Dark Nights - Reflections
A downloadable game for Windows, macOS, and Linux
Update: Bug fixed where MC's name can't be changed.
Steam version: Download Link
Note: This game follows the same setting and focuses on 2 new routes: Roya & Chain. You don't need to play the base game to enjoy this version.
Note 2: The secret route and side stories are still in development. I planned these for early 2026. They come as a free update.
Early supporters can get their game key by submitting this form https://forms.gle/RrmCvFKhnkzZN52t7
Story
You live in a small, peaceful town. Every day is the same as any other; boring. Right when you wish for something exciting to happen, strange things start to occur, stemming from the nearby forest. If that isn't enough, the locals have begun disappearing. At the same time, you meet six mysterious men. Will you discover the truth before becoming the next target?
Features
♦ 2 routes, each with a unique storyline
♦ 12 possible endings, 6 per storyline
♦ At least 10 hours playtime - 70,000 - 85,000 words per storyline. Total 178,988 words
♦ 8+ side characters, vary per route.
♦ 30 CG art/5 cut scenes
♦ 70 Original background art
♦ 50 Original soundtracks
♦ 22 Achievements
♦ Bonus material
The main cast
Miyoko (Renameable)
A college girl trapped in the monotony of everyday life. She craves adventure and excitement, but she’s careful not to lose herself chasing danger.
Roya
A flirtatious young man who, after meeting the heroine, seems drawn to her for reasons beyond simple attraction. His true motives remain a mystery. Though his uniform marks him as a student from her school, she’s certain she’s never seen him before.
Chain
A man of few words, he only speaks when it truly matters or to make a cutting comment. His quiet nature, paired with his strange activities, has fueled rumors that he’s connected to the murders.
Links
Official Site — Development blog and info about the game.
Tumblr — Mostly doodles and short notices.
Twitter — Doodles, notices and fan creations.
Discord chat Server— Chat with fellow players and staff.
You can report bugs and script errors here:
https://forms.gle/gt5Lt8JvfbA12yH8A
Purchase
In order to download this game you must purchase it at or above the minimum price of $7 USD. You will get access to the following files:
Comments
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so obsessed. SO obsessed.
God, it's so cool that the DLC came out! I'm so excited! I recently discovered the world of Dark Night and immediately fell in love with all the characters, especially Roya and Chain. Now I can finally learn more about them!
I have a couple of questions, if it's not difficult, give me an answer:
Are you planning to introduce a storyline with Kaichi?
Are there any plans to translate it into other languages? If so, which ones? Will there be a Russian translation?
Thanks in advance for the reply <3
Thank you for giving my game a try! Your favorite characters got their own storyline now. I hope that you enjoy them.
Kaichi will appear multiple times in the extra stories. I'm still working on them.
Right now, a few fans are working on the English & Spanish translations. I haven't had anyone contacting me about Russian yet. The main game has a fan translation in Russian.
Okay, so, I think I'm turning into a huge fan, because of this DLC. (It's quite funny to think I hesitated to buy it since while I enjoyed the base game, I didn't enjoy it as much as the DLC, but... I was tempted by Roya, haha, and now I'm really happy I gave in!)
I've done one playthrough so far, chased Roya ofc, and got the romantic ending! (Right choice indicator was quite useful for that, haha. Thank you for implementing it!) I went through quite the rollercoaster, I was enjoying his flirty side, then the confrontation came... and in my head I was like "well, he was a bad guy in the original, what did I expect, a huge retcon?" and tried mentally preparing myself for a morally grey love interest or even like some dark romance/villain romance stuff. I also nearly cried at what you did to Junoru, that poor baby ;; I wondered if I'm going towards a bad end or something, things looked truly hopeless. But then... the time travel plot happened - a plot device I love, btw, and that part was just the sweetest, and also funny! - so you found a way to retcon without retconning and turn Roya into a genuinely good guy and also save Junoru and my heart was so so happy with it! Have to mention, I also liked Jace and Blace and the role they played in this route!
