'Kitsune' by Thom Baylay (Available now!)

i guess i got the good end… or is it just all in my head ?

some of typos i found… apparently the fox gender keep changing

Sorry darlin’, if she’s gone by morning, no point mourning - such a wisdom of random stranger

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Kitsune is a masterful achievement in interactive storytelling. The initial demo captivated me, and the long-awaited beta exceeded every expectation, immersing me in a world of profound emotions, unexpected twists, and deeply moving moments that lingered long after the screen faded to black.

The game’s choices felt genuinely meaningful, shaping a narrative that resonated with me on a deeply personal level. Few stories have characters as rich and beautifully crafted as those in Kitsune . May, the chaotic and enigmatic fox spirit, stole the show from the start. Her cunning and layered personality kept me constantly intrigued, and the journey to understand her motives and vulnerabilities was rewarding and heartbreaking. While her selfishness and guilt were explored after the pivotal “big twist,” I wished for more moments of hesitation or redemption—glimpses of fragility or proactive attempts to make amends. Even so, May remains one of the most unforgettable tricksters I’ve ever encountered, an unparalleled embodiment of chaos and charm.

The supporting cast was equally exceptional, each character feeling vital to my journey. Meera, my steadfast best friend, was a particular standout. Her loyalty and humor were a grounding force amid the high-stakes chaos, making her friendship feel real and invaluable. These relationships added warmth and relatability to the story, making its fantastical elements all the more immersive.

The modern fantasy setting was another triumph, blending whimsy and realism to create a world that felt both magical and grounded. The twists and turns were unpredictable yet never out of place, always striking the perfect balance between surprise and cohesion. The epilogues, while poignant and satisfying, left me wanting a bit more detail and length—I chose the Heaven Ending, not out of lingering love for May (my character was more annoyed with her than anything) but because the idea of becoming a fox spirit myself was too compelling to resist.

From a technical perspective, the game was impressively polished and bug-free throughout my playthrough. But the writing is what truly sets Kitsune apart. Its heartbreakingly beautiful narrative explores themes of trust, betrayal, and redemption with incredible depth. The romance was especially well-handled, blending tenderness and tension in a way that felt authentic and emotionally charged.

Kitsune toyed with my emotions in the best way possible. Few stories evoke such a broad spectrum of feelings while remaining coherent and compelling. Every decision, every twist, and every moment landed with a profound impact. The creator’s talent for crafting intricate characters and narratives is extraordinary. My only wish is for it to be longer to have more time with May. :rofl:

To the creator: your work is a gift. Kitsune is a testament to your storytelling prowess, and I cannot wait to experience the final version of this game—and whatever else you create next. Bravo!

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Have you ever heard the Queens of the Stone Age song “If I Had a Tail”?

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Hello all,

Thank you so much to everyone who has read and reviewed Kitsune, and in particular thank you to everyone who has shared glitches, bugs and typos. It’s very much appreciated and the game will be better for it.

I’ll be closing the beta soon because I really really really want this to be submitted before year’s end so if you’d like to give it one more playthrough, please do, and please let me know if you find anything doesn’t work!

(NB: I’ve just updated the beta so it should have fixed all reported errors to date.)

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i went through the beta recently and honestly, this is just…easily my favorite cog I’ve ever played, and honestly one of my absolute favorite stories in general. hell i adored it so much i went back on this old account to post about it. i’ve always loved japanese mythology and stories with this sort of theme/atmosphere, so i came into this really excited, but even then, kitsune blew me away like nothing else has before. i have so many thoughts about it that i can’t put into words so i’ll save them for the full release. but what i can say for sure is this- it’s charming, it’s beautiful, it’s incredible, and honestly, it’s exactly the story i needed to read right now. it makes me want to become better than i was before. thank you so much for writing this

also have some art i made of ellie, my mc, with mizu, her fox spirit partner (i named her after tamamizu lol). the fox is genuinely one of my favorite characters ever, i just loved that damn trickster and her and ellie’s whole relationship on every level. i got the ending where we both become foxes together, and tbh i couldn’t be happier, even if i would have liked to keep spending time with her in the world of humans

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Yay, thank you so much! I also just love the entire mythology of fox spirits so I wanted to take this opportunity to do my own take on the trickster trope. I’m so glad you liked it. A lovely message to read on Christmas morning!

Also, first Kitsune art! Love that Ellie let Mizu talk her into the fox t-shirt :rofl:

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just did a piece for my fox as well :blush: (still working on my MC)

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(My native language is not English and my English is very poor, so there may be grammar errors)
I love this story so much! I am an East Asian and I am glad to have read many completely different ideas in Kitsune’s stories. I really like the relationship between MC and Kit, a complex emotion that combines trust and betrayal!
In fact, I drew a profile picture of a kit, but it may not be able to be posted due to my trust level. sad.

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So cool! Thank you for sharing!

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That is sad, but thank you for sharing your thoughts on the book :slight_smile: Please do feel free to email the picture to evertreeinn[at]gmail if you’d like to share it.

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“Do I?” the man asks. “I mean I’m a fox spirit.”

Should be woman in the run through I am doing.

“Why does that dog have a woman on a leash?” “I don’t…what? No, that’s not…”

Two bits of speech on the same lines.

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Thank you. Was this from reading the demo since the open beta has closed?

Yes.

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i love how the fox interacts with mc!! their dialogue is true intertaining and its making me chuckle when playing it

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This game will be released this Thursday, April 3rd!
You can play the first part here for free starting today: Kitsune

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The first new games I bought when I came back to ChoiceScript games after a hiatus of several years were the Evertree Saga, so that makes almost four years that I have been a fan of Thom Baylay’s work. I’m excited to see what he has in store for us this time. :slight_smile:

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You’ll really like this one, I think!

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Anxiously looking forward to it.

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I’ve just finished binge reading this story and it has been truly wonderful. I have been hooked on your works since Evertree Inn but this story was something magical. I don’t know what else to say about the book. Should I even say anything at all? Oh, right. The triple whammy from our lovely red fox really put me on a rollercoaster of emotions. “It suddenly changed genres?!” I said aloud. For anyone considering this book, the only thing I’ll say is it has a special way of making your path feel your own. So suspend your disbelief, follow your heart and make whatever choice calls to you. This is a story about love after all. Kind of. Maybe? One thing for sure is that it is a treat despite its relatively shorter word count. And in typical Thom Baylay fashion, make sure you remember your choices. You’ll need them down the line. One thing this book will never be is something it’s not. Some things in life we can choose. Some things we can’t. Though if I had the choice I would definitely ask for a sequel. Doesn’t have to be a direct continuation but maybe set in the same universe with a new lovely cast. I just need more of our red fox!
Thank you for writing this book.

R.P.

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another binge reader here - just popping by to say playing this reduced me to tears. have a great weekend!

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