Phoenixx has announced that the 2D action-adventure game "Close to the Sun," developed by Nonlinear, will be released on Steam on November 27, 2026. The price is 1400 yen (including tax), and a demo is now available. The game features multiple endings, with the exploration order and the player's choices and actions influencing the story's direction.
The story takes place in an underground world on the brink of collapse due to disaster. Players assume the role of a young boy named Karua, who embarks on a journey carrying his sister Amaya on his back, seeking a way to save the mysterious girl Arneb. Arneb hails from the old world, which has already been destroyed, and her secrets will be gradually uncovered through exploration.
Dangerous mechanical lifeforms inhabit the underground areas. Players must avoid enemy sightlines and use dashes to traverse hazardous environments. Dashing into enemies paralyzes them, and successfully paralyzing an enemy restores dash charges, creating a continuous dashing action loop.
Players can decide the order in which they explore each area. Different choices and actions will lead the story into corresponding branches, gradually revealing the truth of the underground world. It has also been confirmed that the ending theme will be performed by Asahi Ruri, a ninja-themed VTuber and voice actress who debuted in 2018.
A demo for "Close to the Sun" is currently available on Steam, allowing players to experience the dash mechanic and basic controls before the official release.