Growing Pains

[WIP] Growing Pains by Veridian Projects

Growing Pains is a narrative-driven slice-of-life visual novel about the difficult, beautiful, and often quiet struggles of early adulthood. It explores what it means to grow - emotionally, mentally, and personally - through moments of (dis)connection,  (dis)comfort, reflection, and most of all personal transformation.

This story is grounded in real-life experiences: the ache of past regrets, the weight of unspoken grief, and the slow healing that comes from self-awareness. You’ll navigate choices that aren’t always right or wrong, but deeply human - shaped by trauma, health issues, lost opportunities, and the longing for belonging.

This game is being created slowly and intentionally by a disabled solo developer.

I do not have the resources or any such base to make game development my income source, therefore it will take (more than anything else) time to develop, therefore I hope I can at least hold your interest in what I hope will be a great experience!

It is a personal, emotional project - built around the idea that softness and struggle can coexist, and that storytelling can offer space to breathe, process, and just be.

Demo is yet to be released, but I'm hoping to find some people interested in a little paradise of exploring what feels like it's faded. 

In the meantime, have a trusted beverage and be ready! ♥

You! The MC!

+ 9 datables.

Airu — We know nothing about this guy. Very mysterious, very strange. Very hm.

Desmond — Your longterm childhood bestie, who's been causing more chaos than good for the most time, but "It's all for the plot", as they would say. Nowadays Des lives a rather slow paced life, with clear-set focus and a lot of love to offer to friends and family through melody.

Finnian — As a complete foreigner to your town, he's all but welcoming, open-hearted and easy to talk to. With a lot on his own shoulders and too little time to breathe it's hard but not impossible to get him to interact with you.

Kazeki — If trouble had a name...  and yet it bears just such a sweetheart. With thick skin and a soft heart follows a lot of responsability, or something the like.

Marcus — Odd past encounters may leave you wondering now, but he's quite an open-spirited guy with a lot on his mind and little time to dwell on any of it. You do have... a past.

Novas — Bright, as the name suggests, he's the definition of a middle child starving for value and meaning. One of the Golden Retrievers here and surely someone to include in your journeys!

Oscar — The classic sweet and always-ready-to-help co-worker from another department within your workplace. If "living-in-the-past and regretting-your-own-decisions" were a person, it might just be him. 

Saleh — "Out, Loud and Proud" isn't just a saying in his case, Saleh's maybe not the spotlight of a party, but he's making sure everyone's having a good time and might just be the reason you're going at all.

Yasha — Your childhood best friend suddenly appearing back in your hometown after vanishing right after graduation, and soon you're found between guilt, regret, words that might better not have been said and decisions you might not want to make.

- potential content warnings and trigger warnings will follow -

What kind of game is this?
— A visual novel life-sim with slice-of-life storytelling, character-driven scenes, and soft pacing!

What's the main story?

— You're working in the publishing industry, influencing the public view on the life of the rich and famous with your research and writing, but a few things happen in your busy life that might... intervene with how you once viewed those you called aquantances or 'friends', even.  A strange disappearance case of several stars gone off the field tears at your capacities and it's on you to bring the details together and let the public know what's really going on. The story unfolds slowly, through your choices, interactions, and flows with some shifts in character relationships, while you need to manage your work-life-balance all amidst those curious cases.

What’s the vibe?
— Melancholic, warm, introspective. Think being isekai-d into a strangely normal world. Very strangely. Normal.

How long will the demo?
— The plan is that it will cover two days: Day 0 to introduce the main character's life, allow you to set the base parameters of your main character, meet the main cast and to be introduced to the world + connections to the main cast. Day 1 allows you one of six hangout options; You may or may not unlock all six, it will depend on how you play!

I will update you on exact playtime once the script is finalized for all those 6 routes.

Will there be romance?
— ABSOLUTELY! Not as the main focus — but deep connections, forming/ breaking bonds and emotional tension ARE part of the story!

Can I replay it for different outcomes?
— Yes! And you should! Some scenes and moments change based on your daily choices, friendships, and character focus. Your decisions during Day 0 will determine who you'll get to spend your time with during the Day 1 Event!

BLUESKY— for little snippets and previews

TIKTOK— for the quick art-bits, speedpaints and standard clockapp sillies

PATREON— needs some rework, but that's where the in-details updates go!

KO-FI— because sometimes a little coffee for fuel is just exactly what's needed. Though mainly the tips would go into the "Add Voice Actors" jar, because voiced VN's are just so mhm yes!

(to be continued) Caught your interest? Read a little bit about the game on the wikia page!

Or for any other socials, game and art related content, it's all found on my straw.page! Come check it out!

Or don't. It's up to you.

- will follow once the demo is up -

🌙 Current status: Still early in development
💻 Tools used: Ren’Py, Krita + music and caffeine for my nerves
🎨 Style: 2D semirealism ? My art guides me