Death is Sunhaired: Gothic Visual Novel on itch.io

Death is Sunhaired is a short gothic horror-romance visual novel set in a 19th-century village. After the village’s men begin dying, the protagonist is sent on a one-way journey to the local lord’s castle. The story centers on a toxic Slavic vampire and uses dark atmosphere, dialogue and relationship choices rather than action combat.

The developer describes the game with gothic horror, romance, yandere, LGBTQIA and “amare” labels. Reading and making decisions form the core of the experience. The protagonist’s selected gender changes parts of the story, so that choice has a narrative effect rather than being purely cosmetic.

Choices, endings and visual rewards

The released story contains five endings and five CG illustrations connected to major moments. Decisions made in conversations and key scenes help determine the outcome, giving players who want to see every branch a clear reason to replay it. The isolated village and the lord’s castle establish a familiar vampire-horror frame, while the branching relationship adds romantic tension and player agency.

This is a text-led visual novel, so attention to dialogue matters more than reflexes. The current short-story or jam version is a released, playable work with its own endings. The creator has also confirmed that Act II is in development, but that should not be interpreted as a fixed release date or a promise that every planned act is already complete.

Platforms and the itch.io access model

Death is Sunhaired can be played in an HTML5 browser. Downloadable versions are listed for Windows, macOS and Linux, and the creator recommends downloading for the best experience. Turkish and Android versions are not listed on the official page.

The base game currently uses itch.io’s name-your-own-price model. Visitors can select zero to access it or make an optional payment to support further work. A digital art booklet is offered when a payment reaches the threshold displayed by itch.io; that booklet is a paid bonus and is not automatically included with the zero-price option.

No countdown or claim deadline is displayed. This makes the current access different from a one-week giveaway, although future pricing and availability remain under the developer’s control.

Frequently asked questions

How many endings are in Death is Sunhaired?

The released version lists five endings and five story-related CG illustrations.

Is the whole planned story finished?

The current short story is released with its own routes and endings. Act II is still being developed.

Is this a limited-time giveaway?

No deadline is shown. The base game can currently be accessed for zero through itch.io’s name-your-own-price system.

For a different take on romance through a chat-based visual novel, explore A Date with Death.