Yoake Lab has released a demo for the visual novel "Name of Dawn" during the Steam Next Fest, allowing players to experience the prologue of the full story. Centered around the year 2000's arcade rhythm game culture, this title is not a traditional rhythm game but a visual novel where reading is the primary experience.
The story takes place in an arcade in a regional city, centering on two girls who were once obsessed with arcade rhythm games and the "communication notebook" used by players to leave messages. Ten years after an incident at the arcade, the protagonist reunites with her former friend, and together they unravel their emotional misunderstandings by recalling their past experiences.
The work weaves communication notebooks, arcade communities, and the two characters' shared love for rhythm games into its narrative, depicting how early arcade players formed relationships in offline spaces. The demo focuses on the blend of text-based storytelling, period atmosphere, and original music, rather than note-hitting gameplay.
For the music, .THi (Hiroshi Takeyasu), who has been involved in sound production since the dawn of arcade rhythm games, and TAG, who previously served as director and composer for dance-based music games, have created new background tracks for this title. The demo also features a "Sound Room" where players can listen to selected tracks in higher quality. "Name of Dawn" is currently in development for PC via Steam, with no official release date announced yet.