Ken is an emo teen with an awkward gay crush on his best friend, Fergus.

Things are (not) okay, but...

Maybe there's a chance they could be?

PLAY DEMO ON ITCH.IO OR STEAM!


xXx_St0ry_xXx

Set the weekend before Halloween in 2007, Small Town Emo follows the story of Ken, a seventeen year old emo with a crush on his goofy best friend; Fergus.

In the lead up to a costume party, Ken spends the day trying to find the courage to confess his feelings.

Can Ken figure things out, or is he doomed to have depressing song lyrics as his Messenger status ‘til the end of time?


xXx_FeaTuReZ_xXx

  • 1.275 hours of "gameplay"!
  • Play in 4 mind-boggling colours!
  • 8 mouthwateringly hilarious collectible memes!
  • 97% pure walking & talking - no pesky action!
  • Priceless minigames, including "bullet hell" and "pimple popper"!
  • Engaging cutscenes - poorly AND quickly drawn!
  • Immersive simulated MSN Messenger sequences!
  • Hand-picked, faithfully recreated fanfiction tropes!
  • Complete linearity, only the vaguest illusion of choice!


xXx_cOnTRols_xXx

MOVE[ARROW KEYS] or [WASD]
INTERACT[Z] or [SPACE]
CANCEL[X]
MENU[ENTER] or [SHIFT]


xXx_eXtraZ_xXx

Full Credits (click to expand)

DESIGN, ART, WRITING
Thomas Barrer

COVER ART
Hessel Bouma

AUDIO BY
Victor Valdez
Beat Scribe
Rulz

ASSETS & HELP
Sam Baker
Nate Tamblyn
MonkeyImage

CONSULTATION
Lukas Mayo
Jen Dee
Nate Tamblyn
Sarah Lund

PLAYTESTING
Tori Head
Kay O'Neill
Alex Cara
Sean Lewis
Sorcha Millican-Nagle

MADE IN GB STUDIO
Thanks to Chris Maltby & Co

Light Content Warning (click to expand)

CW: Occasional cursing/swearing, few depictions of mild homophobia, references to drinking underage, vague disrespect of a cemetery.



StatusIn development
PlatformsHTML5
Rating
Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars
(166 total ratings)
AuthorFnife Games
GenreAdventure, Visual Novel
Made withPyxel Edit, MilkyTracker, GB Studio, Aseprite, Tiled
Tags8-Bit, Boys' Love, Game Boy, Gay, LGBT, Pixel Art, Romance, Story Rich, Walking simulator
Average sessionAbout an hour
LanguagesEnglish
InputsKeyboard, Smartphone
AccessibilitySubtitles
LinksSteam, Homepage

Download

Download NowName your own price

Click download now to get access to the following files:

Small Town Emo ROM - GameBoy Color (v.02c).zip 286 kB
Small Town Emo - Analogue Pocket (v.02c).zip 286 kB

Development log

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Comments

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Viewing most recent comments 1 to 40 of 122 · Next page · Last page
(+1)

OMG THE MCR REFERENCES IN THIS GAME!!!!! I love this demo I could tattoo this on my forhead
(srry engleish bad)

(+4)

The demo version is so simple and cozy. yes, not without hints of problems and a deeper plot, and yet... with my rather poor knowledge of English and the desire to explore everything, I played for about three hours. I'm not sure I found all the memes, but...

There's so much detail here even though it's just a demo. Maybe it's just my imagination, but I think it's cute that Ken literally always looks back at Ferg when they walk together. I like that the only (I guess I'm never sure enough..) moment when the sound disappears in the game is the moment Ferg visits his grandmother's grave and a short dialogue about the consequences of death.

this is a good game. Looking at the developer's responses, I thought it would be important to dump this bunch of thoughts and praise here.

I don't know if I'll be able to see/buy/play the release version, but... I'm already fascinated by this project. Thank you.

(+3)

yo. thanks for taking the time to play, & leaving this lovely comment 😭 the details u pointed out are some of my favourites. the silence at grandma's grave, hints of deeper problems + exploring and finding memes... all silly (maybe) but important bits i really wanted folks to enjoy.

reading ur thoughts on the project is a bit like looking at it with fresh eyes. its very motivating and cathartic. so thank u for sharing. hopefully u are able to check out the full release when its ready. much love ty ❤️🐸

(+1)

Nice, nailed the aesthetic with a fresh spin on it! Waiting for the full release, good luck!! :D

(1 edit) (+1)

JUST REPLAYED THE DEMO 

AOSIFAIIDOISADJOIJOFIADJ I LOVE THEM SO MUCH AAAAAAAAA I REALLY LIKED THE THE SCENE WHERE THEY WERE DRINKING AND THEIR FACES WERE CLOSE TO EACH OTHER ASFJOPDOP I REALLY DO HOPE THIS GAME GETS UPDATED, I WILL SEE EVERYDAY IF THIS GETS UPDATED, THIS ACTUALLY IS MY FAVORATE GAME FROM NOW ON

(+1)

ragh!

ayo. glad u've enjoyed the project!! ❤️ thanks sm fer the lovely comment!!!! update is definitely "IN PROGRESS" (maybe dont check every day tho lmaooo) 🙏🐸

(+1)

OKAY MAYBE EVERY WEEK OR MONTH :33

(+1)

I am actually very VERY excited, Someone inform me if its here!!!

