if you stay Launches for Free, a PC-98-Inspired Yuri Visual Novel About Fumiko and Mika's Last Date

YUKIMISOFT has launched if you stay, a free PC-98-inspired yuri visual novel set during the winter of 1999. The game is being released for Windows, macOS, and Linux through itch.io, with Steam also announced as part of the simultaneous PC launch.

Players take the role of Fumiko, an over-achieving former Student Council President preparing to abandon her hometown after her home life, friendships, and future plans fall apart. Hours before boarding a one-way train to Tokyo, she receives a call from her girlfriend Mika, asking to see her one final time.

Quick Summary

• Title: if you stay
• Developer: YUKIMISOFT / YukimiSoft
• Publisher: YukimiSoft
• Format: visual novel
• Official itch.io genre: Visual Novel
• Steam genre: Adventure
• Steam genre: Casual
• Steam genre: Indie
• Steam genre: Free To Play
• Theme: romance
• Theme: adolescent drama
• Theme: nostalgia
• Theme: the pain of being “seen”
• Subgenre: yuri
• Protagonist: Fumiko
• Second lead: Mika
• Time period: winter 1999
• Setting: a small unnamed town
• Launch: October 22, 2026
• Developer launch time: October 22 at 00:00 EST
• Previous planned date: October 8, 2026
• Delay reason: Steam review process
• Price: free
• Platform: PC
• Store: Steam
• Store: itch.io
• OS: Windows
• OS: macOS
• OS: Linux
• Steam language: English interface
• Steam language: English subtitles
• Full voice: not listed
• Visual style: handcrafted 16-bit pixel art
• Visual inspiration: Japanese PC-98 romance games
• Presentation: retro pixel art adapted to modern resolutions
• Length: approximately 10,000 words per playthrough
• Structure: branching storyline
• Choices: variable dialogue choices
• Consequences: dialogue can add context and conflict
• Endings: two endings described by the developer with a question mark
• Endings: unique CG and dialogue
• Music: melancholic soundtrack
• Audio direction: replicates the YM2608 soundchip
• Composer: William Gomez
• Creator bundle: available
• Creator bundle: mini art book
• Creator bundle: developer notes
• Creator bundle: full WAV soundtrack
• Creator bundle: additional future digital goodies
• Fumiko: over-achiever
• Fumiko: former Student Council President
• Fumiko: comes from a broken family
• Fumiko: plans to move to Tokyo
• Fumiko's goal: attempt to become an idol
• Situation: she has no firm plan and no adults to depend on
• Inciting incident: her closest friend outs her
• Consequence: her home life collapses
• Consequence: friendships are damaged
• Consequence: future career plans are disrupted
• Fumiko's feelings: she carries bitterness toward those who hurt her
• Mika: Fumiko's girlfriend
• Mika: shy
• Mika: a homebody
• Mika: from a wealthy family
• Relationship: they have dated in secret since the previous year
• Mika's personality: sweet and caring
• Mika's weakness: struggles to communicate her own feelings
• Mika: can sound passive-aggressive
• Story trigger: Mika calls Fumiko one night
• Mika's request: meet one more time
• Final date: hours before Fumiko leaves
• Central choice: stay together or separate
• Story principle: every decision carries consequences
• Content warning: cursing
• Content warning: references to violence
• Content warning: references to domestic abuse
• Content warning: references to homophobia
• Note: referenced violence is not shown
• Generative AI: itch.io states none was used
• System requirement basis: Ren'Py recommendations
• Windows minimum: Windows 10+
• Minimum CPU: 2.0 GHz 64-bit Intel-compatible
• Minimum RAM: 2 GB
• Minimum graphics/API: OpenGL 3.0 or DirectX 11
• Steam feature: single-player
• Steam feature: Steam Achievements
• Steam feature: Family Sharing
• Steam App ID: 4437140
• Official video: embedded on the official itch.io page
• YouTube video ID: ahrOBs_1VWM
• New version: rewrite of the earlier game-jam release
• Plot beats: several ideas remain similar
• Script: rewritten around the same premise

Trailer, Steam, and Visuals

One Last Date Before the Train to Tokyo

Fumiko has already decided to leave her hometown and gamble on a new life in Tokyo as an idol. That plan includes leaving behind Mika, the girlfriend she has been dating in secret.

Mika's phone call turns Fumiko's final night into something more complicated. Just hours before the train departs, the two meet for one last date, forcing the player to confront whether their relationship still has a future.

Choices Shape Fumiko and Mika's Relationship

YUKIMISOFT describes if you stay as a branching story totaling roughly 10,000 words per playthrough. Dialogue options provide additional context about Fumiko and Mika's relationship while also creating new points of conflict.

Two endings are listed, each with unique CG and dialogue. Rather than offering an obviously correct route, the story centers on the consequences of making a difficult choice under pressure.

