The question is, are the creatures of the night the ones you should really be afraid of?
When the Night Comes is a queer, narrative-driven, supernatural visual novel published by Lunaris Games.
Originally completed in October 2019, a revamped version was released in August 2021 with partial voice acting, new artwork, a codex, and improved UI.
The player takes the role of a monster hunter who has been called to the quiet, strange little town of Lunaris to assist the local Enforcers with an investigation into a series of unsettling and unexplained supernatural murders.
The game provides examples of:
- Abnormal Allergy: Omen is allergic to chocolate, which makes his tongue tingle and swell. Chocolate may not seem like a very abnormal allergy, but a demon with any allergy to begin with seems to be abnormal, as remarked on by many characters. Other characters, especially Alkar and Ezra, urge him to take his allergy more seriously, but Omen argues that a swollen tongue does not affect his breathing the way it would a human, and they should let a demon have his indulgences.
- Action Girl: Piper, the only woman in the main cast, is a powerful and skilled Hunter.
- Affably Evil: Harry Addington remains agreeable and composed for most of the game (well, as composed as someone who just lost his husband can be), and only loses his composure at the very end.
- All There in the Manual: As the game is played, codex entries are unlocked with character backstory, lore, in-game handwritten notes, and more.
- Anti-Frustration Features: Important choices are clearly labeled, and potentially triggering content is warned for. A large number of available save slots, as well as the ability to rewind the game, make it easy to make a different choice if you want to.
- Creepy Twins: Aurora and Amaros.
- Dark Is Not Evil: Many "dark" creatures live peacefully in Lunaris, including lycans, demons, and a clan of vampires. The majority of the non-human characters the player encounters are kind and want to leave in peace, and some are even romanceable.
- Downloadable Content: 3 mini stories that were originally DLC are included with the revamp and unlocked after completing the main story. Living Dead Girl is a separate DLC.
- Fantastic Racism: Affects all of the non-human cast members to some degree, but Alkar especially seems to become a target for bigotry against creatures after the murders in Lunaris begin. In the ending, the player can choose whether the Hunters and Enforcers will forge a closer relationship with the communities of creatures or not.
- Friendly Neighborhood Vampires: Finn and the Kazamir clan are on good terms with the town of Lunaris. The vampire clan helps the enforcers and hunters protect the town from supernatural threats, and Finn has a pretty good reputation around town. Sometimes Raven pulls pranks to scare the townsfolk, but they are mischievous, not malicious.
- Half-Human Hybrid: Alkar is a half-lycan.
- I Hate You, Vampire Dad: Leviathan "Levi" Kazamir was very much the epitome of an abusive sire to Finn.
- I Love You, Vampire Son (daughter): In contrast to Finn and Levi, Finn and Raven have a healthy, paternal relationship not unlike that of any human father and teenager. When Raven is first introduced, Finn mentions he sees it as more of a brotherly relationship, but if he is romanced, the player character refers to Raven as their daughter in the ending.
- Interspecies Romance: Half of the romanceable cast is non-human.
- Kiss of the Vampire: In Finn's (or Finn and Ezra's) route, Finn's bite is described as being pleasurable.
- Multiple Endings: A good or bad ending is possible, depending on whether the player ultimately chooses to sympathize with or condemn the villain. In the good ending, the player can also choose whether Harry is immediately imprisoned for life or gets a fair trial, whether the hunter's initiation should continue or be stopped, and whether the Hunters and Enforcers should work more closely with communities of creatures or distance from them.
- Official Couple: If the player does not become involved in a romance with them, Finn and Ezra will pair off, as will Omen and Alkar, and August will enter a romance off-screen with an unnamed diplomat.
- Older Than They Look: Finn, Raven, and Fiero are all several hundred years old. Omen and Elaine's ages are unknown but presumably very old.
- Paranormal Romance: One of the main genres of the game, though an option to avoid romancing anyone and still experience the full story is available.
- Super-Strength: In addition to the usual monster-fighting utility of supernaturally-enhanced strength, Piper uses it to be an arm wrestling champion. August refuses to ever give her a rematch, having apparently lost to the point of injury, and Piper can consistently beat Alkar, a half-lycan. (She also beats Finn, a vampire, but he says he lets her win, because using his full strength would snap her arm like a twig.)
- Suddenly Voiced: All the characters, when the revamp added partial voice acting for important lines.
- Voluntary Vampire Victim: Ezra is more than willing to feed Finn. Since he is a witch, Ezra's blood is potent and can sustain Finn for up to months between feedings, and also turns Finn's eyes yellow. Implied to be the way the entire vampire clan feeds. Lux, Raven's partner, has a visible bite mark on her neck in her game sprite.
