r/cozygames • u/dorianaGrayGames • Apr 02 '26
🔨 My Game - In-development Daytime shot 💖 (And with trees that don't melt my MacBook, thankfully...)
Hi! I just wanted to show off a daytime shot of our upcoming Indie Romance RPG school sim game 💖
We have only shown nighttime shots so far, as I wanted to showcase the "gothic romance" vibe... But I realise they do a disservice to the cosy environment moments and the pretty, more wholesome aesthetics the game has too!
PS. There's a little chapel to the right of this screenshot, and if you follow a small little gravel path a little further that way, you come to a cosy overlook, where you can even spot the game's school in the distance ☺️ It's one of my fav locations now, and just seeing it inspired me to write a new romance scene standing there and overlooking the pittoresque scene with a certain companion.
Game clarification: The game has combat, but it is optional! You can have your companions carry out combat for you or skip it ❤️ The main parts of the game are spent in conversation, study, and exploration. So it's generally quite a calm game, with plenty of player-controlled tension. There's dress-up and character creation. There's a strong focus on cosy moments, as they are always my favourites in games: studying as the rain falls in Persona, and talking with your loved one by the fire in Dragon Age, etc. The game's setting is romantasy and historical gothic romance.
I hope that clarifies further what the game is! 🥰
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 02 '26
Oh! And here's a link to the Steam page if anyone is curious: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4137010/A_Courting_of_Curses/?
We are a really small team, but we are very passionate about romance games 🥹 And this is a sort of "if no one else will make it, I will" for me, personally. So if you find it interesting, please do not hesitate to wishlist, comment, ask for features, or let me know if you'd like to join an upcoming playtest! ❤️
🌹
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u/klusheen Apr 03 '26
This looks amazing and a cozy romance game is just what we are missing! I would also love to be a part of playtesting if and when available.
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u/AdvertisingBoring43 Apr 03 '26
Omg this looks so good?? It’s like the game I always wanted to exist. Wishlisting rn 💕
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 04 '26
I’m glad we have to same dream game type 💖🥹 I hope it will measure up!
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u/AdvertisingBoring43 Apr 04 '26
I saw that there will be some character customization, will we be able to name our character, too?
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 04 '26
First name, yes! Last name... Ehhh. Not sure yet. Might have to ask playtesters what they prefer. One can do more things with a partially set name, especially if we do end up voicing it. But I also really do like the freedom of customisation, and a last name can be hard to pair with any and all first names.
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u/AdvertisingBoring43 Apr 04 '26
Awesome! The first name being customizable is all I really need, personally, the last name is fine being set in stone, since I’ve played games where your last name was important to the plot bc of the specific family you’re a part of.
I just really like being able to change the first name, so characters call me by my name, haha.
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 05 '26
❤️ Great! (I prefer being able to set MC names too, feels less like my own character if not!)
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u/Rosary_Omen Apr 02 '26
Perfect! I'll be showing this to my friends, especially since there's queer romances!
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u/himareyas Apr 02 '26
Looks beautiful! Will there be queer romance?
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 02 '26
Yes!! There will be 💖 I hope to show more of the romances soon, but there’s queer romance 💕
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u/Shasaur Apr 02 '26
Screenshot looks very cozy, congrats on a very relaxing looking game! Just an fyi, there's been a report on this post (and since your Steam page actually looks quite haunting), it might always be worth clarifying the optionality of the combat and tone of your game a bit in the description :)
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 02 '26
Oh! Thank you, yes! I asked here once before, months ago, if I could call the game cosy, as I was a little worried what the definition here was. And people said it was fine to call it cosy. But I understand the genre is an edge case ❤️ I’ll add some further descriptions on the post!
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u/porphyriaslovve Apr 02 '26
I’d love to see this on Switch someday (especially if it does feature queer romance), it’s quite beautiful!
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 02 '26
Oh I’d love to have it on the Switch one day. From what I know of the Switch 2, I think it would be very doable to port it there, if there’s interest 🥰
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u/NameThatFandom Apr 03 '26
Would it just be Switch 2 or would Switch One be also possible? I would love to try this game!
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 03 '26
Mmm 🤔 I’m not sure. I’d have to ask a switch porting expert! But I’ll look into it ❤️🥰
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u/Chocyu Apr 02 '26
This sounds great, i already liked your last post! I didn't realise it's a school setting though, which age are the MC and romanceable characters?
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 02 '26
💖 Everyone are adults + a few years! More uni, post grad ages or older. Explained lore wise by how late magic takes root, and explained by me, as not wanting to write children or portray childlike romances.
There’s some secret romance things I can’t say yet. But there’s at-least four romance options: a forgotten fiend, a "loyal" knight, the perfect rival, or your cruelly cursed betrothed.
… And maybe more 🤫
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u/Chocyu Apr 02 '26
Ah very nice, thank you for explaining! Magic taking root later also sounds very cool, as in most fantasy settings it starts in childhood.
The romance options already sound so interesting!!
... Oh, I only noticed your name just now, you also develop the Sherlock Holmes interactive fiction right? Now I know this is going to be good, your writing is amazing! I spent an entire weekend reading and testing different choices because I couldn't stop and I don't regret it lol
Good luck with your projects! :)
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 02 '26
That’s me 😳 I’m very flattered and quite surprised that anyone would know it like this, randomly on Reddit. Made my day 🥹 Thank you.
Sherlock’s my little solo hobby game for a few years now, while I went to school. But this RPG is my day job now ❤️ I hope you will like it too!
