This tale starts with your death.
You remember only the moth, carrying you through the cosmos.
And now you are dead. A newly formed spirit, carrying your grief into the unknown.
But the end has no end, and your story continues.
After a meeting with Death (they’re really not used to talking to people, be gentle with them) and the Raven, a sardonic talking bird with secrets older than stars, you sign a contract: manage the bar on the Abyss for one year, in exchange for a single limitless wish from the gods themselves.
The Abyss is a nexus connecting every realm in existence. A haven where gods, devils, angels, and lost souls converge to drink and revel.
And you’re not alone. You have your staff, and your patrons: a mortal witch, a sly devil, and Death, who keeps finding reasons to visit. Grief isn’t the only thing that survives death. Love and friendship make the crossing too.
But something is hiding in the fine print. A voice in your dreams, a loneliness that has swallowed every proprietor who came before you.
How do you fight loneliness?
Manage your bar, unravel the cosmic mystery of the Abyss, go shopping in Hell, witness the universe’s creation in a public bathroom, unlock the forbidden secrets of magic, and learn the truth about your real employers.
The Abyss beckons you.
Play demo here
(Current wordcount: 410k!)
Dev Tumblr | Spotify Mood Playlist |
✬ A narrative-driven interactive fiction experience, where every choice builds the story and the person you’re becoming in death.
✬ Play as any gender, any sexuality. The afterlife doesn’t card you at the door.
✬ Customize your death: did you go by fire, or illness? Did someone else make the choice, or did you? The circumstances of your death are yours to define.
✬ Pick your grief path: the way you felt in your final moments will shape the story, how certain characters respond to you, and how you see the world. Did you rage against the dying of the light, or welcome the reaper with a handshake? Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance: choose the lens of your afterlife.
✬ Customize your spirit-self: choose your appearance, pick from 36+ career backgrounds that unlock choices throughout the game, and your death scars — because you died, and you probably have the marks to prove it.
✬ Choose your pension: a single, limitless wish from the gods themselves. What do you want more than anything?
✬ Build your psyche: a 30-trait personality system quietly maps every decision into a portrait of the spirit you’re becoming.
✬ Pick your Spirit Gift: a mythical artifact left by the bar as a welcome gift. Stop time, read the secret thoughts of gods, analyze any entity, hear the opinions of inanimate objects, wear anyone’s face, or carry a sword forged to kill gods. Each gift opens unique scenes, solutions, and ways to experience the story.
✬ Be the proprietor of your own afterlife bar: name it, choose its theme, and run it your way.
✬ Romance and befriend a cast of mortals and immortals: the awkward Grim Reaper, a mortal witch and their familiar, a sly devil, a warlord who became your security guard, a spectral diva, and a formless shadow. Be poly, monogamous, asexual, purely physical — they’ll respond in kind.
✬ Random patron encounters on your night shifts: who walks through the door changes every playthrough.
✬ Explore the afterlife, travel to distant realms, and uncover the dark secrets hiding beneath your bar… and your contract.
Summary
M\F\NB (Poly or Monogamous paths)
Death reveals a surprising warmth beneath their eternal duty.
Is there room for love within their everlasting embrace?
M\F (Poly or Monogamous paths)
This devilish being, a powerful magnet of desire, seeks more than power in the bar’s shadows.
Who dares to pursue the heart behind the flame?
M\F (Poly or Monogamous paths)
The Witch, with their feline companion, seeks a lost soul, their magic stirring trouble and passion alike.
Can a mortal love thrive in the spirit realm?
M (Monogamous path)
A mercenary turned security guard, Hastur carries an immortal burden, guilt born of past battles and sacrifices.
Will your love heal his wounds?
NB (Monogamous path)
The spectral diva enchants with their voice, their performance a dance of beauty tinged with the sorrow of eternal life.
Can your love find a new song for them?
??? (Monogamous path)
A shade keeps the bar’s order, and his silence holds the weight of cosmic secrets.
Will your heart fall for the being behind the shadow?
Summary
With feathers dark and wit sharp, The Raven’s history is as rich as the bar itself. He offers piercing insight beneath a layer of humor.
The stern soothsayer-turned-accountant Yaga guards the bar’s fortune while wrestling with her own spectral regrets and wisdom.
Shelly, the bar’s assistant, brings life-affirming warmth but seeks a new family to fill the void of her lost one.
Welcome to the cosmos: a weave of ever-changing realms. Each domain is a thread in the grand design.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback: big or small, everything matters, your input is invaluable. I’ll be answering and taking each into consideration. You are very welcome to post your reviews here or via Ask on Tumblr!
Here’s what I’m especially looking for:
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Thoughts on the plot, characters, and overall narrative experience. What’s working, and what could use more polish?
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Notes on any typos, grammar issues, or awkward phrasing that might distract from the story.
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Any continuity errors you spot. It’s a big project, so making sure the narrative makes sense in the long run is really important.
- The game explores themes of Death in various forms, including suicide.
- Alcohol indulgence and its various side effects (hangovers, vomiting, etc.)
- Sexual themes (currently only non-explicit)
A Personal Note
Hello, COG community! Esh here. After years of immersing myself in the incredible stories this platform has to offer, I’ve decided to contribute my own tale to the mix. “The Bar on the Abyss” is a labor of love, a narrative-focused game where characters, romance, and player choice take center stage.
I am eager to hear your thoughts and incorporate your feedback to make this story the best it can be. Together, let’s create a memorable journey through the abyss.
Regular updates and responses to feedback are a guarantee!
Cheers!
