In a genre often crowded with 'happy endings', a visual novel that explicitly promises there is no survival route is a bold move. 'Despair at -30°C' (氷点下30度の絶望) is set to launch on November 3rd for PC (Steam) and mobile. Developed by Mitsudomoe Kobo, the title dives into the chilling intersection of human madness and tenderness under extreme conditions.

The game borrows heavily from the SCP Foundation lore and serves as a prequel to the developer’s previous work, 'Becoming Your Favorite’s Precious Person ~Nobody Loves You~'. While newcomers can jump in without having played the predecessor, be warned: the content touches on smoking, murder, and self-harm, so proceed with caution if you are easily disturbed.

The protagonist, Kuchinashi, finds themselves trapped in a freezer alongside a cute junior. As the cold sets in, the characters face hypothermia, hallucinations, and 'paradoxical undressing'—a phenomenon where victims strip off their clothes due to a false sense of heat while losing consciousness. With only 'truth' and 'death' awaiting them, the game features four endings, yet none of them involve the protagonist surviving. Each playthrough is a brief, intense 15 to 20-minute affair, packed with heavy dialogue and shocking twists.

The development team has issued a rather grim advisory: 'Unless you enjoy watching humans suffer or struggling in vain for survival, we suggest you skip this one.' They have also cautioned players regarding the inclusion of confined spaces, toxic parent-child dynamics, the death of pets, mild horror, smoking, profanity, injury, blood, violence, murder, and self-harm.

'Despair at -30°C' arrives on PC and mobile on November 3rd as a free-to-play title. Currently, it is only available in Japanese, with no news regarding a Korean localization.