(1 edit) (+1)

omgggg these 2 NEED to kiss

update : I just finished the demo and my heart is not ok

thx for playing!!! and yea i feel u. im sure they'll get there eventualllly......... 👀💋😘

(+1)

AND...✋✋...the demo is the same

(+1)

Its to good for me😅😅😂😂

(+1)

jeez, get a room you two🤦‍♀️😒😂

(+1)

🙏 lol! ((honestly tht would b an even more accurate title / description 4 this))

(+1)

ES TAN BONITO POR FAVOR NECESITO QUE SE CONFIESEE!!!!

(+1)

❤️❤️❤️

(+1)

this is me before i play the game! 

(+3)

already head over heels in love with this demo, I just know I'm gonna love the final product

(+1)

wooooooo!! TY. cant wait to share it when itz readyyy ❤️❤️

(+1)

its peak..

🙏🐸❤️

(+1)

i love this demo so much i can't wait for the full game <33

(+3)

THIS WAS AMAZING!!!! such a cute game, literally everything in this game is perfect! <3

(+2)

THIS WAS SUCH A GOOD GAME!!

(+1)

i re-played the demo 7 months later,,, and i still love it !!!!, can't wait for more updates or little teasers,, i see in the tumblr page a ''tamagotchi'' minigame so i'm EXCITED !! hope i can still help in the spanish translation or smth, i'm still available !!! <33 i showed this to all my pixel-friends lmao

aww yeeaah! thanks sm for ur support!! tamagotchi maaay not make it in to the release build (rip) bt its on the cards 4 sure. post-release will be looking in2 translation, soooo may reach out then depending on how things are goin!! ❤️❤️

(+1)

how do we get dressed? im dumb i know..

(1 edit)

hiii, no worries its a little unclear, haha. u need to interact w/ the chest of drawers in Ken's room (positioned in the top left corner). select "Get dressed" after u get prompted.

will make it more clear next update <3

(+1)

This game is soooo cute!!! Butterflies in my stomache type cute omggg!!! Love it, awesome job, it was so fun!! Loved the minigames and puzzles!!

(+2)

yes. game. i love this game cant wait for it to be fully developed! (was waiting for it to scare me and turn into a horror game tho lol)

(+1)

*very* tempting 2 turn it into a horror, hahaaa. maybe for a sequel / prequel. would be cool 2 explore darker themes! ❤️ thnks for playing!!

(+1)

Agh! My internet has been out for a few days so I missed the update notification! Sorry I'm late... Can't wait to check it out!~

haha, no worries!! tbf no major updates **yet** but... its on the way for april ((fingers crossed etc)) ✿◠_◠✿

(+1)

Eh, major or not, I will never mind doing another play through of this (Can't figure out the best word to describe pure awesomeness) game!

(+1)

Loved this game, really. The art's amazin n i love kens's personality. Can't wait for more!

thats super kind, thank u sm!!! glad 2 have some Ken fans around 💪🐸

(+1)

Oh my GOD i loved this so much. Pls make more, I beg of thee. I love 8 bit games and making it GAY was AMAZING

❤️ thank uuuu! && yesss i also crAvE 8bit queer content. there shall be more! ❤️

(+3)

ITS GIVING SEBASTIAN AND SAM FROM STARDEW VALLEY HELPPPP

(+1)

❤️ heck yea!! just need some void eggs & maple bars in the mix 💪🐸

(3 edits) (+3)

This is such a cute game!! As an Aussie I appreciate it being set over in our neighbouring country - though it honestly felt a little weird at times being set in a real-world country and not some fantasyland like 'the United States', wherever that is.

The dynamic between the two leads is so sweet (and frustrating how oblivious they are but sweetly frustrating) and the presentation of the game is just all around really nice.
I like the fact it had some bits of gameplay but didn't go overboard; I could imagine a version of the game padded out several hours more with sliding block puzzles in the cemetery etc. Which could certainly be cool in its own right, but I like that this game is very firmly focused on dialogue, vibes, and characterization. Very much looking forward to the full version!

