Truth be told, I went into this game expecting to hate it because I personally (not personally, more aesthetically) don't like Keith Ballard. However, I was provided with a delightfully grim look into nihilism. While the writing was... flawed and sometimes made me roll my eyes, the ability for the story to explore such deep themes within the span of about an hour of playtime for a moderately quick reader was not just impressive, it was astounding. I think the setting itself is particularly clever. Any game can explore the themes and ideas in this, but the setting's specific limitations allow for these ideas to truly take more shape within the mind of the reader. Overall, very impressive game, and frankly I would hope Keith explores more things like this in the future.

I watched the creation process video on Boring Keith's YouTube channel and it got me inspired to write the story for my first game development project as a visual novel before going into the main meat of the genre I want to work with so great job this really inspired me

Deeply powerful and potent. The artwork by Phwog is gorgeous and impactful and a kind of beautiful i find difficult to articulate. The writing hit me in the chest in a way i find aspirational. To see so many responses to the end, and to see it all reflected in Jack. I think Edgar was my favourite, among all of them being my favourite. Their perspective spoke to something deep within me, that depression that feels it watches the time pass regardless as the paint slowly fades and chips from the walls as we attempt to pass the time and find meaning. To know we are able to watch and understand, while completely lacking in control. It deeply spoke to me. Thank you for this art.

Really potent and raw exploration of how hopeless queer people can feel under fascism (I know that's not necessarily the actual metaphor, but it's red and written in November 2024 so I ran with it). Keith definitely succeeded at making each character feel distinct, and Phwog's CGs are awesome. Even the unfinished CGs work really well imo. The soundtrack fuckin owns too. If you want a VN that really delves into how we cope (or don't) with the hopelessness of... everything these days, this one's for you.

There is a profoundness and raw sensation I feel in my chest whenever I think about this game. I played it once, alone, and then shared it with a few friends, voicing through it as we all grasped together the surreal and painful, yet beautiful horror of the world we found ourselves in.

I think some routes will hit you harder than others, and I think that can change depending on who you are, what you've been through. But whoever you are, you're not alone.

I highly recommend you play it if you can stomach the themes of existential dread.

This game kind of left me speechless. Without getting too into things, the Edgar ending stuck out to me. They're the only one who doesn't directly mirror a deadly sin in some way, as well as the request, rather than the other three, they don't request something beginning with the letter f. There's just, something so important about this , it's hard to describe.

the vn itself is awesome and inspiring. This project and BK's video about its production has given me courage to finally make my delayed renpy project. Thank everybody who participated in this so much <3 <3 <3

(( pst, releasing some character refs would be helpful for anybody doing fanart, just saying >v>;;; ))

wonderful, very wonderful! \(^ヮ^)/

ive only read 2 other visual novels, so my review im going to comment later will be based on personal feelings

my favorite is val and edgar

This is pretty good!

Add interesting and engaging writing with very (VERY) dynamic and moody art, and with music that keeps the mood. You get a project which feels really complete!

Overall, great story!

In the best way possible, this game is a punch to the jaw. Desperate, raw, and horny?

It has moments where it's a little awkward, but the sincerity behind it more than makes up for it. It's been a long time since I've seen something so unfiltered, and unless BoringKeith makes a sequel in another month (this game was made in a month?!) I bet it'll be a short while until I see something this raw again.

This story will haunt me for a very long time, and I'm truly grateful for it. I'm so excited to see what Keith does next, whatever it might end up being.

Heya, probably my first comment on any game ever, lol. As someone living in Russia, this hit me quite... hard. For vArIoUs))) reasons in the game, if you get what I mean. It amazes me when little projects like this can make you cry, and I needed this. I needed this so fucking much. The characters are so real and the subject matter really pulls at my heartstrings, living in a world limited to your country, feeling like you're waiting for the apocalypse and everything is getting worse every day, from the way queer people are treated to the economy. Maybe I became too vulnerable after my breakup with my girlfriend, but I embraced that painful experience with open arms, all the way to the last line and the closing of the game.

