Inside Chromatic Agape: Love and Chaos
If there’s one thing I love, it’s a good romance—especially the kind that pulls at your heartstrings and makes you rethink your entire existence at 2 AM. But behind every emotional rollercoaster of a visual novel, there’s a developer who poured their soul into crafting its world. Enter Deniz G. Lerosi, the creative mind behind Chromatic Agape, a dark fantasy romance with enough yandere-fueled chaos to keep you hooked. Its unique cast of characters are inspired by the Seven Deadly Sins and different forms of love, each bringing their own brand of intensity, obsession, and heartbreak.
“To answer that, I’d have to rewind to Yaoi Jam 2023, when I joined a team working on Love Amidst the Timeless Rift, a Boy’s Love fantasy romance that was equal parts adorable and cheesy. I started out as a writer, but when the lead and several key members vanished (classic game jam experience, right?), I had to step up to keep the project alive.”
“That was my first big challenge: picking up the pieces and trying to guide a team forward with limited resources and barely any assets. We couldn’t finish the full game, but we did manage to release a demo. From there, I had to rebuild the team, recruit new members, and juggle multiple roles (game design, programming, voice direction, and even emotional support). It was one of the most stressful experiences of my life. I learned a lot about resilience, leadership, and the art of making things work even when everything’s on fire.”
“Another major challenge? Team management. Deadlines slip, motivation dips, and sometimes people disappear without a trace. It’s like trying to host a dinner party, only half your guests RSVP’d, one person brought a flamethrower, and someone else left midway through cooking the main course. You either pick up the slack yourself or find a way to redistribute the workload without burning everyone out. Managing burnout—both mine and my team’s—has been an ongoing battle, and it’s something I’m still working on.”
“I’ve always been drawn to storytelling that gives the audience an interactive role. Visual novels felt like the perfect medium for that. Or maybe I just really wanted to finally pick the second male lead in a love triangle for once, who knows?”
“Chromatic Agape was my way of redeeming my first game dev experience. My debut project had plenty of struggles, so this time, I wanted more creative control in the initial stages; such as outlining, recruitment, direction, etc…”
“I stuck with fantasy romance, but I wanted a challenge. Since my first game was sweet and comforting, I flipped the script: Chromatic Agape is dark, intense, and filled with yandere-fueled chaos.”
‘It all started with one vivid scene in my mind: a fantastical creature, on the brink of death, desperately begging for your love and attention. That became the opening, and from there, I built an entire 100k+ word narrative around it. My goal? To create something that lingers, something that alters players’ brain chemistry (in the best way, of course).”
“Tough choice, but I have to go with Shyloh since he’s the one who started it all. Plus, he seems to be a fan favorite. That said, Helios is a close second. I have a soft spot for manipulative characters who play the long game, revealing their true intentions at just the right moment. He’s already delivered one major twist in the demo, but trust me, there’s plenty more in store.”
“The theme of sins and the forms of love in Chromatic Agape is rooted in the idea that both positive and negative emotions/essences shape our reality. This idea connects to my own background and experiences with Middle Eastern philosophies, where concepts of good and evil often frame moral struggles. I wanted to bring these influences into a context that felt accessible to a Western audience, particularly within the framework of a visual novel. While I hadn’t initially planned to incorporate the idea of sins, I realized that pairing these emotional concepts with something familiar, like the Seven Deadly Sins, would make it easier for players to relate.”
“At the same time, I didn’t want to limit the game to a single perspective, so I also drew from the Greek idea of seven types of love.”
Wrath (Khashm) – Theme: Mania
Yulen – Obsessive, possessive love fueled by jealousy and intensity.
Greed (Hirs) – Theme: Philautia
Helios – Self-love, ranging from confidence-boosting to narcissistic.
Envy (Hesadat) – Theme: Philia
Merka – Friendship, twisted by admiration-turned-resentment.
Sloth (Kesel) – Theme: Pragma
Kai – Practical, long-term love that risks becoming stagnant.
Pride (Ghoroor) – Theme: Ludus
Adonis – Playful, flirtatious love that turns into a power game.
Lust (Shahvat) – Theme: Eros
Rosario – Intense, passionate, and sometimes destructive love driven by desire.
