Buddy Collection If: Red Thread of Fate

About

Buddy Collection If: Red Thread of Fate is a visual novel with adventure elements set in a school where students form partnerships called Buddies to fight supernatural threats. Protagonist Nagisa wakes up with no memory and no Buddy after a failed mission, dropping her from elite status to the bottom of the class hierarchy. Struggling to rebuild connections, she’s thrust into a chaotic camping trip with misfit E Class peers. The game follows her efforts to uncover the truth while navigating social dynamics and combat scenarios. A secondary route focusing on character Hayato is included. The game distinguishes itself with a branching narrative that ties character relationships to combat outcomes. Player choices influence both story progression and team bonding, a mechanic uncommon in its genre. Available on Nintendo Switch since 2018, it maintains a 72% on Metacritic with praise for its character development. While episodic, this first entry sets up a system where trust and strategy merge, offering a niche blend of dating sim and tactical gameplay. Developer Narutrick leans into school-based drama with supernatural stakes, appealing to fans of narrative-driven RPGs.

Storyline

The protagonist (Nagisa) is a high school girl who lost her memory and Buddy in the middle of an operation. She was originally a Special A Class student, but was demoted to an E Class student, which is the lowest possible rank class. E Class is a gathering of problem children who cannot make Buddies with anyone. In order to choose a new Buddy from among them, a camping trip is held. However, an incident occurs during the trip—.