Developer C#4R4CT3R released the first demo for its lo-fi psycho-thriller romance adventure Rain98 on Steam on October 17. The demo offers approximately three hours of content and supports Korean UI and subtitles.
The playable portion of the demo spans the Prologue, Chapter 1, and the first half of Chapter 2. It was revealed alongside an announcement at the indie showcase The MIX Fall Game Showcase 2026 on October 16 local North American time, with the second half of Chapter 2 planned to be added through a future update. The developer also plans to allow save data from the demo to carry over to the full release.
The full version is currently in development targeting a PC release via Steam in 2027. It will feature around 10 hours of gameplay for a single playthrough, over 100 minigames, and official support for Korean subtitles and interface. The team created over 1,500 illustrations to capture the daily lives of the characters.
The story begins when the protagonist, transported back in time to 1998 Tokyo, meets a mysterious girl named Reina Amehara in a dark apartment room. Together with Reina, who desires the end of the world, the protagonist prepares a strange ritual to save the world from destruction. While earning money to support Reina's living expenses, the protagonist must also manage her mood, as terrible things occur whenever she gets angry.
Players can walk the streets of Tokyo alongside Reina and enjoy minigames like capsule toys and bead craft. The game depicts turn-of-the-century Tokyo through the noise of public phones and arcades, as well as the neon signs of Shibuya blurring in the rain, accompanied by a lo-fi soundtrack that blends ambient noise and rainfall with jazz piano melodies. Rather than static character art, Reina appears in dynamic scenes depending on the situation, such as reading a magazine or smoking a cigarette.
The game also incorporates psychological thriller elements woven into everyday life. As the narrative progresses, the protagonist's memories blur and mysterious hallucinations appear, breaking down the boundary between reality and delusion. Reina Amehara is voiced by voice actress Rio Tsuchiya, with voice actress Mamiko Noto also participating.
Rain98 was selected for Best of Show at PAX East 2026 before being showcased at events such as BitSummit, Bilibili World, and ChinaJoy. It was first presented to Korean players through the Busan Indie Connect Festival (BIC 2026) held at BEXCO in Busan in August. C#4R4CT3R stated that inquiries regarding Korean language support poured in following BitSummit, and that Korean users also make up a large portion of the game's Steam wishlists.
