Mine for ore, trace your memories, and mine again. When you reach the Snow Crystal at the lowest level, the long winter will come to the end. This gentle and quiet mining visual novel offers a small sense of accomplishment, perfect for sleepless nights.
Japanese indie developer Hinuko Shima (Shirokurohitsuji) has officially started development on Thaw.
Unlike the previous unsettling title, Rainbow Sea, Thaw offers a story filled with warmth amidst the cold, quietness, and kindness.
By mining, you can acquire ores, which can then be given to crows. This allows you to reflect on the events that led you to the mine and gather tools to make mining more efficient.
Illustrations
By kokuno
https://x.com/k5k9no
Music & Sound Effects
By ruichiro
https://ruichiro-mu.studio.site/
The project is receiving support from these two talented collaborators!
kokuno is an illustrator whose artwork evokes a breathtaking sense of wonder, like a painting brought to life. While they’ve worked on book covers in the past, this is their first foray into game illustration.
ruichiro, meanwhile, has created music for a variety of video games, including Natsuno-Kanata and SONOKUNI, showcasing his versatility across genres. In 2024, he won the Best Audio Design award at BitSummit.
Additionally, this project is part of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry-supported program, SOFU, where we’ve received valuable mentoring and advice, especially on marketing and sales strategies.
Thaw is scheduled for release in the winter of 2026.
Although updates to the Dev log will be irregular, we hope you’ll continue to follow our progress and support us along the way.
If you’d like to cheer us on, please consider ːsteamthumbsupː and wishlisting! ːsteamthumbsupː ːsteamthumbsupː ːsteamthumbsupː