴̢͙̩͖͐̊̀͘͢͜͜͜͠█̸̷̵̡͙̘͚͛ͫ͜͢͞͝͠͝͝█̵̢̢̡̭̦́́̀͝͠͠ ̵̷̢͇͎ͫ͘͢͜͟͝͠͝͝█̵̸̶̡̡̢̺͇͗́̀͟͢͜͝͠█̴̴̵̶̡̢̡̡͔͔͒̀̀͠͠͞ ̸̸̴̶̶̷̡͖̫ͪ̌̀͢͜͠█̷̵̴̢͔̥͋͘͘͢͞͠█̶̵̴̡̡̢̡͇̲ͭͭ̀͘͟͠█̶̴̶̶̷̷̡̦̲͘͟͢͠█̸̷̸̵̪̞̞̔́͘͟͟͠͠█̴̷̷̴̢̡̿̎͟͠͞█̶̴̢̡̖̲̓ͫ́́̀̀͢͟͠█̷̴̵̡̢̡̣̔͜͞͞█̴̵̡̰̠̹̈ͨ́͘͟͢͟͢ ̵̷̶̵̷̷̡͉̀́͘͝͞͠█̵̶̷̸̵̴̶̺̯͓̈̀͟͟͢͞͞͝█̢̡̲̬̫̹̀͘͘͜͟͠͞ ̶̸̵̢̡̢̣̖̭͘͜͝͠͞█̴̵̵̸̷̷̢̡͇̯͐ͪ́͘͟͢█̷̵̴̵̴͕̠͚͈̽̀́͘͘͞͞͠█̷̶̶̴̴̢̢̡̙͇̝ͬ͘͢͜͞ ̵̡͖͙͖̮̑́͘͘͘͟͞͝█̸̴̶̴̵̡͉̳̭ͧ͜͢͜͝͠█̶̷̸̢̢̯͔̈̄̀͜͟͟͟͠͝ ̸̵̸̢͙̩͙ͬ́̀͘͞͠█̷̶̴̡̡̟̤͌́͢͞͠█̸̴̷̷̡̥͓̼́͟͢͢͞█̸̶̵̭͍̔̀̀͠͠͠͝͞͞█̵̵̷̡̢͖̆́̀́̀͟͢͠ ̸̶̸̴̸̵̡̢̺ͣ̋̀͢͝͞█̸̴̷̡̢̘̀͘͟͜͢͟█̷̷̶̗̝̉̀̀͘͢͜͢͜͢͝█̶̶̸̴̖ͯ̊́͢͜͞͠█̸̡̡̭͔̲̍́̀͘͟͢͟͠͞ ̷̴̵̶̢̩̙̌́͘͢͠͞͞͞͠█̶̡̢̡̳́͘͟͢͟͞͞█̷̸̡̤̬̖ͯ̒̀́͠͞͞͠͞ ̷͓̀͘͟͢͜͠͞█̸̷̴̡̝̟̝ͬ̇́́͢͢͢͞͝͠█̶̸̸̶̴̢̹̠ͩ́͜͜͜͝͠͝█̶̵̸̶̸̷͎̪̟̠͐̾́̀͘͜͜͝█̴̸̷̶̴̷̸̥̳͘͢͢͝͝͠͝█̢̢̪̤̅̀͜͟͠͞█̴̷̷̴̴̡̡̢̣̲̥̅́͘͢█̸̲͎̝ͫ̀̀́́͘͟͜͜͟͝͝ ̶̵̡̩̆́̀̀͘͢͠͠͠͠█̸̷̢̡̭̊̀̀͘͘͢͠͠█̴̸̶̡̩̥͍̜̀̿̀̀͘͘͘͜͢͝█̸̸̴̢͙͓̥́́́͟͞█̶̴̶̵̡̦̮̪͋́̀͢͟͞█̷̵̢̱̫͛́́͘͟͝͠͞͠█̶̴̵̶̢͘͟͜͢͠͠͝͞͞█̵̷̴̢̢̢̱͕͎̀̀́͘͘͜͜͝█̶̵̵̡̡̡̗͓͘͟͞ ̴̴̵̡̢̢͓̈́̀͟͞͠͝█̵̸̶̵̶͙̇ͩ́́̀͜͢͠█̵̸̷̶̡̢͔͚͛̒̀́͘͝͞ͅ█̶̷̶̷̵̹̍̆́́̀͜͜͠͞͠ ̴̵̴̡̪̹̗́̀̀́́͟͜͠█̷̷̴̢̡͙͍̻͂́͢͢͞͠͞͠█̴̷̡̢̀͜͜͢͢͞█̴̴̡͓̬̊́͘͢͞͞ͅ█̶̴̷͓̬̏́͜͜͝͠͞͝͞ ̷̶̴̷̢͓̽ͯ͢͟͠͠͞█̴̴̶̴̢̜ͫ̀͘͘█̴̶̵̴̪̬̀͜͜͢͟͝͝ ̶̷̷̢̪̪͌͟͞͠͠͠͞█̵̴̶̢̢͎̀̀́͘͢͢͜͝͞█̷̷̷̡̢̙̞̇̏́͢͢͜͝͠█̶̢ͫ̀͘͘͜͟͢͜͞͝█̷̸̷̡̥̟̀́͘͢͠͝█̷̵̸̡̘̥ͦ͗̀́́͘͘͢͠█̷̡̢͓̓̀͜͜͢͝͝͞█̶̷̴̴̢̖̙̹̈́ͤ́͢͢█̶̡̖͚ͧ̂̀̀́͟͢͝͝͝͝͝ ̶̸̶̡̝̻̋́̀͘͘͟͟͢͞█̵̷̸̺͖ͪ̀͟͞͞█̴̶̵̵̸̸̴̷͓̅͢͝͝ ̴̴̸̴̷̰̭͚ͧ͌͘͠█̶̴̢̡̹̪̤ͩ̄͟͝͠͠͠█̶̶̶̶̢̺̳̓́́͟͢͠͝█̡̰̦́́͘͜͢͝͞͞ ̡̡̡̲͕ͬ͟͟͝͝͞█̷̴̢̢̲̹ͤ͘͟͜͢͝͠͝͠█̴̶̷̶̡̡̣̹̰̇́͜͢͞͞͝ ̷̸̵̴̴̶̢̡̢̫͞█̴̶̵̶̷̹̮ͯͨ́̀͜͞█̵̵̶̴̢̞̗ͬͯ̀́͜͟͜͝͞█̷̶̶̵̶̡̡̲̹̤̫̔́́́̀͠͞█̷̵̴̡̡̡͕̳͉̾̿́̀́̀͜͝͠ ̴̴̴̶̢̹͇͑̑̀́͘͞͠͠͠ͅ█̸̶̢̡̢̜ͦ͞͞͝͞█̴̷̴̸̡̡̢̮͖͐̉͘͢͜͝█̸̷̶̵̷̡̜͛͜͢͢͞͞█̸̵̸̡͎̬̣̮̽̂͘͢͠͝͠͞ ̷̶̸̷̶̡̡̈͑̀͜͢͠͝͝█̵̘̑̀̀͘͟͞█̵̸̵̸̷̸̴̢̦̼̝͢͝ ̵̸̷̵̶̡̢̢̡̬͟͝█̶̢͍̱̺͑̀́̀͢͠͠█̴̶̢̢͇̱̟͟█̶̵̡͐̂́͘͢͟͟͝█̶̸̵̸̢͙̰̟͌̀̀͘͜͟͠█̴̶̵̶̢̡̢͇̪̙ͥ̀̀͢͢͜█̷̶̷̸̸̢̟̮̦̊̉̀̀͘͠ ̡̢̢̢̢̺̂̽̀̀́͘͘͢͟͟█̶̶̸̶͚̪̼̦̀ͨ́͘͝͞͞█̴̵̸̸̸̴̢̥̦̀̀͢͢͢͞͠█̴̵̸̸̵̡̗͎̯͛͘͘͜͟█̴̸̸̶͉͙̜̄̎͘͜͟͢͠͠͠█̴̵̷̢̹ͨ́̀̀̀͘͜͢͝͞█̵̷̴̷̸̢̯̦͢͜͜͝ ̴̸̷̡̝̪͋̀̀͟͟͟͞͠█̸̴̻̰͐̌́́̀͘͜͝͝█̴̹̲̂̀̀́̀͘͢͢͞͠͝█̶̷̴̵̵̶̡̭͉̟ͪ͘͜͞█̷̵̴̴̷̴̵͐͘͟͜͟ ̷̴̴̷̸̢͕̳̾͘͜͠█̸̴̶̢̢̲̙̥ͣ͌͟͜͟͜ ̷̷̡̢͓̤ͣ͟͞͠█̢̢̫̈́̀́͘͘͘͢͞͞█̸̶̥̀̀̀̀̀͢͜͟͝█̵̸̶̸̡̮͈̓͘͜͞͝͠͝ ̴̸̵̶̸̢͙̀̀͟͜͢█̴̵̡̢̟͔̹ͤ̀͜͢͢͠█̷̢͗́́͢͜͠͞█̴̶̡̯̝ͯ̀͜͢͟͞█̶̸̵̸̡̢̳̊̐͟͟͟͢͞͠█̸̸̵̡̥̰̎̌́́͜͝͞͠

✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

The Emperor - House Mor'vaelion he/him Pragmatic, Intimidating, Calculating

“You were born for this. Not to be sheltered from hardship, nor indulged with the comforts others enjoy. But to serve the Empire, in whatever way it needs you most.”

Your father, the Emperor of the Morixian Empire. He always puts the Empire above all else, even at the expense of his relationship with his family. You’ve spent your whole life chasing his approval, learning to navigate his cold judgments and harsh expectations. Whether you have earned it or not… is another matter.

✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

The Empress - House Rin'shai she/her Protective, Composed, Perceptive

"Her very birth is her worth, and I will not have anyone suggest otherwise."

Your mother, the Empress of the Morixian Empire. She is known for being a kind and gracious woman. She has always endured quietly and fulfilled her duty without complaint. But when it comes to protecting you, she is merciless. She’ll smile at her enemies… then ruin them for touching what’s hers.

✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

High Consort Feira - House Vel'mireth she/her Ambitious, Ruthless, Manipulative

“Everything I have, I earned, and everything he is, I made. I won’t let anyone take that from us, especially not you.”

The mother of Crown Prince Junareth, she rose to power with the birth of her son. Now, her every move is focused on shaping him into her legacy. To her, you’re not family. You’re a threat.

✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

Crown Prince Junareth - House Mor'vaelion he/him Deceitful, Insecure, Ambitious

“You know how I am with everyone else. All the pretending it's exhausting. But with you… I don't have to.”

Your elder brother. The only son of High Consort Feira and the Emperor’s heir apparent, Junareth’s position is far from secure. He trains relentlessly, desperate to prove he’s worthy of the title. Despite the complicated ties between your mothers, he shares a rare bond with you.

✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈

Second Princess Kaeli - House Mor'vaelion she/her Distant, Repressed, Adaptable

“I stopped expecting kindness a long time ago."

Your older sister. Officially, she is an heir of the Morixian Empire. In truth, she is a living reminder of a scandal that the Emperor cannot erase. She hides her pain behind a calm facade. Though she keeps others at arm’s length, she survives the palace by observing and adapting when necessary.

And more to come...

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

🖤Other Romance Options

There are others… As the story unfolds, so will the hearts around you. Some you will meet early. Others will only reveal themselves under specific choices or circumstances. Not every love is meant to last. You may break hearts. You may have yours broken. You may even lose someone before ever realising how much they meant.

At this point, only Renwei is confirmed as a romanceable character.