The Summer That Changed Everything: Episode 4 (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 & 3. And don't forget to follow Hasalynx Games on itch.io now, to never miss an episode!

Episode 4 of this series packs an exhilarating mix of drama, mystery, and heartfelt revelations. The scene kicks off at the vibrant ancient Egyptian-themed nightclub N&K, drawing inspiration from the legendary gay lovers Niankhamun and Numhotep (we made a game about them before - check it out here). 

At this nightclub, Markus and Karsten's night takes a thrilling twist as Karsten mysteriously disappears with Lukas, embarking on a mission to help him land a date. Meanwhile, Markus dives into deep conversations with Tariq about orientation, nationality, and religion, adding layers to their already complex characters. 

A new revelation unfolds for Markus as he starts hitting the gym, where fate introduces him to Judith. Over coffee, he uncovers the dark shadows of Judith's life, dominated by her controlling boyfriend Benedikt.

The excitement doesn't stop there! Ilse clinches victory at a chess tournament, setting the stage for an unforgettable home party.

As the night deepens, a game of Spin the Bottle stirs up old feelings and long-buried memories for Markus and Karsten, revealing their hidden desires and unresolved high school past.

The emotional rollercoaster peaks as Karsten, after a poignant conversation with Judith about unfulfilled dreams, makes a bold decision to move past his feelings for Markus, seeking solace with friends Lukas and Tariq.

But the drama heightens with Tariq's shocking revelation about his family's rejection due to his sexuality, leaving everyone reeling from the impact. This episode is a whirlwind of emotions, secrets, and dramatic twists that will leave viewers eagerly awaiting what comes next.

In Episode 4:

• Dive into a riveting 8,000-word narrative drawn from Tina Isabel Leung’s novel “The Summer that Changed Everything.” Watch as Markus’s feelings for Karsten evolve into something more romantic, stirring a mix of fear and excitement. Meanwhile, Karsten faces the tough decision to finally move on from his feelings for Markus (but can he?).

• The cast deepens with the introduction of new characters: Jan, a friend from Ilse’s chess club, and Benedikt, Judith’s manipulative and controlling boyfriend, enhancing the story’s complexity and intrigue.

• See the characters in dynamic party outfits, including painted faces for a festive touch, and new everyday outfits for Markus, Karsten, Judith, and Ilse, all programmed to change at key moments in the story.

• Make crucial decisions that influence the storyline: choose if Markus pretends to be gay in front of Tariq, if he reveals his past suicide attempt to Judith, and if he convinces Karsten to participate in spin the bottle.

• Explore beautifully designed new backgrounds that perfectly set the scene for each moment: the atmospheric ancient Egyptian-themed N&K nightclub, an old Berlin gym, an eclectic café, new places from Karsten's memories, Ilse’s cozy apartment, and the upscale restaurant where Karsten meets his friends.

• Get immersed in the emotional depth of the game with a soundtrack by Jason Shaw, Kevin MacLeod, and Sascha Ende, featuring everything from electronic party themes to acoustic guitar tracks with sweet German vocals, enhancing the storytelling experience.

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 5," is set to drop around January 14th! 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!