The River Bride
A downloadable game for Windows, macOS, and Linux
"I die for a family that never wanted a daughter, for a village that needed a scapegoat, and for a community that never cared about her."
"The River Bride" is a visual novel based on the events of the bridal sacrifices in Ancient China. Players play as Fu Suyu, the current year's bridal sacrifice. Experience how Fu Suyu deals with her fate through accepting her duty, fighting for her life, or even experiencing love for the last time.
Features:
- 20,000 + words
- 4+ endings
- 2 CGs
- Developed by 2 Chinese Descendants who are bad at being Chinese
- Historical accuracy and inaccuracy
- Apparently, lesbians did not exist in Ancient Chinese text. So, we can not prove that this did not happen
- But we also can't prove it did happen -- like everything in this visual novel
- Apparently, lesbians did not exist in Ancient Chinese text. So, we can not prove that this did not happen
Glossary:
Fu Suyu (富素鈺): The daughter of a poor farmer and the bride.
JiuJiuWo (九九五): The ghost of the previous bridal sacrifice.
Fang Yuxian (芳毓嫻): Fu Suyu's friend who left the village for marriage.
Hebo (河伯): Lord of the Yellow River
This game contains references and implied suicide. Viewer discretion is advised.
Download
Development log
- [Art] Extras and thank you for 400 downloads!48 days ago
- The River Bride Walkthrough- True End75 days ago
Comments
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I ended up streaming this game yesterday while playing through a few of the Spooktober Game Jam games live, and I had a really, really wonderful time with this! Thank you for the lovely story. I only ended up playing through the true end due to time commitments, but the dynamic between A-Su and Xian-Xian really stuck with me, particularly the scene with lifting the veil and the descriptions of the river at the end, and I've recommended it directly to a few people who I thought would like it.
If you want to see my live reactions/see chat's nice comments, I've got the VOD up at https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2265021118 around 4:02:00. (If you do, I'm so sorry for my clumsy read-through, I'm mostly an art streamer and don't often do voice-overs for games.) Chat really loved Xian-Xian especially though!
The stream was amazing! Thank you so much for playing through it. I laugh whenever you two and the chat scream they’re gay lmaoo. Really enjoyed the reaction, yes that’s how lesbian flirts Gio nailed it!
I’m glad you like the dynamic between Suyu and Xianxian, we spent a lot of time discussing how they would see each other. Suyu had a feeling about who the ghost is but she was denial.
Xianxian is the ideal wife character and it shows.
The feedbacks are very valid. Gio is 100% aware of how lengthy her writing is lol. I honestly planned to do more cgs initially. Sadly time limit but hey time for head cannon fan art.
Aww, I'm glad you liked it! ♥
I definitely 100% wanna say, the pacing complaints are small and the art as it is is great. Once again, you guys did great, especially in a month-long timespan!
Lovely art, and it was fun to get all the endings! We definitely need more yuri in this kind of setting!
Thankyouuu, yuri in a confined/ oppressed world is melancholic and charming💔
always down for some ahistoric/not ahistoric lesbianism
We can’t prove there were lesbians in history, but sometimes ’very close friends’ isn’t enough
this was awesome!!
Thank you!! <3
how do you get the one where she becomes a ghost? I have tried.
We’re working on setting up a walkthrough soon! But I’ll give a tip in the meantime:
there are multiple ways to get the ghost ending, but it is easier to be a ghost after reflecting on past miseries, mistakes, and what ifs; choose the right subject to talk about and maybe sadness can become anger.
Hope this helps and good luck, future ghost!
Nice, thank you.
Hey thanks for waiting! We've published a walkthrough to the true end if you're still struggling
https://giogiogzg.itch.io/the-river-bride/devlog/808295/the-river-bride-walkthro...
Nice, thank you
Lovely game!! it was fun learning the fate of these brides :3!
Thank you so much <3 We’re happy that you enjoyed the game : D!!