DESIDERATUM

Desideratum is a horror visual novel inspired by Disco Elysium, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and life sims. Players experience Catherine's dreams, make coffee, do crossword puzzles, take care of themselves and plants, explore story decisions, and help drive the narrative to one of its many endings.

Desideratum is a horror visual novel where you play as Catherine, a thirty something woman living in Chicago, who is trying to survive after the loss of her fiancé, Greg, who passed away six months ago.

Day 183.

You can't bring yourself to go to work. The kitchen is a mess. Laundry needs to be done. But your alarm goes off that it's time to go to grief counseling.

At the meeting, Ted, the group leader, speaks what feels like overly saccharine platitudes to everyone, like he always does. This time though, he somehow sees through your responses and gleans you're falling apart. He hands you a business card for someone named Jane Emmans who he says can help you.

Day 184.

You stare at the business card, feeling drawn to calling. When you do, the woman on the other ends says she can meet with you that day. Her office is near your house, so you have no excuse. But when you get there, she starts asking you invasive questions about your life, your past, and Greg, who you're both trying to avoid thinking about and who you can't stop focusing on. 

After humoring her for a while, you snap back, wondering what her issue is, and her gentle response makes your head spin.

"He doesn't have to be dead."

You stand, ready to immediately walk out, but she looks you in the eyes, with sympathy, and continues...

"I'm offering you something no one else can. You don't have to do it, but you might want to listen though. Greg would be alive. He will be a normal person. But we won't be able to fill in all the gaps: he won't remember you."

When she's done speaking, you notice your hand has been gripping so hard that you've made nail marks in your palm.

"So, what do you want to do?"