(+2)

appreciate ur comment sm! yea rlly wanted 2 set it somewhere 'real' instead of a made up place like USA. a bold choice 2 b sure ❤️

ur totally right abt weighing up the ~gameplay vs narrative~ and kind of opting to not pad things out. the idea was to make a short, story-focused game (so this demo is actually abt 1/2 of the total content, haha). thanks again for taking the time 2 share ur kind thoughts (ᵔᵕᵔ)

(+2)

I don't know why I hadn't heard of this game until now, it's so cute and fun to play. I really hope I get to play the full game as soon as possible 😽

thanks sm! slowly gtting the full version done ❤️

(+2)

I love this game T-T I NEED MOREEEEEEE



(please🥺)

hehehe. ok i guess i can make some more!!

(thank uuu 💪🐸❤️)

(+1)

After years of using itch.io, I created an account for the first time so that I could add the game and and write a comment.. I loved it sm and it's the best game I've played on here in forever. I somehow didn't realise it was a demo and got shocked when I reached the end and am now desperately waiting for its release. Loved all the nostalgia vibes and the little memes thrown in (will there be a way to see if you've collected them all in the final version?) I also can't wait for them to (hopefully) realise they both like each other and confess

(+1)

eek! thank u for coming out of lurker mode 2 leave such a lovely comment! im so glad u did ❤️

with the memes -- definitely looking fer ways 2 give the player more info abt what u've collected + options 2 look bk over it!!! (mbbe pseudo "achievements" 2 track?? 👀)

I cant wait either,, working on this part time makes it a slow (steady) process, ahaaa

(1 edit) (+1)

I ADORE this game. It's  amazing. The dialouge, characters, style, and story are AMAZING. I also really resonate with the gays because I have both been the pinning one and the one that had to wingman his crush. All of that almost brought tears to my eyes. The thing that really made me sob was the PHONE GAME!!! I can't get past it and i've died to it 80 times by now.

thanks so muchh!!! feel like theres some universal truth 2 being stuck pining/wingmanning (or both), pleased 2 hear it resonated! AHA, ohhhhh the ~phone game~ is brutal. therell likely be even more levels for it (optional) in the full version, so u'll need the practice, hehe. ❤️❤️❤️

(+1)

I love this game. I am currently emo, and i love writing music. I really love this game, and i play it in my free time. Everything down to the small typos that us emo kids use is just so cute and amazing.

(2 edits)

heyoo! im stoked that u been enjoying the game & all its silly lil details 🐛❤️. Glad 2 hear u are keeping the emo dream alive!! all the best for the music ur writing, i hope it turns out awesome!!! \(ᵔᵕᵔ)/

(+1)

Omg this game is literally THE BEST. It's so nostalgic and just makes u soo comfortable idk how to describe it i just love it thank you so much for making this game im really looking forward for the whole release

❤️!!! thank u sm for the lovely feedback -- nostalgic & comfy r 100% some of the main pillars i wanted 2 pull from, really happy 2 hear that comes thru!!!! appreciate u checking it owtttt (✿◠‿◠)

(+1)

I just noticed that this plays in New Zealand!
I was wondering why the Lawn Moaner said Kia Ora, but it makes sense now. Hence Ferg also calling whoever left their fastfood on that bench was an untidy "kiwi", which refers to the bird, the people and of course the fruit.

aeeeee, yup its set in small town New Zealand (our team live here)!! it defs colours the manner in which some things play out w/ the story, but its a sort of easter egg too, lol! thks sm for playing <3<3

(+1)

it's a nice lil touch :))) amazing game, thx for the amazing experience!

(+2)

This game got me so flustered! I'm pretty sure I just disconnected from the real world for an hour because I was INVESTED in the story! The art style is really cute down to the little character sprites... They have a lot of character even though they are so scaled down, and as an artist, I know that can be really hard to do at times, so props to you on that. The writing style is lighthearted and very reminiscent to the early 2000's and it just fit's. so. perfectly. You wouldn't even have to tell me it was based in 2007 to know that it was around that period, and to me that is just amazing. It was so wholesome and made me want to find my old gameboy original to play pokemon like I did as a little gremlin. I'm pretty sure that if I don't get a full version I'm going to gouge my eyes out and use them to make spaghetti just so I would be able to stop crying, but by the sounds of it, that won't be the case... Love this game and can't wait for a full version!