The art and music are masterful, just like before, and I'm impressed with the amount of CGs! I think your writing has improved too. Or maybe it's my tastes that changed and I'm more open to your writing style now. (There's tiny moments that feel illogical, like MC's forgiveness of the ace twins could use a bit more explanation; and the prologue could be more exciting, but these don't detract from the overall experience.) I also have a feeling you don't necessarily follow all storytelling conventions. For example, in movies, there'd have to be some failed attempts before the right solution is found, while you went straight for the right solution. I also needed some time to adjust to the "parallel" dialogue, like characters sometimes answering or reacting to two different things in the same line, which again, I'm not used to in fiction. But in a way, these may be more life-like? Both that and breaking from formulas can be a good thing, whether intentional or not. Since I noticed that these seem unique in your writing, and I found them interesting and refreshing, felt compelled to talk about it.
I've got the "tried to be a hero" bad end and a couple of achievements along the way, now I'm excited to go back and explore more of the DLC. I'm really loving it so far, and will be looking forward to the updates as well!
After working on this DLC for years, I've been really looking forward to people's thoughts. Thank you for giving this game a try!
I learned a lot from my first game. I retained the useful features and added more, such as highlighting the choices you had previously picked. The routes have a lot more menus, so it's useful for replays/going back. I had a lot of fun and challenging moments while writing Roya's route. I'm delighted that you like how the events unfolded. I wanted to write satisfying endings where everything is wrapped up. In the main game, Roya got the short end of the stick. There was one scene where MC was reading a book "Bright Days". Roya commented "Characters that barely had a few lines in the first book actually got to speak their minds." I really got to explore this concept in Roya's own route. I tried to share more background info about Blace & Jace, and involve them more in the plot at the same time. In the main game, Miyoko didn't seem close to them.
I kept the same number of CGs per route. I thought about more interesting concepts, but I'll leave them for the extra stories. Throughout the years, my taste has changed and I picked up things I like about storytelling. You're right that my style of writing is direct to the solution. In the original game, MC took a while to figure out or made wrong decisions, and players complained about that. Personally, I'm not fan of plots around misunderstandings or drama, so I like to resolve these as soon as possible. Maybe I referenced real-life situations too much for dialogues haha;;
I agree with the details you mentioned. I'll do my best while I'm working on the secret route and extra stories.
I hope that you enjoy Chain's route as well! His personality and route composition are the opposite of Roya's. It's packed with many events and explores parts of Dark Nights you've never seen before.
My goodness, I didn't expect you to reply so fast and so thoroughly too! I'm glad if my feedback can be useful and/or can make you feel good!
I actually wanted to edit my comment, because I've explored Roya's other endings in the meanwhile. The normal ending really had an impact on me, it showed that despite his doubling down at first, as time passed, the need for revenge is no more and there's only regret and loneliness ;; I realized how much of a sweetheart and just a lost boy Roya is at his core, and how fate had been unfair to him to send him down such an awful path. Makes me wanna wrap him in a blanket and cuddle him. So he really, really needs and deserves that time travel redo and nudging in the right direction ;;
Speaking of the programming tweaks, playing the random game with Roya by the pool was a fun part!
I don't remember many details from the original game, but I'm definitely going to replay it soon! For nostalgia's sake, and because of Junoru, I recalled some details from his route, since obviously he shares his backstory with Roya, and also recalled how much of a sweet gentleman he is and I kinda miss him. I don't even fully remember Roya's fate there... I'll deal with that emotionally once I get there in my replay. (I realize it may be worse going back too, RIP my heart.)
There's really lots of love and care and time and resources you're putting in this game to make it as gorgeous as it is!
Oh, now I'll be even more curious about those extra stories!
I think it's okay for characters to make mistakes and wrong turns before finding the right path, as long as the choice they make makes sense for them. It really depends on the type of story you want to tell. Your MC is quite the logical and straightforward person too, so a straightforward solution works well here! Misunderstandings are just so frustrating, I agree, they feel like an artificial way to create conflict. Btw, I don't think you need to worry too much about your writing, I see many people fanpersoning in your comments, you've created a much beloved world and characters and story! (Sorry if I came off as nitpicking, I just used to dabble in writing so that's what I focus on most. Also I take back the "forgiving the ace twins too easily", found the branch where it's talked out in detail. I only ever wrote linear stories, mostly fanfic, I imagine it's much harder to keep in mind what events and conversations happened on every single branch...)
