Kupala

“Kupala” is a complete nonlinear visual novel blending horror and drama, inspired by Slavic folklore. The final version of the game is available in both Russian and English. The story follows twelve-year-old Anya, who travels with her family to a remote village on the eve of Ivan Kupala Night—one of the oldest Slavic holidays. The game introduces players to life in a Russian village and to elements of Slavic mythology. Folkloric terms and characters encountered throughout the story are explained in the built-in glossary. The village setting, the old house, and many details of everyday life are based on the author’s own childhood memories of time spent in the countryside. Throughout the story, the player makes decisions that directly affect Anya’s fate. The game features five alternative endings, with the outcome determined by the choices made along the way. The game features 65 original illustrations, all hand-drawn by the author. The novel is steeped in unease and a dark sense of something unknown drawing near, contrasted with the warmth and familiar comforts of an old village home.