16-hour emotional adventure, expanding the DLC worldview…2 new chapters added
The narrative adventure game ‘Until Then’ developed by Filipino indie game developer Polychroma Games will release new DLC ‘Afterimages’ in 2026. Publisher Maximum Entertainment announced on February 27 that the Xbox Series X|S version will also be released along with the DLC.
With this announcement, ‘Until Then’ completes its major console lineup, supporting the Xbox platform in addition to PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.
What kind of game is the original Until Then?
‘Until Then’ is a 2014 story set in Metro Manila, Philippines. Following the global disaster ‘The Ruling,’ protagonist Mark Borja experiences recurring, inexplicable déjà vu experiences.
On the surface, the game depicts the daily life of a high school student: going to school, chatting with friends, checking social media, preparing for exams. However, the cracks in this routine grow wider. Memories become fragmented, human presence becomes blurred, and the connections between time and space become disrupted.
The game was highly praised for going beyond a simple visual novel and for enhancing psychological immersion through the use of screen distortion, glitch effects, and typing interactions.
The Manila cityscape, rendered in 2.5D pixel art, exudes a warm yet unsettling duality. The gradual disintegration of the everyday landscape evokes emotions closer to the anxiety of youth, a departure from the horror of “Silent Hill.”
The core of this work isn’t a grand event, but rather the fractured relationships. The distance between friends, family, and lovers forms the heart of the story. And this emotional arc extends beyond the regional setting of the Philippines into a universal youth narrative.
Expanded content delving into the emotions of the time after loss.
The DLC “Afterimage” expands the story, exploring the emotions that arise after the main story. More than just a side story, it adds two new chapters, centered around the message that “life goes on even after loss.”
In the first chapter, Sophia returns to her long-lost hometown and confronts memories of her past. Stuck between unfamiliar spaces and familiar landscapes, she reconsiders what it means to live as a “left-behind.”
In the second chapter, the protagonist Mark reunites with an old friend. But there’s a new lover by his side. The book delicately depicts the shifting nature of relationships, the interplay of jealousy and regret, moments of growth, and the process of coming to terms with the “weight of nothingness.”
New systems are also being added. The “Tarot Card Reading” system, which hints at a character’s psychology and future , the “Baking Minigame,” an emotional buffer that conveys the warmth of everyday life, and expanded smartphone features such as dating apps and video platforms enhance the realism of modern Cheongjun.
If the main story dealt with the ‘chaos after the disaster’, the DLC is closer to a structure that delves into the ‘afterimage of emotions’.
Global acclaim, a milestone for the Southeast Asian indie scene.
‘ Until Then’ was released on PC and PS5 in June 2024, with a Nintendo Switch version added later. This Xbox version announcement completes support for major console platforms.
On Steam, the game maintains an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating, with 97% of over 8,000 reviews positive. Its OpenCritic average score is 82, and its recommendation rate is 90%.
It was recognized for its narrative perfection by being nominated for the GLAAD Media Awards and TIGA Awards, and won ‘Community Choice’ and ‘Game of the Year’ at the Philippine IGG Indie Community Awards 2025.
More importantly, this work proves that Southeast Asian indie games can be competitive in the global market. Despite its strong regional character, the universality of its emotions resonated with users worldwide.
The main game “Until Then” is currently 50% off on Steam, with an average playtime of approximately 16 hours. The specific release date and pricing for the DLC “Afterimage” will be announced at a later date.
“Until Then,” which delicately portrayed the emotion of loss and resonated with users worldwide, expands its narrative once again with the new DLC, “Afterimages.” Players’ eyes are once again drawn to Manila, wondering what resonance this new journey, following the lingering memories and afterimages of relationships, will leave behind.
Steam Store Page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1574820/Until_Then/
