The line between familiar and surreal begins to blur in and Roger, a quietly unsettling slice-of-life visual novel from solo dev TearyHand Studio and Kodansha Creators’ Lab. As part of Steam Next Fest, players can now dive into the newly released PC demo and get their first taste of this mysterious, hand-drawn point-and-click narrative ahead of its full launch in Summer 2025.
When the Ordinary Becomes Ominous
Set in a seemingly mundane morning, and Roger follows a young girl as her daily routine is shattered by two stark revelations: her father has vanished without a trace, and a complete stranger is sitting comfortably inside their home—claiming to know her, though she doesn’t recognize him at all.
What begins as a quiet day in turns into a deeply personal mystery, as players help unravel the stranger’s identity and uncover what happened to her father. The game invites players to explore a home full of familiar objects hiding unfamiliar meanings, and to piece together a story where even the smallest interactions could lead to big truths.
Demo Highlights
The demo introduces the first chapter of the story with and Roger’s signature high-contrast, comic book-inspired visuals and interactive point-and-click gameplay. You’ll navigate conversations, uncover clues, and make subtle choices that begin shaping the emotional arc of the protagonist—all while navigating the tension of not knowing who to trust.
Developer yona describes the game as a reflection on disorientation and self-discovery:
“The demo for and Roger explores the beginning of one of those life-altering days. The confusion, clinging to what is known while avoiding the unknown—it’s like walking through the fog in search of a lighthouse.”
Features:
-
Point-and-click narrative gameplay with emotional depth
-
Bold comic book art style with high-contrast visuals
-
Interactive moments hiding layers of meaning in everyday life
-
Available in eight languages: English, Japanese, Traditional/Simplified Chinese, French, German, Italian, and Spanish
-
First playable chapter now live via Steam Next Fest
and Roger is set to launch on PC in Summer 2025. Try the demo today during Steam Next Fest (running through June 16), and step into a story that starts with a missing person—and leads you into the unknown.
For more narrative-driven games and Next Fest standouts, be sure to follow our coverage and wishlist and Roger on Steam.