The Summer That Changed Everything: Episode 3 (Gay Romance Visual Novel)

"The Summer That Changed Everything" is an episodic gay romance visual novel based on the novel by Tina Isabel Leung. It narrates the love story of two former classmates that fall in love after a failed suicide attempt and writing together a bucket list.

"The Summer That Changed Everything" is an episodic visual novel that follows  former classmates Markus and Karsten, through a life-changing summer after high school. As they step into adulthood, combat emotional issues, support their friends, and seek themselves, they will also fall in love.

This game will feature 7 episodes, amounting to approximately 37,000 words of text. Click here for Episodes 1&2. And don't forget to follow Hasalynx Games on itch.io now, to never miss an episode!

In Episode 3, we travel back to 2016 Berlin, where Markus reminisces the memories that may have been pivotal in causing his struggle with depression. In particular, he recalls his days playing soccer, a dream cut short by a knee problem...

He also thinks back of the summer before high school, when he visited his mother in Italy. During his mother's fashion show, he met his new friend Susanna and fell deeply in love with her... However, as we learned in Episode 1, his hopes were dashed when she rejected him.

Trying to recapture some of his former happiness, Markus heads to the local sports club where he once played soccer. There, he unexpectedly runs into Uwe, his former best friend. What starts as a friendly game quickly sours when Uwe attacks Markus, upsetting him on multiple levels, and forcing him to realize that the friendship, too, is over.

Seeking support, Markus ends up on the high school rooftop with Karsten, leading to a deep conversation where Karsten reveals he is gay. Initially taken aback, Markus accepts this revelation, and they continue to work through their bucket list, which now includes caring for a new cockatoo parrot Markus has acquired.

The episode takes another turn when Lukas calls Karsten, inviting him to a gay club party. Karsten is torn over whether or not to ask Markus to come along, leaving players questioning what this might mean for their friendship...

In Episode 3:

• A 6,300-word narrative based on Tina Isabel Leung's "The Summer that Changed Everything." In this episode, Markus and Karsten's friendship deepens significantly. Karsten bravely comes out as gay, and Markus stands by him, becoming a supportive ally in the LGBT community.

• Explore the complex relationships in Markus' life: confront his skeptical father Alfred, engage with his stylish mother Valeria, a renowned fashion designer, and navigate the turbulent waters with Uwe, Markus' ex-best friend turned antagonist.

• Enjoy variety with three new outfits for Markus and a new ensemble for Karsten, Judith, and Susanna, enhancing their personalities and your visual experience.

• Starting with this episode, you'll be able to read characters' texts right on the screen! This new feature makes the gameplay even more dynamic.

• Your choices shape the dialogue outcomes - and in this episode you can make three critical decisions that define your characters' growth and their authenticity. Opt to face Uwe head-on, or help Karsten confidently embrace his identity. Decisions that align with the novel’s trajectory are marked with a star.

• Discover meticulously designed environments that range from the intimate spaces of Markus' home and local sports club to the vibrant urban landscape of Berlin, and the picturesque Italian setting of Portofino, where new adventures and old connections intertwine.

• Lose yourself in a beautifully curated soundtrack by Jason Shaw, Kevin MacLeod, and Sascha Ende. This soundscape blends folk indie guitar, delicate vocals, and dynamic rock elements, perfectly capturing the emotional essence of each scene.

This game was developed by a human and incorporates AI-generated resources. Read here how Hasalynx Games responsibly uses AI in its creations.

The game is controlled by mouse and keyboard. Beyond you can find information about keyboard shortcuts:

• Esc - Menu Screen
• Space - Progress the Game
• A - Auto Mode
• F - Skip / Fast forward
• B - Backlog (Check it out for a hidden artwork!)
• L - Load game screen
• S - Save game screen

Hasalynx Games is an indie game gig that doesn't have any external funding and mostly relies on founder's funds and private effort to create the games. If they spark your curiosity, please buy them (they're so cheap!), comment, and spread positive word. Also, don't forget to add this game to your collections and follow Hasalynx Games on itch.io, so as to receive updates when a new game is up!

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"The Summer That Changed Everything: Episode 4," is set to drop around December 17th! While you're counting down the days, check out our other gay visual novel collections: 9 Gay Romance Visual Novels, 8 Short Ancient World Gay Romance Visual Novels, and 5 Asian Gay Romance Visual Novels. Don’t miss your chance to experience these fantastic stories! Explore our offerings today and discover your next favorite game!