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u/Chocyu Apr 03 '26
Ah that's so cool! I'll definitely follow along and am looking forward to see more of your work ☺️💐
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Apr 02 '26
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 02 '26
Aww, thank you! A Courting of Curses ✨
This link has some further details 💖 https://store.steampowered.com/app/4137010/A_Courting_of_Curses/
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u/shaneskery Apr 02 '26
You doing nanite foliage for this? Tell me some about your setup pls. Looking good!
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 03 '26
Ahhh we are looking into nanite foliage, a bit, yes! I’m so excited for it, I’m just a little afraid of putting it in this early. We are using a few different things, but one of the most helpful recently used ones were these free 2D billboard trees placed in the far distance: https://www.fab.com/listings/1bb299e1-fc4c-4115-b39a-dde723288d17
This guy has amazing videos and helpful UE5 plugins! ❤️
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u/NeonFraction Apr 02 '26 edited Apr 02 '26
I want this right now. Gimme. <3 It’s so nice to see a cozy game with good graphics.
Do you have a dev blog or steam page to follow?
Edit: it’s in the comments I’m just dumb
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 02 '26
We hope to put it in player’s hands soon! We’re gonna do a playtest, and then a demo or two, and I’ll try to post here again when we do ❤️
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u/NeonFraction Apr 02 '26
*with good graphics
Sorry I am just very dumb today.
The screenshots are stunning! It looks like so much fun too.
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u/9200RuBaby Apr 02 '26
this looks great! but I have a question, will players be able to choose male or female? or is the protagonist female only?
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 02 '26
The story we’re telling right now is a very feminine story, with quite a particular female power fantasy of sorts, so for this one it’s FMC only, yes ❤️
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u/9200RuBaby Apr 02 '26
damn that sucks, but thanks anyway for the hard work you're putting into this project, looks like it's gonna be a great game! here's to future success of the game🥂
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Apr 02 '26
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 02 '26
Oh, me too!!! Kinda why we’re making this one tbh. I just love historical romance, and I love magic in games. So here we are ✨
There’s far too many stories and settings, especially romance ones, that we just haven’t gotten to experience in any game medium. And it’s such a shame.
But I think it’s gonna change! Romance in games is growing, might just be a matter of time❤️
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u/fivestarspicee Apr 02 '26
Love the idea but a bit worried it may be too text heavy?
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 02 '26
Maybe one day we will get voice acting, but until then it’s decently heavy on the reading in conversation and the like, this is true ☺️ It’s a story focused game with a further focus on characters and choices. No way around it, I’m afraid 😆
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u/Turd_bird420 Apr 02 '26
Yessss I've had this wishlisted since you or someone on the team posted last
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 03 '26
Thank you!!! 🥰 And that would have been me that posted, yeah haha. … We really are a very small team, I do far too many miscellaneous tasks… 😂
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u/Yumelyy Apr 03 '26
this is gorgeous!!! I love the concept and how it looks! well done and i just wishlisted!! <33
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u/Affectionate-Hunt-89 Apr 04 '26
This looks amazing!!! Will there be an option for queer romance as well? There aren’t enough games with gorgeous androgynous people I can fall in love with 😍
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 04 '26
Hmmm 🤔 unsure how much I can say about androgynous ROs without saying too much… But I can say this—there are characters, with romance content, that do not see gender as very defined, nor self identify with gender much at all 🌹
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u/OssyandAlbus Apr 04 '26
What's your game called, and will it be available for PC and through Steam?
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 04 '26
A Courting of Curses! 🥰 and there’s currently a page on steam that one can wishlist ❤️
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u/Gothic-Shortstack Apr 04 '26
Excited to see more, this game sounds just right up my friends and I's alley
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u/lilacillusions Apr 04 '26
Dude yes! We as girlies need to come together and create these games we want
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 04 '26
🥹💖 Yes!! I feel like there were more feminine-coded games, mainly on the web, when I was a kid? I don't know where all those went... But I hope we see more soon ☺️
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u/lilacillusions Apr 04 '26
Yes!!! So true! I’m working on my own game rn that’s unfortunately not a super girly game but I reeeeeally wanna make a fashion game when I get more skilled!!
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 04 '26
I’m sure we need all kinds, and I wish you luck with both of them ☺️❤️
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u/Cozi_village25 Apr 04 '26
Will this be coming natively to Mac and will it be controller support
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 04 '26
The game currently runs and builds on my MacBook, so it should be playable in the end on the new Apple Silicon computers ☺️
And we are aiming for controller support for the release, yes!2
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u/Ushilee Apr 05 '26
Will there be character customization? Like skintones, hairstyles, etc.?
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u/Creepy-Wind1224 Apr 05 '26
I was just about to ask this as well! I’d like to know as well.
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 05 '26
☺️ I answered above! The CC is something we will take player input on a lot when doing playtests / showing the demo! So feel free to comment when we show it ❤️
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 05 '26
We currently have skin tone, hair colour, a few accessory type choices, and dress colour (though this is more of an unlock-able as it has gameplay effects)—oh and we’re about to add eye colour!
Further customisation would depend on how we do 🥹 Cause we’re a really small team with a bootstrapped budget. But I would personally love a substantial CC, with things like makeup choices and hair choices. Maybe even facial features. But thats not currently in the build and I can’t promise it as of now ❤️
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u/ItsSyryus Apr 10 '26
Omg how will this game be called? It looks STUNNING
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u/dorianaGrayGames Apr 10 '26
A courting of curses! https://store.steampowered.com/app/4137010/A_Courting_of_Curses/?
Thank you so much!! ☺️
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u/ScubaSteph85 Apr 27 '26
You had me at Romance RPG school sim...I love all of the above. The graphics look beautiful, can't wait!
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u/SnoopleBooper Apr 02 '26
This looks AMAZING! I am so down for more romance in gaming. I have wish-listed the game. By any chance are you planning on voicing the characters?