Chișinău, Moldova — July 1, 2025 — RIK ANIMATION Studio and boddiul have announced the release window for their psychological horror title, project; VIRAI: DOOMER’s LIFE ESCAPE, set for Q4 2025. A new animated trailer is now available, revealing the game’s release window. A playable demo is also already available on Steam.
project; VIRAI: DOOMER’s LIFE ESCAPE is a Life Sim RPG that blends visual novel storytelling with psychological thriller elements. Players dive into the life of a shut-in girl, Hicha, whose only reason to keep going is her virtual avatar, Virai — who may not be what she seems. It's up to them to help Hicha escape her depressive nightmare before it consumes her completely
project; VIRAI: DOOMER’s LIFE ESCAPE is a Life Sim RPG that blends visual novel storytelling with psychological thriller elements. Players dive into the life of a shut-in girl, Hicha, whose only reason to keep going is her virtual avatar, Virai — who may not be what she seems. It's up to them to help Hicha escape her depressive nightmare before it consumes her completely
The game is a mix of OMORI and Needy Streamer Overload, exploring themes of parasocial relationships and the blurring of lines between real and virtual life. The developers experiment with the game format in a style similar to MiSide.
Players will explore the emotional world of the protagonist through several visual styles created by artist RIKANI (known for her work on the game An alt girl for skoof). Begin in Hicha’s bleak 2D pixel-art reality, then immerse yourself in the surreal 3D virtual world of VITA. Uncover its secrets — and decide how Hicha’s story will end.
«This game is inspired by my personal experience as a YouTube content creator and my struggle with mental illness» says RIKANI, author of the idea and artist.
«This game is inspired by my personal experience as a YouTube content creator and my struggle with mental illness» says RIKANI, author of the idea and artist.
Key Features
- Hikikomori Life Simulation: step into the anxious Hicha’s life — experience the health-destroying routine within the gray walls of Soviet panel architecture.
- 10 endings: from total collapse to liberation — your choices define the fate of the heroine. Each ending offers a different level of psychedelic immersion into alternate realities.
- ARG Quest: a sea of mysteries in Virai’s world awaits the most curious and attentive players, going beyond the virtual space.
- 10 tracks by various indie post-punk artists hidden throughout the game, enhancing the atmosphere of doomer music and deepening the emotional impact of the game.
Languages Supported: English, Japanese, Brazilian Portuguese, Latin American Spanish, and Russian. More languages will be added in the future.
Links
- Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3434180/project_VIRAI_DOOMERs_LIFE_ESCAPE/
- Trailer: https://youtu.be/FlYA75fHrTw
About RIK ANIMATION
RIK ANIMATION is an independent animation studio founded by artist RIKANI. The studio specializes in creating animation in the style of Japanese anime and the production of commercial promo videos. Their debut game, An alt girl for skoof, gained significant attention online.
project; VIRAI: DOOMER’s LIFE ESCAPE marks the studio’s first fully original title based on an in-house concept. RIK ANIMATION is responsible for the game’s overall visual identity, game design, and narrative direction.
More info: https://www.rik.studio/en
project; VIRAI: DOOMER’s LIFE ESCAPE marks the studio’s first fully original title based on an in-house concept. RIK ANIMATION is responsible for the game’s overall visual identity, game design, and narrative direction.
More info: https://www.rik.studio/en
About boddiul
boddiul is an indie developer from Moldova with a background in creating experimental game prototypes for various game jams. This collaboration with RIK ANIMATION is his first commercial release. He is in charge of the game’s programming and game design.
More info: https://boddiul.itch.io/