The Ape Painting

About This Game

Tomorrow is the day that you publish your debut novel.

But tonight is the night in which your date’s hideous painting has fallen off the wall and killed him, leaving you trapped in an apartment of nightmares – both his and your own.

The Ape Painting blends point-and-click elements into a visual novel structure, and sets you loose in an apartment where everything hates you. There’s an axolotl who thinks your book is derivative, the front door won’t open until you give it your father’s maiden name, and you’re pretty sure there’s an ancient evil living in the bathroom.

But you shouldn’t let that get you down. Because your book is great, and publishing it will be worth all the things you’ve had to sacrifice. Right?

… Right?

• Play as a trans character in a story about pain, self-sacrifice, and the hidden costs behind creative labor.
• No combat, minimal puzzles: the only thing you need to fight is your own poor self-esteem!
• An interactive setting filled with different characters — some more lovable than others.
• A heathbar that doesn’t end the game when it reaches 0. Lose all your Morale to see the apartment in a new light.
• Pixel art, writing and atmospheric soundtrack handcrafted by a solo developer.
• Over 16 possible mental breakdowns to discover!

So get off your date’s corpse, put on some clothes, and get to work. But remember: achieving your dreams might cost more than you think.