I have something for the horror lovers! Indie studio, S&J Games just launched the Kickstarter campaign for their horror romance visual Novel, Bad Summer! In the game you play as Jenny Lewis an awkward high school graduate working her first job as a camp counsellor. Help her navigate an exciting summer of making new friends, and finding her first love. But be wary! Not all is as it seems…
The Kickstarter campaign is set to run until August 21, 2025 with a funding goal of $25,000 USD! Alongside the campaign, players can now play a new expanded demo on Steam and itch.io!
About Bad Summer
Bad Summer is a narrative-driven visual novel filled with romance, suspense, and a creeping sense of dread. Will you forge deep bonds and uncover the truth, or will the secrets of Bear Ridge swallow you whole?
Play as dual protagonists Jenny Lewis and Oliver Smith. Jenny is a shy guitarist trying to survive her first summer as a camp counselor. Oliver is a young detective sent to investigate a string of disappearances no one wants to talk about.
Bad Summer Early Demo Playthrough
Protagonists of Bad Summer
Jenny Lewis never expected much from Bear Ridge Summer Camp. A shy and awkward recent high school graduate, she took the counselor job to escape the monotony of home, maybe make a few friends, and figure out what comes next. But fitting in has never been easy for Jenny, and camp life quickly proves to be more than she bargained for.
Thrown into a world of late-night campfires, whispered secrets, and an unease she can’t quite shake, Jenny must navigate friendships, first love, and something far more sinister lurking in the woods. As the summer unfolds, she’ll have to decide to stay in her comfort zone or step up and face the unknown.
This was supposed to be the summer she found herself. Instead, she might just lose everything.
At just twenty-one, Detective Oliver Smith has already made a name for himself as the youngest detective in New Empress City’s police department. Sharp, relentless, and far too perceptive for his own good, Oliver is a detective who sees patterns where others see noise. It’s an ability that has earned him both admiration and resentment among his peers.
A recent hire of the International Security of the Weird and Abnormal (ISWA), Oliver Smith assumed he was signing up for a job in cutting-edge investigations. Instead, he’s been thrown into a world of supernatural horrors, where the things that go bump in the night aren’t just real…they’re watching.
Romanceable Characters of Bad Summer
Bad Summer offers six fully realized romance routes—four for Jenny, two for Oliver. Every character you can grow close to plays a meaningful role in the story. They’re not just love interests—they’re people with pasts, goals, and choices that shape the world around them.
Key Features to Expect
❤ Unravel the Chilling Truth – Immerse yourself in Bad Summer, a haunting visual novel experience that will pull you into a dark, eerie world. Do not expect a happy ending here.
❤ Unmask the Abnormals – Play detective with unique phone call mini-games. Use your intuition to separate the humans from the horrors lurking within.
❤ Choices with Consequences – Every decision matters. Shape your destiny and unlock the hidden secrets of Bad Summer’s branching narrative.
❤ A World of Terror Awaits – Brace yourself for pulse-pounding jump scares, unsettling analog horror sequences, and captivating storytelling, fully voiced in specific sections.
❤ Romance the Unknown – Forge bonds with four unique romanceable characters, each brought to life with vibrant expressions and captivating movements.
❤ Secrets to Unearth – Discover hidden notes scattered throughout the world. Each note offers cryptic clues, deepening the mystery at the heart of Bad Summer.
❤ More than a Visual Novel – Bad Summer is a descent into the unknown. Are you brave enough to face the truth?
❤ English Voice Acting – To add to the immersion, Bad Summer will feature English voice acting!
Art Assets and Screenshots
About the Devs, S&J Games
S&J Games is a small indie team with a passion for visual novels. We believe storytelling is the most powerful means of inspiring and teaching others. Combine that with gaming and interactive choices, and the result can be groundbreaking.
