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The Ukrainian indie team Winter Apple has presented a visual novel Castle in the Sands inspired by the Thousand and One Nights collection. The project is designed to take about two to three hours to complete and immerses the player in the atmosphere of oriental mysticism, where the key role is played by the tense mood of mystery. The story centers on the exploration of a mysterious castle standing alone in the middle of an endless desert.
To convey the character of the desert environment, the author created all the pixel graphics herself, paying attention to the details that create a sense of isolation and mystery. As is typical for the genre, each player’s decision affects the development of the plot and ultimately leads to one of the endings. As a result, it’s a compact story that can be completed in one free evening.
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According to the Castle in the Sands project page on Steam, the protagonist is a young hunter who lives with his family in a small settlement in the desert. When his younger brother fell seriously ill, he went in search of a doctor. During a night journey, the hero meets a mysterious girl named Tiziri, who can probably help save the patient.
Later on, the hero finds himself in a mysterious castle in the heart of the Sahara, a beautiful but fragile place. Its walls seem so unstable that they can collapse even from a touch. It is the player’s choice that determines whether it will be possible to protect this structure from the threats caused by human greed and ambition. The castle hides an ancient history, and the player is faced with the question: is there anyone left who remembers the moment of its creation, and how does this relate to the events unfolding now? Ancient magic protects this place from sandstorms and hostile forces, but if its source is lost, even the passage of time itself can become a deadly danger.
The game offers a 2-3 hour playthrough and has three different endings. The author’s pixel art is complemented by an original story and a cool atmospheric soundtrack. The game is expected to be released on Steam in May this year.
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