CAPTIVE LOVE MELTY HOLIC Opens Steam Page Ahead of Playable Debut at TGS 2026

SERIALGAMES opened the Steam store page for CAPTIVE LOVE♡MELTY HOLIC (ガチ恋監禁♡めるてぃほりっく) on September 3, 2026. Wishlisting is now available, while Steam currently lists 2027 as the planned release window for the escape-suspense adventure.

The announcement also confirms its playable debut at Tokyo Game Show 2026. Visitors to the SERIALGAMES booth will be able to play from the prologue into part of Stage 1, marking the first opportunity to actually play the project after its exhibition-focused introduction at TGS 2025.

Quick Summary

• Official global title: CAPTIVE LOVE♡MELTY HOLIC
• Japanese title: ガチ恋監禁♡めるてぃほりっく
• Japanese short name: Gachimel / ガチめる
• Developer: SERIALGAMES Inc.
• Publisher: SERIALGAMES Inc.
• Announced platform: PC via Steam
• Steam App ID: 4996980
• Steam page opened: September 3, 2026
• Wishlist: now available
• Steam planned release: 2027
• Specific release date: unannounced
• Price: unannounced
• Release-window note: SERIALGAMES' September 3 press-release specification still lists the Steam release date as TBA
• Official SERIALGAMES genre: escape suspense × side-scrolling adventure
• Steam genres: Adventure, Indie
• Core gameplay: side-scrolling exploration with point-and-click mechanics
• Mode: single-player
• Protagonist: Ruito Inukubo
• Japanese protagonist name: 犬窪塁斗
• Stage name / nickname: Ruito
• Occupation: popular underground idol
• Premise: Ruito is kidnapped and imprisoned inside an abandoned building
• Captors: obsessive fans who previously supported him
• Player objective: escape the building
• Primary threat: fans relentlessly pursuing Ruito
• Obstacles: traps and contraptions throughout the building
• Player actions: run, hide, gather items, and solve mysteries
• Gameplay character visuals: pixel art
• Environment: side-scrolling building areas
• Endings: multiple endings
• Estimated playtime: approximately 5–10 hours
• Interface languages: English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean
• Subtitle languages: the same five languages
• Full Audio: currently not marked as supported on Steam
• Minimum OS: Windows 11
• Minimum processor: Intel Core i5 or equivalent
• Minimum memory: 8 GB RAM
• Minimum storage: 2 GB
• Playable debut: Tokyo Game Show 2026
• TGS 2026 dates: September 17–21, 2026
• Venue: Makuhari Messe, Chiba
• SERIALGAMES booth: Hall 9 / 09-C60
• Area: Indie Game Corner
• Playable section: prologue through part of Stage 1
• Original Concept / Director: Hoshimiya Wako
• Original Character Illustration: Udagawa Utako
• Initial public reveal: TGS 2025
• Status: still in development

Steam, Key Art and Gameplay

Steam Page Goes Live and Wishlisting Begins

The official CAPTIVE LOVE♡MELTY HOLIC account announced the Steam store launch on September 3, 2026. Players can now wishlist the game to receive updates as its launch approaches.

Steam currently displays 2027 as the planned release date. However, SERIALGAMES' TGS 2026 press release published on the same day still lists the Steam release timing as “undecided.”

The safest reading is therefore that Steam currently provides a 2027 release window, while the exact month, day, price and preorder information remain unannounced.

An Underground Idol Is Kidnapped by His Own Fans

The story follows Ruito Inukubo, a popular underground idol who is suddenly abducted and wakes up imprisoned in an unfamiliar abandoned building.

As Ruito attempts to escape, he realizes that his captors are not strangers. They are his own highly devoted fans—the same people who had previously supported his career as an idol.

That reversal forms the core of the game's suspense, turning the relationship between idol and supporter into a threat when admiration becomes dangerous obsession.

Run, Hide and Solve the Building's Mysteries

Gameplay uses a side-scrolling adventure structure combined with point-and-click interaction. Players explore rooms, inspect objects, collect items and work through mechanisms blocking Ruito's escape.

The fans pursuing him are an active threat. Steam specifically describes running from them and hiding when necessary.

Traps and contraptions are also spread across the complex. Items are not simply collectibles; they are used to solve mysteries and open a route toward the next area.

Pixel Art, Multiple Endings and a 5–10 Hour Runtime

SERIALGAMES uses pixel-art characters during gameplay, while the environments give the abandoned building additional visual depth within the side-scrolling presentation.

Steam confirms multiple endings, meaning Ruito's escape does not lead toward only one possible conclusion.

The currently listed estimated playtime is approximately 5–10 hours. The number of endings and the exact choices determining each route have not yet been detailed.

