Stiff Neck (AppID: 4000090)

A story about the self—and about others.

Noele is a police officer whose biggest monthly expense is neck massages at the therapy parlor. As late autumn sets in, a toy factory strike breaks out, cursed dolls appear in an abandoned tower… and an encounter with her ex-girlfriend completely upends her life. A shady college lecturer, a blind massage therapist, a glamorous businesswoman—who among them is The Flayer?

Through your choices, you’ll shape the story, grow close to different characters, uncover the heroine’s past, and find a path that connects her to others.

Characters

Noele

A small-town cop—practical, logical, and not exactly great at understanding other people.

Daily work involves handling neighborhood disputes, murder and arson cases, and AI dogs jumping up trees.

Nil ※Romanceable Character

A lecturer in experimental arts, Noele’s boyfriend. Gentle and mild-mannered.

The biggest headaches right now are publications and promotions... plus the relationship with Noele.

Will ※Romanceable Character

A massage therapist at AAA Massage Parlor, visually impaired, with a quirky and unpredictable way of thinking.

Seems to maintain a purely professional client-therapist relationship with Noele.

Grace ※Romanceable Character

A new media professional, Noele’s ex-girlfriend and a mother. Confident, intelligent, and ambitious.

Claims to have predicted Noele's misfortune this year through his birth chart and appears to harbor hopes of reconciliation.

Flint

A freelance writer and Noele’s friend from college… but things changed later.

Dog

Noele’s partner at the police station—a custom AI with a personality of its own, always picking up on the weirdest things.

Key Features

Story
Over 100,000 words of text, offering 2–5 hours of gameplay. Three romanceable characters, four story routes, and six possible endings.

Art
A unique colorful paper-craft style blending nostalgic retro vibes with modern tech aesthetics.
100+ expressive CG illustrations and 20+ original character portraits.

Music
Modern music crafted by two different artists, each bringing their own style to immerse you in the characters’ emotional worlds.

Gameplay

• Shape the heroine’s attitude through dialogue choices, influence the direction of the story, romance different characters, and unlock multiple endings.

• Interact with map to trigger special story events.

• Multiple Playthroughs
  After completing your first run, new story content will appear at the beginning of the game.

Player Advisory

• LGBTQ+ elements may appear randomly throughout the story, and not all routes lead to traditional romance endings.

• The game contains depictions of mild mental health issues.

• The game includes references to religion.

• The story is entirely fictional and bears no relation to any real-life group, organization, or individual. If you feel uncomfortable at any point, please close the game immediately.

Credits

Producer: Guai An
Writing: Guai An, Ze, Zhan Qintai
Art: Guai An, it-holic
Music: Canniles, Darwin Egret
UI Design: Guai An, Zhuo Xi
PV Editing: Guai An, Zhuo Xi
Programming: Zheng Xiaoshuang, Guai An
English Localization: Ze, Ade
Engine: Godot