PC Gaming: Rain98 is a blue-hued, pre-Y2K, Serial Experiments Lain inspired visual novel about time travelling to the past to end the world
Published 17 Oct 2026· Updated 18 Oct 2026· 9h ago
BloxBoys summary
- •Rain98 demo is out now on Steam
- •Pre-Y2K visual novel set in 1998 Tokyo
- •Inspired by Serial Experiments Lain
- •Features time travel and world-ending plot
- •Full release planned by end of year
Picture this. You're me, and you boot up the demo for Rain98, an incredibly blue-looking, rainy visual novel set in Tokyo, 1998, about a woman who refers to herself as the Angolmois, a world-ending reference to the predictions of good ole N
Overview
Indie developer C#4R4CT3R has released a demo for Rain98, a blue-hued visual novel heavily inspired by anime like Serial Experiments Lain. Set in Tokyo during 1998, the game follows a troubled protagonist who time-travels to the past and teams up with a mysterious young woman to bring about the end of the world. The trial version offers up to three hours of story-driven gameplay ahead of its planned full release later this year.
What's New
- ▸Rain98 demo release — Playable three-hour trial featuring early story beats and styled interactive sequences
New Features
- ▸Cigarette lighting sequence — Styled interactive moment featuring the protagonist and Reina
- ▸Name input trick — Entering your name when prompted results in an immediate game over and a Steam achievement
New Characters
- ▸Generic Man — A nameless, deeply troubled protagonist who travels back in time to 1998
- ▸Reina Amehara — A depressed young woman in 1998 Tokyo who calls herself the world-ending Angolmois
New Maps & Areas
- ▸Tokyo 1998 — A rainy, blue-tinted historical setting during Japan's Heisei-era lost decades
New Mechanics
- ▸Time travel narrative — A mechanic where modern-day struggles connect with historical 1998 Japan
- ▸Retro minigames — Planned side activities including parodies of DDR, Tamagotchi, and Tekken
Events
- ▸Rain98 Demo Launch — Playable trial available on PC via Steam
What Players Should Know
- ▸Players can download and play a 3-hour preview of Rain98 right now on PC via Steam.
- ▸Gamers who enjoy dark pre-Y2K anime vibes like Serial Experiments Lain will find similar artistic themes here.
- ▸Watch out for trick prompts like name input to unlock hidden Steam achievements early on.
Release Information
The Rain98 demo was highlighted on October 17, 2026, with the full game expected by the end of the year.
Screenshots
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What kind of game is Rain98?
- It is a blue-tinted pre-Y2K visual novel featuring heavy themes, time travel, and aesthetic influences from Serial Experiments Lain.
- How long is the Rain98 demo?
- The demo content runs for approximately three hours in total.
- What happens if you type your name in the demo?
- Entering your name triggers a surprise game over screen alongside a unlockable Steam achievement.
- When will the full game release?
- According to its Steam page details, Rain98 aims to launch by the end of the year.
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Official source
This article is based on the official update information published for this game. We rewrote and organised the details in our own words — no text is copied from the source.
Read the original announcementPublished 17 Oct 2026 · Last updated 18 Oct 2026