PC-98-Inspired Art and YM2608-Style Music

The game's retro identity comes from handcrafted 16-bit pixel art inspired by Japanese romance games from the PC-98 era.

Its melancholic soundtrack, created by William Gomez, is designed to emulate the character of the YM2608 soundchip, giving the audio direction the same period-inspired focus as the visuals.

A Rewrite of an Earlier Game-Jam Version

This 2026 release is a rewrite of YUKIMISOFT's earlier If You Stay game-jam project.

The developer says some plot beats remain similar, but the script has been newly written around the same central premise. A much longer version was considered during development before the project returned to the more focused structure of Fumiko and Mika's final night.

Why This Matters

1) The conflict is small in scale but deeply personal

The story centers on two teenagers confronting the future of their relationship rather than a larger external mystery.

2) The PC-98 influence extends beyond a visual filter

Both the 16-bit artwork and YM2608-inspired music are built around the same retro design direction.

3) The game is free while still offering creator support

Anyone can play the main release at no cost, while a separate bundle provides the soundtrack and mini art book for players who want to support the creators.

if you stay Game Information

For now, the additional important information currently known includes:

• if you stay is developed by YUKIMISOFT
• publishing is also handled by YukimiSoft
• it is a visual novel
• the main game is free
• the developer scheduled launch for October 22, 2026
• the published launch time is 00:00 EST
• the previous target was October 8
• that date was missed because of Steam's review process
• YUKIMISOFT then prepared a simultaneous Steam and itch.io launch
• itch.io currently presents a Download Now option
• announced operating systems are Windows, Mac, and Linux
• Steam App ID is 4437140
• Steam categorizes the game as Adventure, Casual, Indie, and Free To Play
• Steam lists single-player
• Steam lists Steam Achievements
• Steam lists Family Sharing
• English is the currently listed supported language
• no full voice support is listed
• the story takes place in winter 1999
• Fumiko is the player character
• Fumiko is a former Student Council President
• she is academically accomplished
• she comes from a difficult family situation
• her closest friend exposes a deeply personal secret
• the incident damages her home life
• her friendships are also affected
• her future career plans are disrupted
• Fumiko decides to leave her hometown
• she plans to take a one-way train to Tokyo
• she hopes to become an idol
• she has no firm plan waiting for her
• she has no dependable adult support
• she also intends to leave Mika behind
• Mika is Fumiko's girlfriend
• they have dated secretly since the previous year
• Mika is shy
• she is a homebody
• she comes from a wealthy family
• she has opened up considerably since meeting Fumiko
• Mika genuinely cares about Fumiko
• she struggles to express her own feelings
• this can make her sound passive-aggressive
• Mika does not know how to react when Fumiko decides to leave
• she eventually calls Fumiko
• she asks to meet one more time
• their final date takes place hours before departure
• the main player decision concerns whether they will remain together
• the developer stresses that every choice has consequences
• the branching story contains about 10,000 words per playthrough
• dialogue choices provide additional context
• those choices can also deepen conflict
• two endings are listed
• each has unique CG and dialogue
• visuals are handcrafted 16-bit pixel art
• the look is inspired by Japanese PC-98 romance games
• the retro artwork is presented at modern resolutions
• the soundtrack has a melancholic tone
• William Gomez created the soundtrack
• its sound direction emulates YM2608 characteristics
• the new release rewrites an earlier game-jam version
• several plot beats remain related to the original
• the current script is newly written
• an expanded version of roughly five hours was considered during development
• the final direction returned to the core last-night premise
• itch.io tags include Anime
• itch.io tags include Atmospheric
• itch.io tags include Cute
• itch.io tags include Lesbian
• itch.io tags include Pixel Art
• itch.io tags include Retro
• itch.io tags include Short
• itch.io tags include Story Rich
• itch.io tags include Yuri
• itch.io also marks the project No AI
• the page explicitly says no generative AI was used
• the game includes some cursing
• it references violence
• it references domestic abuse
• it references homophobia
• referenced violence is not directly shown
• a creator-support bundle is available separately
• the bundle includes HD concept art
• the concept art is collected in a mini art book
• developer notes are included
• the full soundtrack is provided in WAV format
• additional digital goodies may be added in future updates
• the official game page embeds a video
• that YouTube video's ID is ahrOBs_1VWM
• game information is available through the Official itch.io Page
• launch details are available through the Official Launch Devlog
• the PC version is available through Steam
• the trailer is available through the Official Trailer
• developer updates are available through Official X
• the launch announcement is available through the Official X Launch Post

Closing

if you stay builds its entire story around one night and one decision: whether Fumiko truly leaves everything behind—including Mika—or tries to preserve their relationship.

The free visual novel launches through Steam and itch.io on October 22, with an optional creator bundle offering its soundtrack, concept art, and developer notes.

Game Ad

A Northern Evil: Tape One