I don't know if I was lucky or not, but my first route was Val, the one who reminds me of myself the most, the one who tries his best to stay in a cocoon of safety and comfort, trying to break away from what's happening around him, but fails and goes into loneliness in a desire for warmth and support. It was an incredibly sensual scene, the conversation, the sex and that ending, the only animated cutscene in whole game, because of which you can't look at the other endings as just abruptly cut off, accepting the reality of the situation and feeling this unpleasant emptiness inside you.

Like, you feel bittersweet feelings for the ending with Val, and then emptiness, despair, rejection of what is happening; you feel sick from Edgar's ending, and then it all ends so quickly, as if laughing at you, without even giving Jack a chance to splash out his emotions; you hate Charlie, you feel disgusted by him, and the ending does not let you cool down, does not let Jack cool down, and at the same time you still somehow feel empty from it; and the Nomi ending makes you relax, you even laugh nervously, until you are left with emptiness and a feeling of sadness from the ending...

But this time it continues and damn, man, it's incredibly cruel to say such motivating words after you twisted my soul, thank you! And after like 48 hours this game does not leave your head, and tears automatically flow down your cheeks when you understand how meaningful this game was (how meaningful was you, Keith), how much it resonates with your life, being, practically, about something completely different. And even now I can not stop shedding tears, and it is so fucking good. Thank you, the artist and the musician, if you had not all gathered together, this clearly would not have been such an experience. I hope for the best, I only have 6 months left to graduate college and move to a more accepting city where I hope to feel better than I do in my dump, lol (seriously, it's really annoying when a person thinks you're a pervert for liking not only girls and tries to turn others against you). Take care of yourself, you will get through this!

This was much heavier than I was expecting, but it was also something I needed. 

We'll get through this.

im one of those "not gay or furry, just browsing" people, so obviously i gotta check out boring keith's boring thing. But it actually isn't boring it all. every route feels like the musings of a disillusioned cynic, which is to say pretty awesome to say the least. This is also really impressive to me the more I think about because each character has their own brand of nihilism. Def some top notch heart ache. 

I also like that each character has their moment where they cut through all of their dogma, leave the webster at home and just make a "i want you to..." statement, which i find is really cool. 

Also also i love that val's love is right outside. Very awesome irony. 

Yes Captain Edgar! I shall start killing oil execs.

I don't read VNs; or read much at all. Nor do I ever feel compelled to voice my opinions about a media in any public capacity let alone something like a review on a game. But between the video about the game's journey, and the completion of the game I feel more confident to put perspective to be out there.

Maybe this is because of my inexperience of the genre but the presentation and execution of this VN really changed how I view what a VN can be. I always thought of them as just a book where you can see what character is talking; but the combination of artistic scenary and well composed music (sometimes the lack there of) felt more like a movie.

I feel, if the game was presented with sprites, where each emotion of the characters was portrayed accurately the emotions wouldn't have felt the same way. The lack of sprites made the story moves in a set perspective felt immersive, even if unintentional.

I understand giving the player choice, but with the choices provided I ended Val's route 3rd, the sudden appearance of the animation felt jarring and I thought I had did something wrong. Whether to limit Val's ending to a final play through, or to play the animation only at the end of all four playthroughs, isn't something for me to decide but I do know that something along those lines would make the story feel more cohesive. 

My favourite route and charater is Edgar, and the rest are equal to each other. Playing through their route first, and seeing the severity of their request set a strong hook to keep me playing. The other three are great in their own way, but nothing will ever be as strong as the first time you read the lines "I WANT YOU TO..."

Alas, I hope this pushes me to consume and create something new. Even if the world ended, it feels good to know that we have left our mark in our own way.
 
Thanks for the great game

Ive been meaning to get into furry VNs and after watching the youtube video I decided to have this be the first one I play, since it's not too long and I was rlly intrigued.

The art, music and dialogue are beautiful. I rlly enjoyed how the artstyle got more and more messy / sketchy the more the characters lose their temper / mind, especially Edgar and Charlie. Only negative is that it took me a while to get whos who and, sure, sprites would've been nice, but I totally get that this was made within a month and in my opinion, even without character sprites it was rlly enjoyable!!

