# After Dark (scientifically accurate apocalyptic horror) UPDATE 23 AUG \[+300k words\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Works In Progress\ **Tags:** nonbinary-inclusive, gender-choice, horror, young-adult-fiction\ **Created:** [April 11, 2021, 5:25pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/after-dark-scientifically-accurate-apocalyptic-horror-update-23-aug-300k-words/98169 "2021-04-11T17:25:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 22
**Author:** ![AidenSuzuno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/aidensuzuno/32/260603_2.png) [@AidenSuzuno](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/AidenSuzuno)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 12:41am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/after-dark-scientifically-accurate-apocalyptic-horror-update-23-aug-300k-words/98169/431 "2026-07-16T00:41:42Z")
I don’t know how else I could say this sorry… I finished the whole demo while wanting to romance Michael, I got to the point where I could have kissed him but didn’t cause I thought it was “too soon” and maybe it’ll pop at another time, but I supposed that’s why I didn’t got the options anymore ? ^^" ---
**Author:** ![Daleko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/daleko/32/128959_2.png) [@Daleko](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Daleko)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2026, 12:51am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/after-dark-scientifically-accurate-apocalyptic-horror-update-23-aug-300k-words/98169/432 "2026-07-16T00:51:19Z")
If you only noticed at the end, there’s no way to know what could have gone wrong. Almost every single choice has relational effects on the group, so… ---
**Author:** ![Daleko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/daleko/32/128959_2.png) [@Daleko](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Daleko)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2026, 7:48am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/after-dark-scientifically-accurate-apocalyptic-horror-update-23-aug-300k-words/98169/433 "2026-08-23T07:48:02Z")
### **The 3.7.3 update is here!** Please note that this update is very “horizontal.” About 90% of the content is split across mutually exclusive choices, so there’s no way to see everything in a single playthrough, and it’s going to feel quite short. I’m sorry, I know that’s not always the most exciting way to play, but the alternative would be either forcing everyone down the same path just to move the story along faster, or releasing only a couple of updates a year. Hopefully, though, you’ll still enjoy discovering new content and unlocking new possibilities with every playthrough! **DEVLOG** - Reworked the item discard system. - Energy recovered at the start of Day 7 is no longer fixed and now depends on multiple factors. - Made it mandatory to go look for Michael and Kay after a certain time on Day 7. - Rebalanced how Michael evaluates MC on Day 5 by adjusting the weight of several personality traits. - During the storage room trade with Kay, the charger can now actually be traded, and giving Kay a lighter will correctly unlock the discount. - Tweaked some of Michael’s dialogue on Day 6 depending on whether the woman outside was found. - Added 15-minute increments to several timed choices, allowing for more possible actions. - Added a simple day counter to the Stats screen. - Added a message to the Stats screen when MC has no useful skills. - Replaced several uses of “zombie” with the player’s chosen term for the infects. - Added page breaks to improve the pacing of longer scenes. - Added missing line breaks throughout scenes. - Fixed broken line breaks in the Quick Notes and Stats screens. - Fixed a bug where Abigail could incorrectly refer to an imaginary relationship between MC and Max on Day 7. - Fixed a bug where backpack weight was calculated differently in two sections of the Stats screen. - Fixed a bug that could cause an actual game over while playing one of the phone games. - Fixed a bug that allowed MC to kiss Divya even if they aren’t attracted to women. ---
**Author:** ![SpanishBrEaD](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/spanishbread/32/118840_2.png) [@SpanishBrEaD](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/SpanishBrEaD)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 7:56pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/after-dark-scientifically-accurate-apocalyptic-horror-update-23-aug-300k-words/98169/434 "2026-08-27T19:56:20Z")
Im earlyyyy 🥹🥳 here’s a bug report @Daleko ![Screenshot_20260828-035421](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/original/4X/9/b/1/9b135e42091d865a6708c55b5deab6de77284673.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Daleko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/daleko/32/128959_2.png) [@Daleko](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Daleko)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2026, 8:11pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/after-dark-scientifically-accurate-apocalyptic-horror-update-23-aug-300k-words/98169/435 "2026-08-27T20:11:58Z")
Thank you! I’m not sure why you’re getting this bug, so to make it fail-safe I had to change the startup file. I hope it doesn’t reset your progress! ^^" ---
**Author:** ![Dark\_Lord\_Vul](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/dark_lord_vul/32/75050_2.png) [@Dark\_Lord\_Vul](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Dark_Lord_Vul)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 1:34am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/after-dark-scientifically-accurate-apocalyptic-horror-update-23-aug-300k-words/98169/436 "2026-08-28T01:34:01Z")
Quick question since I did not notice an answer while skimming the posts. Does Max always die fleeing the school? ---