Haha, Chain seems to take cold hard logic and efficiency to the extreme, from what I saw here and remember from the original game (I don't even know whose route it was, but I remember MC convincing him to come help, and he eventually did, without much of an explanation). It makes me really curious how he'll behave in a romance situation. And I imagine the story will be quite different from the police/"hunter"/non-supernatural perspetive. But that's for another day. I might come ramble about his route later!
Oh, I think I haven't come back to talk about Chain's route. (Gotta admit, I'm still partial to Roya though, haha.) But I enjoyed learning more about Chain and empathizing with him, learning about the hunters and this whole other aspect of your fictional world. I was proud of myself because I managed to explore most by myself, there was one bad ending and its achievement I needed a guide for. Odaz and Zuri were so lovely and they deserved better ;; Also liked the insight we got into Rasumi's backstory, I find such "meta-narratives" interesting!
Btw, I think I might have seen something about it somewhere... don't know if you talked about such plans, or other players suggested, but do you plan on updating the original game with the new art? Would make replays even more enjoyable. IMO Junoru and Ikuya had the biggest glow-ups!
Thank you for getting back to me! I've been anticipating your thoughts. I added all tools you need to get the endings easily. I'm glad that you enjoyed Chain's route too, but I can tell your bias haha.
In response to your previous comment, many people asked what would happen in Roya's future if he survives, but there is no cure. Being isolated from his beloved ones for so long changed his mindset.
I saw one comment about Chain acting like a monk compared to Roya. I had to laugh. I'll dive deeper into how he acts in a romantic relationship.
While Odaz & Zuri's stories ended, I want to draw them more! Their designs were done much later because I had no idea what they would look like.
I noticed that the minor crowd with the loudest voices doesn't reflect the entire community. I should be careful what to keep/change in writing. Although it's difficult to judge this.
Regarding your question, yes. I do plan on updating the main game with new sprite art. It may take a while because it's lower priority. I'll get through it eventually!
I just bought this on steam WOOHOOO!!! There's a guide on steam
P.s I'll be back after finishing it
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there's a misspell on chain's route but it's only this one I guess....
idk why it's not showing but it's the word which... it's whch
Thank you for the support! I hope you're enjoying the game.
If you find more spelling errors, please submit them using the form link. I'll fix them in the next update. I appreciate your help!
Hi! I have already played the dlc half way through and I love it so much! Takes me back to 2023 when I first discovered dark nights! But I do have a question, do you plan to make a mobile version of the game? I trying to get one of my friends to play but they dont have a PC. <3
I'm delighted that you enjoy the DLC so far! I placed a lot of easter eggs for returning players. About your question; I've heard about Joiplay. Supposedly, it works for Renpy built games. I haven't tested this myself, but someone mentioned that the main game did work on it. The DLC was built in the same engine.
waaaaerzgjhkjlkjhkkj ima go crazy over this, thank you so much for this amazing otome VN and the new routes. I love your art so much, the characters are so hot, I love the Dark Nights VN 💓💓
It's thanks to the community that I got to create this. It's my love letter to the fans. More screentime for your favorite characters, nostalgic scenes and new lore. I did my best to improve everything I learned from the main game. I hope you enjoy the stories to the very end!
definitivamente de todos los juegos otomes y novelas visuales que eh jugado, dark nights es uno de mis favoritos!! solo falta que mas gente lo conosca y apoyoo!! realmente es una joya oculta. el primer juego lo disfrute demasiado, en fin como dije es uno de mis favs!! la historia es buena y en especial amo a los personajess!! son lo maximo, pronto jugare el DLC
Thank you for playing my game! I hope that you enjoy the DLC. I'm not good at promoting, but I like the community that grew around Dark Nights. Maybe people that who enjoyed the game spread the word to their peers. Please leave a review!
