1997 Reloaded

Like a prestige graphic novel brought to life, this linear coming-of-age adventure invites you to witness a powerful story of love, justice, and nostalgia.

Hove, England. June 2023.

Italian best friends Marco and Federico, 16, are trying to survive an intensive English summer course away from home, spending as much time as they can with Shirley, the determined, pink-haired daughter of Marco’s host family.

Until a regular afternoon at a local flea market changes everything: among the relics of the past, the trio stumbles upon a vintage answering machine. Inside—like a message in a bottle— is a haunting audio recording: clear evidence of a murder from decades ago.

What begins as a curious discovery becomes an incredible quest for the truth.

From the grey coasts of Europe to the neon nights of NYC and the sun-drenched streets of Los Angeles, you will follow these three kids as they dive deep into a reimagined 1990s music scene to uncover forgotten secrets about good, evil, and the fleeting nature of fame.

Will they be able to right a decades-old wrong? Or is some history better left buried?

 🎞️ CINEMATIC RUNTIME

Approximately 5 hours of gameplay: perfect for a two-night "movie marathon" or one single, immersive session.
"NEO-RETRO" AESTHETIC 🌃

Over 2,000 original hand-drawn illustrations that combine philological research of the '90s with a sharp, modern directorial style.

💥  THE ROXYVERSE
Set in an alternate timeline where Grunge never existed and Los Angeles acted as the epicentre of the 1990s Alt-rock scene.

AN AUTHENTIC '90s MUSIC SCENE, BUILT FROM THE GROUND UP 📀
The Roxyverse comes alive through a curated collection of original Pop and Alt-rock tracks, performed by the fictional legends you encounter in the story.

This lost music scene is brought to life by stellar indie vocalists:

• Ken Gordon & Rosa Helena bringing raw indie energy.

• Jessie Wagner (touring vocalist for Lenny Kravitz, Duran Duran, and Kid Rock).

📼 ANALOG INTERACTIVITY
Features a vintage answering machine with 12 authentic voice messages recorded by real actors to take you back in time. Explore the lore in the dedicated Reading Room, packed with vintage articles, music files, and secrets to uncover.

3 NARRATIVE MINI-GAMES 🧩

Take brief, interactive breaks to unlock key chapters of the story. The game features exactly 3 unique text and logic puzzles:

• Fill-in-the-gaps: Listen closely to decode vintage audio tapes and complete the transcriptions.

• Text Quiz: Answer riddles to improve phone screen quality and track down who rented the movie.

• Star Drag-and-Drop: Align the Little Dipper star pattern to reveal the first lyrics of Walk Alone.

  

💬  ENGLISH WITH AN ITALIAN FLAVOUR
Designed for a global audience, but keeping the authentic spirit of a summer abroad, the interface and core dialogue are in English. However, to stay true to the characters' roots, some exchanges between the Italian protagonists remain in their native tongue—always translated or rephrased within the narrative. For a deeper dive, entire key segments of the game can be experienced in both English and Italian, offering a fluid, multicultural journey that captures the authentic spirit of a summer abroad.