August 16th was a major milestone for visual novel fans as “Katawa Shoujo“, an acclaimed free title developed by passionate volunteers from the anime board 4chan, It has finally debuted on Steam and Itch platforms. Within days of its release, the game had racked up nearly 900 reviews on Steam, with an impressive 98% of them being positive. This success underscores the lasting impact the visual novel has had on the gaming community since its original development over a decade ago.

Katawa Shoujo is presented as a dating game and visual novel in the style of popular Japanese bishoujo games, but with a theme that sets it apart: disabilities. The story follows Hisao Nakai, a teenager who, after being diagnosed with a congenital heart condition, is forced to change schools. In his new environment, he meets five girls, each with their own trauma or disability, and the player explores how these relationships develop over the course of five main routes, each dedicated to one of the heroines.

One of the most discussed aspects of the game is its erotic elements, which were mostly removed in the Steam version. However, players who wish to access this content can find the full version on Itch, where a patch is also offered to modify the Steam version and restore the adult scenes.

Over the years, Katawa Shoujo has been praised for its ability to poignantly portray disabilities and the lives of those who suffer from them, making it a must-have title in the visual novel genre. With its recent release on Steam, the game is expected to reach an even wider audience, especially with the avalanche of positive reviews it has received since its release.

Katawa Shoujo's success on these new platforms reinforces its position as a leading work in interactive storytelling.providing players with an experience that combines romance, personal challenges and deep reflection on the lives of people with disabilities.

Source: Official Twitter Account