Free visual novel adventure for Android
Stillwater is a free visual novel adventure game for Android from developer Studio Clump. It was created as a submission for the 2021 Spooktober Visual Novel Jam. You'll follow private investigator Hugo and his partner Noah as they become ever more entangled in the dark secrets of a family curse.
It's a gritty story suitable for more mature gamers, as it contains swearing and references to suicide. Escape The Ayuwoki Horror Fort and Evil Haunted Ghost Scary Cellar Horror are great options if you prefer horror adventures with more player input.
Storyline
Hugo Laurent is a private investigator who's contacted by a young woman asking him to investigate the mystery of a family curse. Hugo puts aside his paperwork, teams up again with Noah, his faithful associate, and embarks on what he believes is 'just another job'. He has no idea of the dangers lurking in that wait for him as he attempts to unravel the mystery.
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Content advisory
Stillwater isn't suitable for players who are sensitive to flashing images and loud noises. We should also note that it contains jump scares, mentions of suicide and swearing. Therefore, consider this content advisory before you download the visual novel.
Art style
The developer used an anime art style with subtle tones. Even on the smaller screen of an Android phone, Stillwater's visuals and subtitles are clear, so it's easy to enjoy it wherever you are.
Controls
As there's only minimal player input, you only need a mouse to play Stillwater. Most of the time, you're only clicking to progress the dialogue and the story.
Fun horror game
With a playtime of around half an hour, Stillwater is fairly short. However, that's to be expected, given that it was created for a competition.
The artwork, music and in-depth storyline quickly draw you in. The developer has also gone one step further by writing two different endings. This is a pleasant surprise for such a relatively short adventure. It's definitely worth downloading, and we're excited to see further development of Stillwater and other work from Studio Clump.
