Look, I’ve been keeping my eye on 5omeday, and honestly, it’s one of those upcoming titles that deserves way more conversation than it’s currently getting. When Waku Waku Games announced this one, it immediately caught my attention—there’s something about the indie visual novel space right now that feels ripe for innovation, and this project is shaping up to be exactly what the genre needs heading into 2026.
The game is scheduled to launch on January 29, 2026, across PC and Nintendo Switch, which is a smart platform choice. By targeting both the traditional gaming crowd on Windows and the on-the-go versatility of Switch, Waku Waku Games is clearly thinking about accessibility. Visual novels have this incredible potential to reach people in different contexts—during a commute, late at night in bed, or settled in at a desktop for a long story session—and having both platforms from day one shows the developers understand their audience.
What’s particularly exciting about 5omeday is how it positions itself at the intersection of adventure and visual novel storytelling. This isn’t just text on a screen with character sprites; the adventure elements suggest there’s going to be meaningful player agency and exploration woven into the narrative experience. That’s a direction that’s been gaining traction lately, and it’s refreshing to see an indie studio committing to it rather than playing it safe with a traditional kinetic novel or standard choice-based structure.
The combination of adventure mechanics with visual novel storytelling could redefine what we expect from indie narrative games heading into the next few years.
Now, I know what you’re thinking—the game hasn’t released yet, we don’t have reviews, and that 0.0/10 rating is basically a placeholder since nobody’s actually played it. But here’s the thing: that blank slate is part of what makes this exciting. There’s genuine mystery around what Waku Waku Games is building, and in a landscape where we’re often bombarded with gameplay footage and spoilers, there’s something refreshing about a game that’s still maintaining some creative secrecy.
The developer’s choice to keep details under wraps until closer to launch tells me they’re confident in what they’ve created. Waku Waku Games clearly isn’t chasing hype cycles—they’re building something they believe in, and that kind of conviction usually translates to better creative decisions. When developers aren’t constantly explaining and justifying their game to the internet during development, they tend to have more freedom to take risks and trust their artistic vision.
What we can reasonably anticipate:
- A narrative-driven experience that respects player intelligence and emotional investment
- Adventure gameplay mechanics that meaningfully interact with story progression
- Cross-platform polish that takes advantage of both Windows and Switch capabilities
- The indie sensibility that often produces the most creatively ambitious work in the medium
The visual novel genre has been experiencing a genuine renaissance over the past few years, particularly in the indie space. Games have moved beyond simple dating sims or pure kinetic novels into territory where they’re exploring complex themes, experimental storytelling techniques, and gameplay innovation that traditional publishers often wouldn’t touch. 5omeday feels like it’s arriving at exactly the right moment to be part of that conversation.
There’s also something to be said about the timing. Early 2026 is historically interesting for indie releases—you’re past the holiday rush, the gaming media is hungry for fresh stories, and players are often looking for narrative experiences after the action-heavy winter season. Waku Waku Games has positioned this launch smartly in that calendar window.
What intrigues me most is imagining what conversations this game will spark once it’s in players’ hands. The marriage of adventure mechanics with visual novel storytelling could genuinely push the medium forward in meaningful ways. We might see other developers building on what Waku Waku Games establishes here, treating it as a proof of concept for how these genres can complement rather than compete with each other.
The indie studio landscape has proven repeatedly that constraints often breed creativity. Working outside the AAA machine means Waku Waku Games probably made different creative choices at every stage—choices about scope, tone, pacing, and subject matter that a larger publisher might have questioned. That’s where the most interesting games come from right now.
Why this deserves your attention:
When January 29, 2026 finally arrives and 5omeday launches, I genuinely believe we’re going to see a game that reminds us why we fell in love with visual novels in the first place, while simultaneously showing us where the genre could go next. It’s not about flashy graphics or celebrity voice acting—it’s about a small team of developers creating something meaningful, something honest, something that respects both the medium and the player.
That’s worth paying attention to. That’s worth supporting. And honestly, that’s why 5omeday is already on my most-anticipated list for next year. Keep your eyes on Waku Waku Games—I have a feeling they’re about to remind the industry what passion-driven indie development looks like.