I just enjoy talking about my OCs and drawing them. Even after the story ends, I continue posting doodles.
ameee al fin salioooo, dentro de poco me lo comprare esta demasiado lindo,hermoso, divino el nuevo estilo T_T... se que seria mas pega para ti pero de verdad amaria otro DLC pero con ruta de los personajes principales del primer juego, pagaria lo que seaa!!, ademas me frusta un poco que el juego no sea tan conocido. de hecho tengo pensado crear contenido en internet y sin duda hablare del juego y del DLC estee > <
GRACIAS POR LA COMIDA
I loved this so much !! I was just curious if blace and or jace could be possible routes too they are so interesting :3!! i love all the art and storyline<333
Thank you for playing this game! I'm glad that you enjoyed the twin brothers. All I can say is "maybe". They'll get some fun moments in the side stories :3c
I loved the first game and have been waiting ever since the first one was released for this one. Are there any updates on when it's going to be on Steam? I know you said around the 10th, but it's not out there yet. :( I really want it on Steam for the achievements, and I'm really itching to play it to the point that I refresh Steam almost every hour to see if it's out yet. XD
Thank you for checking out my new project! I got some issues with the Steam review, hence it takes longer. I'll post updates on DN's twitter when the official date is confirmed. The store page will show up first, then the release is 2 weeks later.
I haven’t made it too far into the story yet, but I can already tell how much care and effort went into creating this game. The writing is fantastic, and I love the pacing and how naturally the relationships between the characters develop. I was completely hooked from the moment I started—so much so that after buying it yesterday, I ended up staying up way too late and had to force myself to stop playing because I had work in just five hours. The artwork is absolutely stunning, and as someone new to Dark Nights, I’m already interested by the original game and excited to see its art updated as well. Honestly, I have nothing but praise for this gem of a game, it’s a lovely experience all around!
Thank you so much for your kind message! Dark Nights is very dear to me. I’ve learned countless skills through this project and formed lasting connections with wonderful people. I took to heart the feedback I received from the first game and did my best to improve every aspect in this second one.
One of the most notable changes is the art. Over the years, my preferences changed. After many studies, I developed a clearer vision of how the characters should look. In the first game, I designed them before writing the story. This time, their poses and expressions feel much more true to who they are.
I’m delighted to hear the story got you hooked. I hope you enjoy it all the way to the end!
I'm so glad it's finally here!! i found the base game during harsh times on the pandemic, it helped me a lot to stay motivated! And also found a wonderful artist through it. Thank you so much for creating both games and your art, its so beautiful and inspires me a lot to find the story on the composition of your pieces. Definitely will be buying both itch's and steam's versions
Thank you for playing my first game! I really enjoy creating narrative art. For years, I only drew illustrations, but I wanted to create something interactive & longer stories. Furthermore, through visual novels, characters feel 'alive'. I'm humbled by your support!
Waaah the dlc is finally here!! Back in 2019 when the game released I played it all in 1 (dark) night and left an essay long comment on my thoughts and you sent a lovely reply responding to every point it was so thoughtful!
I will be purchasing the dlc on Steam when its available- will it be compatible with Steam Deck? do you recommend replaying the original before the dlc?
Thank you for checking my new game! I created this with returning players in mind, but you don't have to play the original to enjoy this one. The new storylines are about the new characters with pieces of extra lore.
I've tested it with the Steam Deck, and it's compatible!
hi! I'm a quiet player, but I just wanted you to know I played dark nights (the original) during the pandemic. was one of my favs of ALL time and I have such fond memories of your vn. when I saw this came out, I immediately rushed to buy it. this is the first game I've actually bought with my own money, because I just knew I needed to play this game. I have absolutely no regrets buying it. lots of love, from a quiet fan.
Really! actually I'm also same.Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts.I have commented on the dark nights visual novel but never brought any game with my own money and I'm not allowed to buy till last year. I'm going to get this. I'm so excited and was worried I could not donate to help the dlc project. I was just watching the kofi campaign every day.(^_^)I thought it would be either Roya or Chain. I was 17 years old back then. Now I am working and have my own money so will not hesitate to buy this.(>.<)y-~ I'm so surprised the dark nights is free to play! It has such a unique storyline and amazing characters.
