⚠️ DEVELOPMENT STATUS: WORK IN PROGRESS This build is a pre-alpha prototype submitted for RPG Maker Horror Game Jam 13.

It currently contains the Prologue and Chapter 1, focusing on the investigation of the Sado Shoe Company. You will play through the start of Yuuma's journey, meet his first allies, and uncover the first "glitch" in reality. The full story is still in development.

"The town isn't just quiet. It's stopped. And the people who died here... they have nowhere else to go."

Dead City Fable (デッド・シティ・フェイブル) is a psychological horror RPG set in a depressed, isolated port town on Sado Island, Japan. You play as Yuuma, an autistic 10-year-old boy whose unique perception of the world allows him to see what others ignore: a "glitch" in reality that serves as a social network for the dead.

🌑 THE STORY

The economy has crumbled, the shops are closed, and the adults are suffocated by secrets. But when Yuuma discovers a hidden website on his PC—Dead Social Media—he realizes the town is louder than it looks.

Guided by the digital ghosts of the deceased, Yuuma must team up with the few living people who will listen to him to expose the cover-ups that have kept the town stagnant for decades.

👁️ CURRENT DEMO FEATURES (The Sado Shoe Company Arc)

• The Glitch in the Lens: Experience the world through Yuuma's eyes. Use his unique perception to find hidden doors, read ghost data, and see the "static" that covers the town.
• No Swords, Just Truth: A unique "Combat" system where you don't fight monsters. You Confront trauma. Use Insight to expose lies and Resolve to endure the emotional weight of the dead.
• The Sado Shoe Company Mystery: Investigate the abandoned factory. What happened during the tragedy there years ago? Why was it covered up?
• Living & Dead Allies: Team up with Hina, a living girl who can pick the locks you can't, to access the factory's deepest secrets.
• Monochrome Aesthetic: A striking grayscale art style that reflects the lifeless atmosphere of the "Dead City."

🎮 CONTROLS

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Z / Space / Enter: Confirm / Interact
• X / Esc: Open Menu / Cancel
• Shift: Flashlight 
• G: Ghost Device 

📝 A NOTE FROM THE DEVELOPER

This project is an entry for RPG Maker Horror Game Jam 13. As this is the first episode, I am actively looking for feedback on the atmosphere, the "Confrontation" battle system, and the pacing of the mystery.

If you encounter any bugs or have theories about the Sado Shoe Company mystery, please leave a comment below!

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2025 10:46PM - Already uploaded a new version that hopefully fixes a bug where it stops working when you enter the city because of the rain splash image.  [Also had to get the number of files under 1000 for the web version, pretty sure it's working now]