After the Wane

About After the Wane

After the Wane is a story-driven visual novel from Nova-Box, the team behind Along the Edge. It follows Lena, a young dancer chasing her dreams in a bustling city, as she navigates family secrets, rival dance companies, and a cryptic voice in her head. Released in late 2026, it blends introspective dialogue with minimalist art and a moody soundtrack. The game unfolds like a graphic novel, with players making choices that shape Lena’s relationships and her journey to uncover her mother’s past. Available on PC, Switch, and other platforms, it’s a slow-burning narrative about identity, art, and the noise in your own mind.

Gameplay

You spend most of your time reading dialogue and selecting responses, but the game isn’t passive. Choices matter: pick how Lena handles conflicts with dance troupe leaders, whether to pursue a romantic subplot, or how to confront the voice commenting on her every move. The interface is simple, click to advance or tap to navigate menus. Occasionally, you’ll explore environments like theaters or practice rooms to uncover letters or photos, which add context to the story. There’s no combat or puzzles, just branching conversations and emotional beats. Sessions are short but dense, with each decision nudging the story toward one of several endings. The voice itself is narrated by a cast member, creating a meta layer of self-aware commentary.

What Players Think

Community ratings average 4.2/5 on PlayPile, with 68% completing the full story. Average playtime is 234 hours, though 42% of players finish in under 15 hours. Mood tags skew toward “contemplative” (72%) and “bittersweet” (58%), with some “frustrated” (19%) from players wanting more agency. Critics praise the writing: “A haunting, layered script that mirrors Lena’s internal chaos,” writes Eurogamer. The game’s 87% completion rate for achievements suggests replayability, though 30% of players abandon after the first act. At $29.99, it’s priced like a mid-tier indie, with discounts common on Steam.

PlayPile's Take

After the Wane is best for fans of slow-burn narratives and visual novels with emotional depth. It’s not a game for action or high-stakes thrills but rewards patience with a poetic take on self-discovery. With 52 achievements and a $10 discount during sales, it’s a low-risk buy for those who enjoy branching stories. If you skipped Along the Edge, this is a good entry point to Nova-Box’s style. Just don’t expect to finish it in one sitting.

Storyline

The new interactive graphic novel by the creators of Along the Edge and Across the Grooves. Lena is a starry-eyed young dancer with big dreams, but as soon as she sets foot in the capital, she finds herself at the nexus of a lifelong quarrel between Fernand, the elusive director of a community center, and Deborah, who's leading the troupe of a strange and exclusive theatre. Does it have anything to do with her mother, a dancer too, who abandoned her when she was a child? Torn between her past and her future, Lena will need to rediscover her own nature and forge her path forward as increasingly strange events unfold around her… but the strangest of all might be the permanent commentary of a voice that she seems to be the only one to hear.