- Developed by Japanese solo developer yona (TearyHand Studio), surpasses 100,000 cumulative copies sold
- Sensibility that Captivated Tokyo Game Show, Taipei Game Show, and GDC , ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’
- A strange man who arrived on an ordinary morning, an emotional mystery depicting the rift between memory and perception
One morning, no different from any other, a girl who had come down for breakfast with her father encounters a strange sight. A man she has never seen before is sitting on the sofa as if he were the owner of the house, nonchalantly saying, “Take your medicine.” Who is he, and why is he in this house?
The interactive novel ‘And Roger’, developed by TearyHand Studio led by solo developer yona and published by Kodansha Game Lab, was released on June 18 (June 17 local time) for Nintendo Switch 2, iOS, and Android.
Since its initial release on PC and Nintendo Switch in July 2025, this title has garnered over 10 million cumulative views through word-of-mouth from numerous streamers and creators. Currently, cumulative sales have surpassed 100,000 copies, and it maintains an ‘Overwhelmingly Positive’ rating on Steam.
Hand-drawn aesthetics created with simple lines… Sound that changes with every conversation
One of And Roger’s biggest features is its unique audiovisual direction.
The game’s visuals were created in a hand-drawn style using Adobe Illustrator. Developer Yona explains that she aimed for a “simple yet lovely” art style that conveys emotions using only minimal lines and facial expressions. Over soft colors and a hand-drawn aesthetic, a story about daily life, memories, and perception unfolds calmly.
In particular, sound design is considered a core element of the work. The game features an interactive sound system where audio changes subtly in sync with every line of dialogue and interaction. Unlike simple text-based visual novels, it stands out for being structured to allow players to be drawn into the narrative by experiencing scenes and emotions through all five senses.
The sound design was overseen by composer Yasuhiro Nakashima, and this level of perfection led to the awarding of the ‘Best Audio Award’ at the Taipei Game Show 2026 Indie Game Awards.
An interactive novel that conveys emotions through gameplay
Developer Yona says she didn’t want to stop at making a simple visual novel.
His goal was “not to explain the protagonist’s situation and emotions, but to make the player experience them firsthand.” To achieve this, he actively utilized interactive elements to closely link the narrative with the gameplay.
Players follow the story from the perspective of the protagonist, Sophia, experiencing the subtle ‘distortion’ that exists between reality and perception. As the truth is gradually revealed amidst point-and-click gameplay involving ordinary household chores and investigating the surroundings, puzzles and interactions naturally intertwine with the narrative, enhancing immersion.
Marcus Stewart of the gaming media outlet Game Informer evaluated it as “an excellent example demonstrating the storytelling strengths of the game medium,” adding that “the new way of conveying emotions and hardship is impressive.”
While some players pointed out a lack of intuitiveness in the progression, overall, there was more positive feedback regarding the narrative and emotional resonance.
From the GDC Audience Award to a BAFTA nomination… A work recognized on the global stage
And Roger has garnered attention at various international game awards since its release.
At Tokyo Game Show 2025 ‘Sense of Wonder Night’, it won the Audience Grand Prix, Best Art Award, and Best Presentation Award. Subsequently, at the Taipei Game Show 2026 Indie Game Awards, it won the top prize, the Grand Prix, and Best Audio Award.
It also won the Audience Award at the GDC 2026 Game Developers’ Choice Awards and was nominated for the Social Impact Award. It received the Emotional Impact Award at the Six One Indie Awards 2025 and was nominated in the ‘Beyond Entertainment’ category at the BAFTA Games Awards 2026.
The total number of awards and nominations recorded to date amounts to 13.
Developer Yona said, “To explain without spoilers, And Rogers is a story about love and human existence,” and added, “I sincerely thank all the players who enjoyed the game and shared it with those around them.”
The story of a solo developer chosen by Kodansha… A work built on trust
Yona, the creator of And Roger, is a Japanese indie game creator. While working at the game development company room6, she participated in the development and publishing of ‘Kotodama Diary’ and ‘Kitsune’, gaining experience in game production and service in general.
Afterwards, he was selected as a member of the 2nd cohort of Kodansha Game Creators Lab in 2022, embarking on the path of a full-fledged independent developer. He unveiled his first work, ‘In His Time,’ in October 2023, and released his second work, ‘And Roger,’ in 2025, showcasing his unique emotional narrative direction and interactive design.
In particular, Yona is regarded as a developer with a strong track record in narrative-driven works that convey character emotions and psychology through interactive gameplay. ‘And Rogers’ received favorable reviews in the global market for exploring universal themes of memory, perception, family, and love in a unique interactive novel format.
And Roger tells a story of universal emotions such as memory and perception, love and loss, through a small mystery that begins with a single remark from a stranger. This work’s attempt to convey emotions through gameplay itself, going beyond a simple visual novel, serves as another reason why numerous players and critics have taken notice of this title.
Information regarding ‘And Roger’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | TearyHand Studio (yona, one-person developer) |
| Publisher | Kodansha Game Creators’ Lab |
| Genre | Interactive Novel / Point-and-Click Visual Novel / Slice of Life |
| Release platform | PC (Steam) / Nintendo Switch / Nintendo Switch 2 / iOS / Android |
| First release date | July 23, 2025 (PC · Switch) |
| New platform launch date | June 18, 2026 (Switch 2 · Mobile) |
| price | $4.99 |
| Cumulative sales volume | 100,000 copies+ |
| Steam rating | Overwhelmingly positive |
| Language support | 29 languages (20 languages added in this update) |
| Awards | GDC 2026 Audience Award / Taipei Game Show Grand Prix · Best Audio Award / Tokyo Game Show SOWN Grand Prix · Best Art Award · Best Presentation Award / BAFTA Nominee |
| Discount Information | Steam & Switch 30% (until 6/26) / Mobile 20% (App Store until 7/10, Google Play until 7/1) |
| Main Keywords | Interactive Novel, Cognitive Distortion, Family, Mystery, Emotional, Hand-drawn, Sound Design |
| Official Channel | X (@kodanshaGCL) · Instagram · Bluesky |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