I liked some endings more than others, but still enjoyed all of them. Edgar was def my fav, I think I relate to them a bit too much. The whole scene of them going through it was incredible, the song was def my fav and I did not see that ending coming..

Over all I had a great time with it, I'm glad this got me into VNs and am looking forward to playing more :)

i know this is for a certain audience, and i loved reading through it, the story felt really nice, but i dont get the reasoning for why anthropomorphic animals without doing much to justify it. Ive heard people tell me in the past that its symbolic or something else, but with these characters, i could see as people and I do not know if this story had to be told with a bear, a bat, a pigeon, a goat and a ermine. Maybe I'm not getting something about furries in general so I hope to understand eventually, but still, a really great read!

I played the game after watching the video essay and I quite enjoyed it.

Here's a few thoughts on certain parts:
- The beginning was a mess and I had a hard time figuring out who was who until the split up.
- I really enjoyed the text effects, they added impact to the scenes really well.
- The ending was a bit confusing at first, but after I finished my 2nd or 3rd route I understood it, and honestly really liked it.
- I am not a fan of sex scenes and this isn't an exception. All the talk about lengths, crotch prisons and whatnot just feels too euphemistic and almost generic for a furry VN. (Everything before and after it was nice though)
- the music and art captured the writing incredibly well.

All things considered, I give it an 8/10. It's definitely on the list of VNs I'd recommend.

This VN is an absolute feast for the eyes. Even the sketchy, rougher CGs are so fucking evocative and mesmerizing, dripping with style. 

This is only further complimented by the music, just as evocative and captivating. I don't have as much to say besides that though, since I'm not a musician; I don't really have the language other than saying that it fully contributed to sucking me totally into this world.

And then there's the writing. The fear that your writing wouldn't match up to the visuals and music was completely unfounded. Both those elements are supporting the writing in full force. The characters feel so real and hurt so good.

As for more spoiler-y thoughts, the thing that strikes me the most are the "BIG LINES", for lack of a better word. The large-text "I WANT YOU TO ... ME" statements.

Those make me feel things. The characters last wishes, all of them tragic and selfish, to some extent.

Just watched the video. Came to check out the game. I see. I feel. Yeah. 

Sprites would have helped, I had a hard time figuring out who was who in the first scene. The CGs were amazing. The Sky. I won't elaborate any further since this is my spoil free section.

The music was great. When the first song started playing I just let the music play for a moment until I got to a point where I was certain which song was playing. Good thematic touch. Sound effects were well timed and well picked. The songs that needed to get my emotions going did exactly as they should have.

SPOILERS BELOW

It took me my third play through, Val's route, to realize what the endings were. I mean literally, what the end of the game was. Fuck. That's clever as hell. The animation helped me understand, and honestly I think that would be great to reserve for the final route rather than with Vals (or if it's random, to not be random.) But that's nitpicking, because it really was impactful. Like someone slapped their hands together right in front of my face. Loud, sharp, sudden.

I hope this doesn't sound weird, but I could hear your (Keith's) voice very strongly through the writing. Maybe because I've listened to so many of your videos which is just your writing given to me via your voice. (Mostly our character, Jack, but even the others I could hear you). Which is to say, you've got a strong personal writing style. In your video you shared some insecurities about your writing creds compared to your collaborator's in their own fields--I don't think you ever need to feel that way. Writing accomplishments mean nothing, the writing itself is what to measure yourself by. And your writing measures up. It's hard to give more specific writing feedback due to the nature of this being a game, but I think digging into your writing would be a great time (this is a compliment, as I'm also a writer and especially look at rhetoric and craft).

Edgar and Charlie were my favorite. I went in without checking out the content warnings and followed Edgar's route first. It was a lot. But good. Painful. I kept thinking back to the first labels you had given to your characters.

Control. Edgar. Fuck, I mean how else would that end? And how fucking selfish of them. Especially considering how quickly the end of the world came after their death. You (I) are (am) tainted. And then death for all. I think their spiral was well done. Some have called it pretentious, but I didn't feel that way. Maybe that's because I tend to think very deeply like them. It's not out of being so smart or anything like that, the thoughts just. Come. Edgar was scared and mad. So they let it out. Jack's lost responses worked well too.

