Hi! I’m Liya (also known as Bart van D’Art), and I’ve once again set out to create a visual novel—this time, a dark fantasy story called The Eclipse Mage.

My goal is simple: to finish the game. To make that possible, I’ve decided to keep things manageable. I’m working on the entire project alone, which means focusing on what I’m comfortable with and what I enjoy doing. I’m not chasing perfection or ambition for its own sake—I just want to create something complete and heartfelt.

🎭 Main Character

You’ll play as a woman (you can choose her name), but further character customization won’t be available—at least for now. Since she’s a premade character, she comes with a partially developed personality and a backstory. That said, how she grows throughout the story will depend entirely on your choices.

📖 Story

I love dark fantasy settings—harsh choices, dramatic consequences, and political intrigue. You can expect mature themes and difficult, sometimes uncomfortable situations. If you enjoy stories inspired by Game of Thrones, The Witcher, or Dragon Age: Origins, this game may be for you. Because of these themes, the game will likely carry a 16+ or even 18+ rating for violence and mature content.

💖 Romance

There will be at least one romanceable character, and I’m currently considering adding a second. However, romance is not the main focus—it’s more of a bonus for players who enjoy it. Relationships will take time to develop; don’t expect flirting or love confessions in the first few chapters.

⚙️ Gameplay & Mechanics

Choices matter. I want players to make decisions that significantly impact the world and the narrative. There will rarely be a clear “right” or “wrong” option. I may also experiment with timed choices. Starting from Chapter 2, I aim for 80% of the player’s choices to have meaningful consequences. Multiple endings are planned.

📅 Development Plan

The full story is mapped out, all the way to the final chapter. Chapter 1 took me about two months to complete at a relaxed pace, and I plan to follow a similar schedule for the rest. For now, the game is planned to include 9 chapters total.

🖥️ Platforms

The game is being developed in Ren’Py and will be released for PC on itch.io, completely free to play. You can follow this dev log here on Tumblr, or check out the itch.io dev blog for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and future announcements.

Chapter One. May 17th.