**Author:** ![Daleko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/daleko/32/128959_2.png) [@Daleko](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Daleko)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2026, 6:42am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/after-dark-scientifically-accurate-apocalyptic-horror-update-23-aug-300k-words/98169/437 "2026-08-28T06:42:20Z")
For now, no character has a scripted, unavoidable death. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Daleko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/daleko/32/128959_2.png) [@Daleko](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Daleko)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 9:40am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/after-dark-scientifically-accurate-apocalyptic-horror-update-23-aug-300k-words/98169/439 "2026-08-29T09:40:48Z")
Hey, did you manage to sort it out? ---
**Author:** ![SpanishBrEaD](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/spanishbread/32/118840_2.png) [@SpanishBrEaD](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/SpanishBrEaD)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2026, 1:23pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/after-dark-scientifically-accurate-apocalyptic-horror-update-23-aug-300k-words/98169/440 "2026-08-29T13:23:53Z")
Omg yeahh I experimented a bit @Daleko Sorry thats why I deleted my prev. post thank you so much 🥲 ---
**Author:** ![JoshiYinmith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/joshiyinmith/32/228657_2.png) [@JoshiYinmith](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/JoshiYinmith)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 2:10am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/after-dark-scientifically-accurate-apocalyptic-horror-update-23-aug-300k-words/98169/441 "2026-09-05T02:10:57Z")
If that happen it will be a stupid death and a stupid reason for the situation. - By the way they didn’t find a car. - How many are in the car if everyone is safe ? (how many sits in the car, its magic 😉 ). . . Till next. ---
**Author:** ![Daleko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/daleko/32/128959_2.png) [@Daleko](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Daleko)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2026, 6:34am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/after-dark-scientifically-accurate-apocalyptic-horror-update-23-aug-300k-words/98169/442 "2026-09-05T06:34:10Z")
1. They should. 2. It doesn’t take any magic to fit a woman and five skinny teenagers into a five-seater car. ---
**Author:** ![Mimi2728288](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/mimi2728288/32/268125_2.png) [@Mimi2728288](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Mimi2728288)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2026, 3:36am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/after-dark-scientifically-accurate-apocalyptic-horror-update-23-aug-300k-words/98169/443 "2026-09-13T03:36:56Z")
If you choose to be girl abigaile will have daughter and if you choose to be a boy abigaile will have son or its randome ---
**Author:** ![Daleko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/daleko/32/128959_2.png) [@Daleko](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Daleko)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2026, 10:38am UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/after-dark-scientifically-accurate-apocalyptic-horror-update-23-aug-300k-words/98169/444 "2026-09-13T10:38:03Z")
It’s random! ---
**Author:** ![Daleko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/choiceofgames/user_avatar/forum.choiceofgames.com/daleko/32/128959_2.png) [@Daleko](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/u/Daleko)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2026, 6:24pm UTC](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/after-dark-scientifically-accurate-apocalyptic-horror-update-23-aug-300k-words/98169/445 "2026-10-24T18:24:21Z")
### **The Chapter 4 update is here!** This update adds about **15,000** words. We’ve hit and passed the 300,000-word mark! (Current word count: 317,293) I’m so excited to introduce you to the start of Chapter 4! It’s a blast of new developments, and it’s thrilling to think about what’s to come at this point. I can’t wait to hear what you think about it! As usual, please read the devlog ☺ **DEVLOG** - **Reworked the route structure: the main route split now occurs later in the story!** - Completed the Route 1 notebook system. - Added new writing choices and corresponding personality and mental-state changes for every stage of a letter. - Implemented unique delivery scenes and reactions for every eligible Route 1 letter recipient. - Added the ability to store a completed letter in the notebook and deliver or destroy it later. - Completed the notebook’s grounding-list activity. - Fixed several issues affecting Max’s romance progression: - Corrected the survival calculations used during the school escape so that bonuses, penalties, and character outcomes are applied properly. - Fixed an issue that could incorrectly determine Max’s fate in some versions of the school escape. - Fixed a progression blocker in the storage-room exploration that could leave the player with no selectable options after running out of energy. - Fixed weapon-selection issues involving identical weapons when giving one to Divya. - Added the option to reconsider and give Divya no weapon. - Made the soft-saving system fully operational. - Corrected a display error when loading previous saves through the soft-saving system. - Corrected relationship checks that used invalid or unintended variables in scenes involving Michael, Divya, and Max. - Fixed an incorrect numerical relationship check that could hide an option during the school escape. - Fixed an issue that could erase Michael’s romantic interest instead of reducing it to the intended minimum. - Improved relationship-state consistency across letter delivery, romance progression, and later character reactions. - Added a safe option to leave the storage-room search without obtaining its final reward. - Fixed a condition that could reveal part of the Day 6 diary entry before the day had been completed. - Corrected display errors in the backpack weight check. - Revised several dialogue options and narrative lines for clarity and consistency. - Converted chapter titles to title case. - Fixed various smaller text-display and conditional-rendering issues throughout Route 1. [Previous page](https://forum.choiceofgames.com/t/after-dark-scientifically-accurate-apocalyptic-horror-update-23-aug-300k-words/98169.md?page=21)