Rage. Charlie. To be honest, I expected Charlie to rape Jack. He was giving off that connotative dissonance type of homophobia where it felt likely. A violent expression of sex to counter Val's gentle expression of sex. I am also surprised we (Jack) didn't end up killing Charlie, to then counter Edgar's route. Edgar asked us to kill them wanting death while Charlie asked us to fight him wanting to kill. Having us accidentally kill him while trying to protect ourselves, to only see the end of the world so quickly after? I think that would have really landed. (And if I was supposed to leave that route thinking we killed Charlie, I didn't, sorry. Emphasis on Charlie's noises stopping would have given me that idea.) I really would like more of Charlie's route. He's a terrible guy, who did nothing with his life, who's receding to terrible philosophy just because the world is ending. It's fascinating.

Lust. Val. While I agree with Val the most in terms of what I'd care about at the end of the world, I didn't connect with his route as much as the others. Pain and comfort are pretty straightforward. But again, the animation that played at the end of his route was brilliant. 

Sloth. Nomi. Nomi's denial is terrible. Her request is terrible. So she's a great character. I think, in a way, Nomi's request is more violent than even Edgar's. She's asking you to forget her while you are still with her? She's given up completely and it's painful. She's real. Having the conversation continue after she asks you to forget her was an odd choice. I was hoping since you chose to stay, she would at that point, get up and leave. I get that would mess with the mathematical side of the story, where two stay and two leave you (sorta? Charlie technically didn't leave? But he turned on you in a way that would denote leaving your side so. It works). But to end up sharing a story where the only "success" is in finding comfort in others would have been a nice symbolic bow.

Overall this was violent. Even the softer endings were filled with rage, and well, why wouldn't they be? I didn't get that way after the election results because I looked at it like a "time to work" kind of thing. But it should have made me furious. I think I was too shocked to feel furious. Thanks, a ton for this game and the video. I've always been making things since I was young, but I've rarely ever shared them. Maybe like, 1/10th of what I made is shared. Clearly, that needs to change. (Also sorry this got long and maybe a bit too personal. I'm in feedback mode because I've been (trying to) work on my assignments which ask us to give feedback and get all introspective :P)

YES.

Saw the vid and thought I’d check it out. Thematically, this is the type of content I love - characters ruminating on end of the world/end of everything type scenarios. Wanted to give brief thoughts on each route. (SPOILERS BELOW!)

I’d say the cast is pretty well defined, even if they become mouthpieces for the game’s philosophies, but I personally *like* that in my stories; it’s practically necessary for stuff this short.

I found Charlie’s route the least affecting; he felt superfluous and mostly comes across as a shallow asshole. Even if that shallowness is intentional, I can’t say his route was all that interesting to read. (Tho the fighting game foreshadowing was a nice touch) IMO asshole characters usually have a good reason for being the way they are (i.e. Flynn) but with the absence of a reason Charlie comes across as a borderline psychopath. I understand that every group needs an agitator for drama, but that role was better suited to…

Edgar! I hate this fucking bird. I get their reasoning, but I still hate this pretentious little bastard. Imagine breaking up your friendship group at the end of the world then begging the one friend who stuck by you to kill you. Imagine the incredible burden you’ve placed on said friend, whose final memory will be of killing someone they loved. Ugh, imagine being Edgar T.T;

They’re so self-absorbed in their anxious ‘woe-is-me, nothing matters’ existentialist philosophy I was really hoping the bookshelf would come down and crush them as some sort of cosmic punchline. (You could say they were… burdened by knowledge, eh? Okay, sorry) Point is, Edgar is the type of brainiac who’s so wrapped up in their own anxious, ruminating thoughts - so eager to take control of their own narrative - they never stopped to consider the emotional toll their intellectualism would have on others. As a pretentious philosophy graduate, this is a character I completely understand. And hate.

See, I’d take Val/Nomi’s side in the argument. At the end of the world I’d do everything I can to keep my friends together. I’d put on a movie and/or fuck that one friend I’ve been crushing on. Preferably both at once.