TGS 2026 Marks the First Playable Build

CAPTIVE LOVE♡MELTY HOLIC will appear at Tokyo Game Show 2026 as its first public playable build. SERIALGAMES is located in Hall 9, booth 09-C60 in the Indie Game Corner during the September 17–21 event.

The demo lets visitors experience the beginning of the story from the prologue through part of Stage 1.

That represents a major change from TGS 2025. When the title was first introduced last year, SERIALGAMES created an abandoned-building-themed exhibition area, showed an image movie and character artwork, and offered a Ruito photo spot, but the game itself was not yet playable.

Game Ad

Sumo Fumble: Physics Party

Hoshimiya Wako and Udagawa Utako Have Been Attached Since the Reveal

The project's original 2025 announcement credited Hoshimiya Wako with the original concept and director role.

Udagawa Utako handles the original character illustration, with her main visual used as part of the project's promotional material since its first reveal.

SERIALGAMES has not yet announced the voice cast, composer, total stage count, number of endings or broader staff details on the newly available Steam page. Those elements remain for future development updates.

Why This Matters

1) The idol-fan relationship becomes the suspense mechanic

The central danger comes from people who were supposed to support Ruito, directly turning idol fandom into the premise of the escape story.

2) It is more than a chase game

Running and hiding are combined with point-and-click exploration, item use, traps and environmental puzzles.

3) TGS 2026 finally offers a playable version

After being introduced without a public demo at TGS 2025, the project now lets visitors play the prologue and part of Stage 1.

4) Steam provides a much clearer picture of the game

Multiple endings, a 5–10 hour estimate, five supported interface/subtitle languages and minimum PC requirements can now be verified directly from the store page.

Game Information

For now, the additional important information currently known includes:

• CAPTIVE LOVE♡MELTY HOLIC is developed and published by SERIALGAMES Inc.
• its official Japanese title is ガチ恋監禁♡めるてぃほりっく
• the official global Steam title is CAPTIVE LOVE♡MELTY HOLIC, not CAPTIVE LOVES♡MELTY HOLIC
• the Steam store page opened on September 3, 2026
• Steam wishlisting is available
• Steam currently lists a planned 2027 release
• SERIALGAMES' same-day press release still describes the release timing as undecided
• no specific month or release date has been announced
• the price remains unannounced
• PC through Steam is the only publicly confirmed platform
• no console version has been announced
• SERIALGAMES describes the genre as escape suspense × side-scrolling adventure
• Steam categorizes it under Adventure and Indie
• the protagonist is Ruito Inukubo
• Ruito is a popular underground idol
• he is kidnapped and imprisoned inside an abandoned building
• his captors are his own obsessive fans
• players must avoid fans pursuing Ruito
• hiding is used when necessary to evade them
• environmental objects and collected items help with the escape
• traps and contraptions form part of the challenge
• exploration uses side-scrolling and point-and-click mechanics
• gameplay characters use a pixel-art style
• the story features multiple endings
• the total number of endings remains unannounced
• Steam estimates approximately 5–10 hours of playtime
• interface and subtitles support English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Korean
• Steam does not currently mark Full Audio support for those five languages
• the minimum system requirements currently list Windows 11
• the minimum processor is Intel Core i5 or equivalent
• minimum memory is 8 GB RAM
• minimum storage is 2 GB
• Hoshimiya Wako has been credited as original concept / director since the 2025 reveal
• Udagawa Utako handles the original character illustration
• the game was first publicly introduced at TGS 2025
• TGS 2026 is its first playable exhibition
• the TGS 2026 demo includes the prologue and part of Stage 1
• SERIALGAMES is located in Hall 9 / booth 09-C60
• TGS 2026 runs from September 17–21 at Makuhari Messe
• the voice cast remains unannounced
• composer and soundtrack details remain unannounced
• the total stage count remains unannounced
• an official age rating remains unannounced
• official information is available through CAPTIVE LOVE MELTY HOLIC Official X
• the Steam announcement is available through the Official X Post
• the game can be wishlisted through CAPTIVE LOVE MELTY HOLIC on Steam
• developer information is available through the SERIALGAMES Official Website
• event information is available through the Tokyo Game Show 2026 Official Website

Closing

CAPTIVE LOVE♡MELTY HOLIC now has a public Steam page that gives a much clearer look at its structure: an escape-suspense side-scroller combining point-and-click exploration, pursuit, hiding, puzzles, multiple endings and an estimated 5–10 hour playtime. Its central concept turns the relationship between an underground idol and his fans into the foundation of Ruito's desperate escape.

Steam currently targets 2027, although an exact release date and price remain unavailable and SERIALGAMES' own press material still leaves the detailed timing undecided. Before launch, its first playable build will be available at TGS 2026 from September 17–21.