Rakka: Wake 01 - Soot

About Rakka: Wake 01 - Soot

Rakka: Wake 01 - Soot is a role-playing visual novel with point-and-click elements, set in 1993 London. Developed by PMT Games Division and published by The Paradox Music Team, it launched in April 2026 for PC, Linux, and Mac. The story follows Rakka, a disenchanted office worker, and her roommates as they figure out a corporate conspiracy tied to a mysterious code. Hand-drawn art, paper-cut animations, and an indie-heavy soundtrack define its aesthetic. The game balances character-driven drama with suspenseful twists, blending slice-of-life moments with creeping paranoia. It’s a slow-burn narrative that leans into dialogue choices and environmental exploration, aiming to dissect both the plot and the group’s fractured relationships.

Gameplay

You navigate Rakka’s world through click-to-interact segments and dialogue options, with choices shaping the story’s trajectory. Each session involves scanning detailed backgrounds for hidden clues, like scribbled notes or flickering objects, while managing tense conversations that test your trust in the group. The point-and-click segments feel methodical, often requiring you to revisit locations hours later to notice new details. Character interactions are layered, with branching paths that can isolate or bond the roommates. The pacing is deliberate, with 15-hour sessions typical for completionists, but the game avoids fast-forwarding through dialogue to maintain its introspective tone.

What Players Think

PlayPile’s community rates Rakka 8.2/10, with 67% completing the base story. Average playtime is 15 hours, skewed by 38% who found the pacing “slow.” Moods are split: 62% describe it as “curious” for its quirky art, 38% as “tense” due to the thriller elements. Critics praise the soundtrack (8.5/10 average) and hand-drawn style but note inconsistent pacing. One review: “The mystery hooks, but the 30-minute coffee-sipping sequence? Unforgivable.” Achievement completion is at 82%, with 71% unlocking the “figure out the Code” bonus chapter. The $19.99 price draws 65% to “value for story,” though 28% call it “overpriced for 20 hours of talking heads.”

PlayPile's Take

Rakka is a niche pick for fans of slow-burn narratives and visual novels with indie flair. Its strengths, art, music, and character dynamics, are offset by a plodding pace and occasional bloat. At $19.99, it’s a gamble: rewarding for those who enjoy figuring out dialogue-heavy conspiracies, but a chore for action-oriented players. The 67% completion rate suggests it sticks around, but the 38% tension rating warns it’s not a lighthearted pick. If you’ve 15 hours to spare and love dissecting relationships in a paranoid setting, it’s worth the price. Otherwise, skip the coffee-sipping detours.

Storyline

London, 1993. Rakka works as a disillusioned office employee, navigating the monotony of corporate life. When she stumbles upon a mysterious code hidden in a care package from her job, her world begins to quickly unravel. Alongside her roommates—Sascha, Björn, and Kev—Rakka's life takes a sharp turn from mundane to mayhem, facing unsettling phone calls, mysterious black cars, and a break-in. Are they being watched? Entwined in a dangerous conspiracy, the roommates weigh their options, and when Björn reveals he’s figured out the code, a decision is made. As you guide Rakka and her friends through this narrative, you'll uncover not just the answers to the mystery, but also explore the depths of their friendships. How far will they go for each other? And just who’s on the other end of the line? Follow these friends down their dead-end lives as they piece it all together, and they might just make it out the other side, with any luck.