Personally, Nomi was my favourite character, since she felt the most personable. Her anecdotes of the group’s past are amusing and give the friends a much needed sense of history. Whenever a FVN addresses the question of ‘furries and animals’ it always gets a big laugh from me, and the zoo story was no exception. Her routes also the most unsettling of the bunch. Purposefully *not* talking about the apocalypse outside creates this sense of escalating dread. Despite appearances of ‘chill vibes’ I get the sense she’s just barely keeping it together, which we see glimmers of when she begs you to forget her. Ironically, trying to create emotional distance from such a dramatic subject is one of the most affecting ways of evoking it; her route was the closest I came to crying.

Finally, Val. He’s sweet, I suppose. And his sex scene feels pretty plausible too. Might as well fuck at the end of the world. I’m not big on himbos so I don’t have much to say about him. I will say his route feels perfectly designed to be played last. (In fact, if I have to give the routes an order I’d recommend Nomi > Charlie > Edgar > Val)

I don’t know much about art/music but Phwog and Red Means Recording did a really good job bringing this story to life. Especially with the ending, where the art, music and script all coalesce into that haunting final image. The way the dialogue cuts off. The singular crack across the planet. Those first few piano notes. Chills every time. It’s also why I’d save Val’s story for last so that special animatic plays. Kinda makes it feel as if, whilst having sex with him, everything is happening all at once just before it all stops. And sex - somehow - feels like a good metaphor for that… idk. I’m rambling and don’t wanna sound like Edgar.

Thanks for making this. Sorry for rambling on for so-

Holy shit, dude. That was … I needed this. Thank you.

enjoyable but short read. not the greatest of visual novels ever made, but I felt compelled to download it at the end of the day, so what does that say about it, and me?

I need to do another play through but oh my goodness. I'm in speechless....

Congratulations. More!

It is my first time writing on the Itch site, but I had to with this game. I can't believe how well this was written about dealing when everything is at an end, especially with each character's response to you about what they desire the most, I guess it makes sense when remembering the intercom, all 4 actions are in a way a sin, but is their ideal way to live in that moment. The art helps deliver the fear and tension, making it rough and the use of colour is done excellently well, even the music is perfected for each scene. I'm glad I have the chance to check it, I can't wait what you have plans for next Keith, same goes for you too Phowg and Red. I hope you three are doing well and that 2025 be good for you, take care!

fucking beautifully written and presented. every route is unique but so incredibly relatable and really provokes some uncomfortable thoughts about finality and what we're doing with the time we have in this world. hoping to see more from keith!

Shivers man, damn

No piece of media has ever elicited such an emotion from me before now. Bravo man, I'm speechless.

god, what a game. i don't think i've encountered anything else that touches the specific nerve this did... made me feel simultaneously dreadful and cathartic about the current state of things.  

Phenomenal. Art, music, story was just awesome. This VN did a great job of compressing existential anxiety into a ~1.5 hr reading format.

This story and all of its endings are super lovely! Each character had a great deal of depth to them that I enjoyed. It was great to see both the level of characterization and uniqueness for each member of the cast, it made the journey throughout feel both frightening and lovely when it needed it to.

others write how Edgar's route was the most provoking for them

idk, i had a friend like that (not sure if i was a good friend) and that's unnerving and you try to distance yourself otherwise you risk driving yourself into the abyss or something

anyway, for me Val's route was the most dreadful and scary and soul rending. this desperation just seeps through you.... 

also the epilogue is ingenious but i can't place my finger on it or it's creation. it kinda takes you out of a picture, as if you take one more step from "reality"

I've watched Keith's video essay taking hours to analyze Adastra in-depth and I love it so much! Keith's writing is definitely top-tier. It's not a surprise to find this FVN a masterpiece. 

And I also love the art and music. The very aesthetics of liminal spaces, post-modernity, the selection of movies (like 2001), and the hauntological figures of AI and AI-generated spaces fit the narrative so well.

Thanks for creating such a wonderful story.

Wow, now that was something...

Anyway, thanks for the amazing work, Keith, got me crying at Edgar's route. So much existential dread compacted in a single short VN.

And I got the memo and plan on joining in. Keep making queer art.

talk about dark and unique!

Great character writing and atmosphere! Extremely impressive for their first work.