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August 25, 2025　Early review by Ginga Kondo published

We have released an early review by Ginga Kondo, known as an artist and art historian. Read more here.

July 25, 2025 – Kickstarter campaign announced

We will launch a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for English and Simplified Chinese localization. Read more.

July 25, 2025 – Official website opened

The official Japanese website is now live.

June 19, 2025 – Publisher changed to KITTYPOOL

Shoestrings Story will now be published by its developer, KITTYPOOL.

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AboutAbout the Game

Shoestrings Story is a visual novel that brutally modernizes the classic fantasy trope of “Hero versus Demon King.”

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Advance! Flash! Pierce! Ginga Kondo's Ultimate Serious Review

"Is this game really fun?"

To answer that question as quickly as possible, we asked Ginga Kondo—known as an artist / art historian / game reviewer—to play the full release version of the game in advance with "zero bias".

  • No edits! Full text published
  • Serious evaluation that penetrates both strengths and weaknesses
  • Only the core story elements are censored until release
    		•

    ───Reviewed by

    Cyclone Milky Way Ginga Kondo 

    Born in 1992. Artist, art historian, and pansexual. She developed an illness known as ME/CFS in junior high school and has used a wheelchair ever since. While researching Western art that, from a contemporary perspective, appears lesbian, she also creates works on the theme of sexuality using game engines and CG. As a writer, she has contributed many articles to magazines such as "Gendai Shiso," "SF Magazine," and "Bungei."

    Coauthored works include "Reading 'Shin Evangelion'" (Kawade Shobo Shinsha, 2021), "We Are Already Together: Anti-Transphobia Booklet" (Gendaishokan, 2023), and "How SF Writers Think" (Shakai Hyoronsha, 2024).

    Her solo book "Feminist, Playing Games" (Shobunsha, 2024) was selected for the 2024 Kinokuniya Jinbun Prize.

    Related links: linktr.ee/spiralginga

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    CrowdfundingCrowdfunding

    We have launched a crowdfunding campaign to cover the costs of translating Shoestrings Story into Simplified Chinese and English.


    Hi, I’m KITTYPOOL, developer of Shoestrings Story.

    Thanks to your support, the game has already received many wish-lists from players around the world.

    I want to share this story in as many languages as possible, but translating 200,000 characters into two languages requires significant funding—more than the game’s post-release sales can cover.

    That’s why we’re running a crowdfunding campaign before launch, giving players a direct way to help make the localization happen.

    Backers will receive a variety of digital rewards as a small token of our gratitude:


    We sincerely appreciate your support!

    Kickstarter campaign page

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    StoryStory

    The protagonist is Lovecatch, a freelance writer.

    Traumatized in childhood, Lovecatch can’t utter a single word and has zero combat experience.

    After rescuing a wounded, mysterious creature known as a Monster, they are chosen as a “Hero.”

    Lovecatch is tasked to persuade the so-called “Demon King,” leader of the Monsters,

    and bring an end to the 900-year war between humans and Monsters…

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    Mini-GamesMini-Games

    At the start of a classic RPG, what’s the first thing you do? Open every drawer in the hero’s house and take anything valuable, right?

    This game turns that “RPG common sense” into mini-games like “illegally cracking the mayor’s safe to steal a letter from a city-council member.” Oops—maybe that’s a spoiler…

    Enjoy more delightful mischief in the full game!

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    TrailerTrailer

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    ProductProduct Information

    TitleShoestrings Story
    GenreVisual Novel
    PlatformWindows
    LanguagesJapanese only (additional languages may be added depending on crowdfunding results)
    Release DatePlanned for release by Q1 2026
    DeveloperKITTYPOOL
    PublisherKITTYPOOL
    Artにゅーらいす / Demiseman (Felix Vasquez) / suca / KITTYPOOL
    Translation (demo – Simplified Chinese)flankoi
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