🔥🔥🔥 ahhhHHHHhHHH. phew. holy heck.ur beautiful comment killd + ressurected me. thanks sm 4 ur spicy kind words and spaghetti threats l0l. promise the full version is coming along (slow bt steady). appreci8 ur compliments on the sprites + setting, i was actually partially inspired by pokemon romhacks i played as a kid,, so love that it makes u want 2 go play those in gremlin mode ((do a nuzlocke i dare u)) 💪🐸❤️ thank uu

(+1)

i cant tell if youre in character or just living in 2012 lol

me neither honestly ❤️❤️❤️

(+1)

Why not both?~

(1 edit) (+1)

Oh. muh. god... Why didn't I get the friggin notification tellin me you replied!? And by the by, I managed to find my gameboy color, AND my pokemon silver and gold cartridges and I am freaking out! The pokemon brainrot has commenced and I don't know if I can stop this monster from spiraling out of control, or if I even should try. Plus now I AM going to do a nuzlocke, and I am going to love/regret every moment of it. I'm also listening to my lemon demon playlist, so I am vibing with anxiety and stoner vibes. 2006 is returning to haunt me and I am honestly fine with it... I dare you to haunt me you little Tamagotchi spirits!! Anywho, I have already done several playthroughs of this game and tbh, I still love it! And the spaghetti threat still stands, so just know that I'm watching you!! 

haha -- itch was keeping the notifications secret from me too (or I forgot)!!

wicked u found ur gameboy!!! hope u are enjoying the pokemon brainrot, i'm actually playing a Silver Nuzlocke at the moment... im up to Whitney w/ her Miltank soooo (prayers needed). the lemon demon playlist will surely guide u 2 greatness.

ill keep the spaghetti threat in mind as im working (its definitely a motivator) ❤️❤️❤️❤️

(+1)

Wait really!? Heck yeah! Guess I'll play silver next seeming how I kinda sped through gold. Also, good luck on Whitney, she can be pretty tough!😊👍💕

(+1)

did anyone else get stuck at the graveyard when it said the key dosent fit? i never got past that part..please help! btw amazing game!!!

(1 edit)

Hiiii, okay so once u have "made" the first key in the graveyard (you've found 3 pieces from the big angel statues) it will unlock the left-most crypt of the pair of crypts near the *top right* of the graveyard map. Hope that helps. Will aim 2 make this section a bit clearer in an update probably!! Thx 4 playing ❤️❤️

(+1)

THIS IS SO DAMN CUTE IM SO EXCITED 4 THIS !!!!! :D

eee, thanks sm, im excited too!!! (✿◠‿◠) 🐛🐛

(+1)

ITS SO BEAUTYFULL cant wait to try the full game!!!!

💪🐸❤️❤️ thank u

(+1)

I don't know how to change my clothes. 🥲 I've been looking for it for a long time.

Hiya!!! to change you clothes you gotta interact with the chest of drawers in Ken's room (top left with a TV on it) and select "Get dressed" after u get prompted. hope that helps <3

(+1)

thank you!!!!!

(+1)(-1)

LOVE <3333 take your time on the full version coding is HARD haha I really love the demo I'm sure the full will be awesome >:D

ahhh, thx very much! gotta make it perfect and tasty!!! <3

(+1)

i love this so much. i hope this shit's a lot longer when it releases cause its so cute. one complaint tho, and it might just be me cause im a bit blind, but i think the collision could change a bit. especially at the graveyard there were moments that i would get stuck on a random flower every 3 seconds. also where is this taking place? dont know if i missed it or not.

(+2)

❤️ ayo!! thanks so much 4 the thoughtful comment! full version will be abt twice as looong (this demo is 1/2 the game). bt i have plans for sequels!! thx 4 the feedback on the collision, its something id like 2 clean up in the full vers as well!!

and yeah - it takes place in a small town in New Zealand in 2007 (bt kept slightly ambiguous) 💪🐸

(+1)

AHHH i love i need more(im craving it and if it doesnt happen ill cry) it was AMAZINGGG, thank u for making it :3 

(+1)

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ thank u 4 playing and enjoying!!! dont cry!!! moar is on the waaaay~

(+1)

cant wait!! i shoudl be one of the first ones to know abt it and play it o-<

(+1)

Absolute quality, you can really see the love baked right into the game.

blushing. thank u sm. that;s extremely kind, and honestly the biggest compliment ❤️❤️

(+1)

 💜😌 kindof-rant incoming, but shamelessly posting it anyways because I am very much in the (assumed) target audience of dorky folk in a certain age range? maybe? so yknow, biased AF.


From the active choice to develope as what is essentially a Gameboy game, to the inclusion of meme easter eggs that, even we folk were jamming to when fresh, were half forgotten and out of mind for... maybe years(?) before seeing again here (in glorious 8-bit!), to the endearing characters and dialog it's mega clear you poured a lot of what you love, of yourselves into this, and can't wait to play any more you put out. Definitely stalking your itch dev page for future endeavors too.


Objectively well designed too. Puzzles felt just right, map layouts felt good, aethetics, etc.

I bet you fnife folks are p cool crew. 😎 

gosh. omg. thank u for the extremely lovely rant, its so validating + uplifting to hear... we're defs mindful that we want 2 stay tru to ourselves && our core process. its rlly lovely hearing that it resonates with u and you can see our passion and approach to creating. appreci8 you sm. gonna have to print your comment out and stick it on the fridge <3<3

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