It's been two years! :)
Oh my gosh! I'm really happy I commented for once-- I think this is my first time commenting! and I love that you were so dedicated to the making of the game, that's so sweet. and congrats on having adult money! whoohoo financial freedom! We should def talk about our thoughts on the game together soon. I'm still in my finals week so I'll get around to playing after everything is said and done. <3
I remember your comment! Thank you for dropping by again. 2 years gave me enough time to develop 2 more routes and revamp everything. Your favorite characters have more screentime in the new game. I hope you enjoy it!
Wowww I'm literally the same, I actually bought my pc right before the pandemic and started looking for free visual novels and fell in love with this one and I've been following Pinlin updates so I can get the update asap even if I have to buy it which I never do
girl that's so funny because we're literally similar in the sense that the pandemic truly put us in a position where we can play visual novels all day lol. I hope we get to enjoy more novels!!!
Fr, and we both chose to buy this masterpiece cuz we know it's worth it
Thank you for the support! Knowing that so many are looking forward to this new game, I was super fueled to finish it. I hope that you enjoy what I've been cooking in the past 2 years!
Thank you for dropping a comment! I'm delighted to receive comments from the players. It's funny to see that many played DN during pandemic. I never thought it was a good moment to release the game. I learned a lot from my first project and I implemented all improvements into this new game. I hope you enjoy it!
waiting for steam version. I loved so much the original game, is so nice that theses characters are getting route. Thanks
Thank you for your interest in the new game! The Steam release is experiencing delays because of strict guides. I apologize for the wait. I'll keep you updated via DN's Twitter.
I need help! I've successfully completed all chapters of Roya Chain, but I can't figure out how to access the Ikuyo chapter—I can't find the entry point. I urgently need a guide for Ikuyo. Please help me!
Hey. The secret route is still in development. Pinlin wrote on Tumblr that the DLC will receive an update in 2026 :)
I will be buying it soon but can anyone tell me if it works using Joiplay??? My pc is currently damaged and my brother is buying me a new one, but i want to play it so bad but Joiplay would be the only way for me to play on my phone. So can anyone tell me if it is working on Joiplay???
hi ! Thank you for this wonderful DLC ! I really loved it !
I played the 1st game and it was amazing, I was looking for the next routes !
I can’t wait for the secret route too ;)
I was not really fond of Chain during the first game but now i know him better I fell in love … Loved Roya during the 1st game, still love him haha
And the side character are amazing too ! It was really interesting to learn more about them!
+ can I have a hint for my last achievment ? I can’t unlock it haha
It’s the number 16, thank you so much !
u did an amazing job again !
Hello! I'm delighted that you enjoyed this game. It's nice to see you coming back after the main game. Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
Chain was a difficult character to write. He had little screen time, so I kept wondering how he is like in other settings. I'm glad you grew fond of him! Roya became more expressive, but you also saw more sides of him. The side characters will shine once more in the extra stories.
Hint for achievement 16: Roya chapter 1. After accepting to be his girlfriend, get the timed choice. You have missed one of the menu options after.
OMG, I love this game!!! I’ve been playing it nonstop since it came out and I still do today. It’s just amazing! I’ve unlocked the entire gallery and all the achievements except one. (haha, it’s the 6th one, I can’t access it yet... If anyone has unlocked it, I’d be super grateful for a hint!!...) I really like how not only Roy and Chain are revealed, but also the side characters in their routes. joke about shoot blanks MY FAVORITE i swear. Thanks so much for all the hard work!
Thank you for playing Dark Nights again! I'm delighted that you enjoyed the experience. About achievement nr6, it's in Chain's route. You have to get all choices with a ping including the bonus point in the prologue. You'll stumble upon unread text in Ch3. After this, enjoy the sketchbook :D
thank uuu very much!!! <3
So I'm curious if anyone has unlocked the secret or if it's unavailable until there is an update?
if you scroll up to the top of the game page, the author added a line about the secret route + "extras" tab in the cg album! "Note 2: The secret route and side stories are still in development. I planned these for early 2026. They come as a free update."
Thanks :
Hi, I can't seem to get any of Chain's endings other than the normal and romantic ones. I tried every choice, so I was wondering if it's specific combinations of choices that would get me different endings? Roya's were a lot more straightforward, maybe that's why I'm struggling a bit :)
Additionally, I believe one achievement is not activating properly. There's two achievements for Roya's romantic ending (non spicy and spicy), but Chain only has the "wildest dream" one, which I believe to be the spicy one!
