There is something special about indie games, something that is amplified in games put out just for the love of doing it. If you’re like me, itch.io is your homebase for finding new and unique games. CTRL FREAK, a game written by Drakka with art and music by BibiXP, is a scifi Visual Novel published independently on Itch.io.

A Story About Family

The story centers around a trio of childhood friends who’ve grown up in a city walled off from the rest of the crumbling world. The city too, is crumbling. In true dystopian fiction tradition, the widening gap between the wealthy and the poor has become a chasm. One that the authoritarian leader is exploiting. But for now, our main characters are just trying to get by.

One character, Blake, has created an AI she’s named Al. Al is our narrator and the character we play as. It’s up to us what path the story takes, which of our friends we assist with our enhanced capabilities. Despite the technological bend, the story rests on social decisions. There are moments where you have the chance to guide your friends to make the right decision, the kind decision.

There are three routes in the game, each following a different member of the household and explores a different aspect of life in the city. Now, I won’t spoil the story, but I will say my favorite route is Yasmine’s. It was the last one I played, and I’m glad it was. If I had to give a recommended order, I’d say you should play Renan’s first, Blake’s second, and Yasmine’s last.

Immaculate Lofi Vibes

The heart of CTRL FREAK is its music. Although I am quite biased, I’m a fan of the composer. To me, there is nothing like chiptune and synth to convey the simultaneously nostalgic and futuristic tone. The soundtrack somehow manages to be beautiful and evocative, as well as unobtrusive or unnerving when it needs to be. It is a constant presence. Except, of course, when it is dramatically absent.

Brightly colored pixel art makes up the visuals of the game. The characters spin and push each other across the screen, their direction more theatrical than your average visual novel. The backgrounds seem to dance as they deliberately glitch out. Even as I sit here typing this article, I have the game open on one of the most charming locations in the game: The Garden. Though I’m not actively playing, the world is alive.

Technological Snags

Occasionally, there are lines from Al that appear to be just narration, but the other characters respond as if it’s spoken dialogue. This only happens early in the game, so it’s likely this issue was simply missed in bug-testing. However, there are no other bugs – other than the plot-relevant ones in the story itself – so it easy to give such a minor issue a pass.

The writing style can be confusing due to “garden path” sentences, and overt formality. However, I am inclined to believe these are both stylistic choices. Our narrator is an AI after all, and we can’t expect her to always talk like a person. Even if it wasn’t intentional, the difficulty is only initial. By the time you reach the first major branch the language is a part of you. You’ll acclimatized to the language.

Conclusion

On the whole, CTRL FREAK is a sweet, poignant game about community and family. Sure, there’s some typos and inconsistencies, but they don’t affect the gameplay or story. The art, music, and writing are touching. The story is heartwarming. I would more than recommend you check the game out.

CTRL FREAK is available on PC and Mac and retails for $3. It is available now.