Other than that I'm really enjoying playing and looking forward to more :)
Hi, thank you for playing this game! Chain's route is less straight forward. Players will likely post a guide later, so for now I'll give a hint:
Chain's 1st bad ending is by getting all choices without the ping sound (you'll stumble upon the secret ending too). The second bad ending is reach his romantic end ("Chapter 4 Hunter's End") without a full score. The easiest way is get 3-4 choices wrong when you're close in that chapter.
All achievements are correct. While there are 2 options in Chain's romantic ending, I named them the same. Perhaps, I'll add an update with "Version A and B".
Ahh, thank you so much for your helpful reply :)
I'll make sure to use the hints and finish collecting all cgs and achievements!
Since its a remaster does that mean I can start with it without reading the original ?
Yes! The original game is still relevant if you want to know the backstory of some characters. Regardless, you can enjoy this game without any prior knowledge.
So it does include the routes from the original right?
No.
omg this game looks so good!!! ill make sure to check out the original version of this! i love your art and story so much when u develop games, best of luck!! <3
PINLIN I LOVE YOUUU SMMM THANK U FOR THIS. IM WISHING U THE BEST OF LUCK !!! I STILL REMEMBER THE EARLY DAYS OF PLAYING THE ORIGINAL GAME T___T ITS SO SO GOOD AND STILL HITS EVERYTIME. ALWAYS WILL BE MY FAVEEE <33
Thank you for checking out this new project!! It makes me delighted that my work is memorable. I hope that you enjoy the new routes too. I added a lot of details and kept some elements for nostalgia.
oh! quick question, will you be planning to remaster the original games routes with this style?
Yes! It's a lower priority, I will finish this DLC first.
I remember playing the base game years ago. It's so good to see this game is still being updated. I just bought the DLC and I'm wondering if there's a walkthrough?
There is no walkthrough yet, but fans will likely post it at some point. Please enjoy the game at your own pace. I added a lot of tools to help like romance hints, notes where to find CGs and which options you picked before.
Yes, i just figured out the romance hints! The game looks beautiful. Thank you!!
All the ladies are excited lol
Of course😌😌
LETS GOOOOOOOO
I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!
LET'S FUCKING GOOOOOO!
Oh yessss fhqjkhdfql
Oh my GAWWWWWWWD JFIFOORI4ISKWLIRGUHDBEOWE7639P2PSKLCKMCFJIFORLEPPWPAUXNDNmhfudoekeriirowplwufufurjmrowpworkdktjjrnrnrbrekwlwppwru7f........YES Im SO EXCITED YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES
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EXACTLY i understand you
Hii! How are you? I'm so excited about this release, I love this game so muuuch<3. I wanted to ask you if, when you release it, you would let me translate it into Spanish?
Preparing for the release made me like a zombie, haha. Anyway, please contact me through my e-mail, because I have a few questions: darknights.time@gmail.com
Yess! Omg. I am so Excited! I loved the old version. So looking forward to this version. Thank you for all the work and effort you have put in this game.
Thank you for checking out this game again! I hope that you enjoy all my efforts. Please leave your thoughts when you try it!
yooo omg, i'm so excited!! i've played so many games over the years they blur together but i still remember the art and vibes of this one. can't wait :3
omg i remember playing the old version like 3 years ago and bawling my eyes out over junoru, even tho the old designs have a special place in my heart I am excited to see how everything will look like in this!! all the best with your work and thank you <3
The new stories will take you through a rollercoaster again. The main guys are back, but this time with supporting roles. Let me know your thoughts when you play it!
I played DN in 2022 and LOVED it. October 31st is my birthday, and I'm more reserved, so I'll be enjoying my evening with your game. I've been really excited since you officially announced it and wanna see the changes in it and the evolution in your art style. Thank you for working on this one more time 💖
It's like a birthday present :D Thank you for the praises. I wanted to improve and keep the same feel so returning players get a sense of familiarity. After all, it's been years since the main game released. Anyway, please drop your thoughts when you play!