Gluttony (???) – Theme: Agape
Shyloh – Selfless love that transcends personal desire, pure and without expectation.
Despair (Naomidi) – Theme: Storge
Sev (MC) – A state of hopelessness, where love seems unattainable or lost.
“When Sev created the painting, she unknowingly infused it with her thoughts, emotions, and desires. Her positive energy gave life, purpose, and motivation to the pixies. But negative emotions have power too, they can twist and distort even the most beautiful creations.”
“Sev never knew the pixies existed, yet her subconscious crafted them. This mirrors how we experience life more than we often realize. We tend to think our struggles, fears, and heartbreaks exist in isolation, that they don’t impact others. But they do. The way we handle our emotions sends ripples through the world, affecting the people around us in ways we might not even see.”
“In the end, Chromatic Agape illustrates how our emotions, whether positive or negative, create the world we live in, influencing not just ourselves, but everyone and everything we encounter.”
“LMAO, fans might actually come for me, so I’m just gonna gracefully skip this question XD.”
“Sev’s whole struggle is basically tied to self-worth and identity. Since she was a kid, her parents had her whole life mapped out—achievement, duty, and looking good on paper mattered way more than what actually made her happy. She’s been raised to think love and approval are something you earn by following the rules, so she buries what she wants, thinking it’s just a distraction or even a problem.”
“And then boom, she gets sucked into the painting. But instead of taking it all in or exploring this wild, beautiful world she created, her first instinct is to go back home. Stay on the “right” path. Even though making the painting in the first place was kinda her one act of rebellion, it was barely intentional. Now that her creation has pulled her into a whole other reality, she’s forced to face all the feelings she’s been pushing down.”
“Sev’s journey isn’t just about survival—it’s about figuring out what she actually wants, without the weight of expectation crushing her. But breaking free from that kind of conditioning? Yeah, it’s not easy. And the pixies? Oh, they do not help. They add even more pressure by seeing her as the painting’s creator, giving her a whole new set of expectations to deal with.”
“At the end of the day, her story is about reclaiming herself; realizing that love, actual love, shouldn’t come at the cost of her own happiness. Hopefully, that’ll shine through in each of the LI routes too.”
“Chromatic Agape shows that escapism isn’t all black and white, it’s about balance. If you focus too much on the demands of real life, you can lose yourself, like Sev does when she tries to live up to her parents’ expectations. But if you escape too much into fantasy, it becomes a trap, just like when Sev gets lost in the world of the painting.”
“Fantasy can definitely serve as a coping mechanism. It’s a safe space where you can process emotions, explore what-ifs, and sometimes even find clarity. But the danger lies in using it as a means to avoid reality, because that’s when things can spiral.”
“Ultimately, it’s all about finding the right balance—use fantasy to help you cope, but don’t let it take over. Keep one foot in reality while you explore the other world.”
“The response has honestly been beyond what I imagined. My first game barely got any engagement, I even archived the comments and closed voting because… well, I was that discouraged. So seeing Chromatic Agape resonate with players has been like stepping into a dream. It’s overwhelming in the best possible way.”
“But here’s the thing: I’ve also become a little greedy. I find myself checking for new fan comments and votes like it’s my daily coffee fix. The fear of being forgotten in an industry that releases new games every five minutes? Real. And I’m not immune to it. Sometimes I worry that I’m not marketing enough, compared to other games in the genre.”
“That said, I’m still optimistic that once the full release drops, things will pick up.”
“I’d love to explore an enemies-to-lovers dynamic next. Definitely a shorter project, though. Fewer team members, a smaller scope, and hopefully a more sustainable process.”
“A huge, heartfelt thank you to my amazing team and all the incredible fans who have supported this project so far. Your encouragement means the world to us, and we truly appreciate each and every one of you. I really hope that as we move forward with the full release, we continue to have your support. Since we’re working hard on this project for free, the biggest motivator for us is the positive feedback and motivation we get from all of you.”
For an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Chromatic Agape, we’re thrilled to share character design sheets featuring the stunning work of artists Dagmell (Yulen), JellySquidling (Shyloh), and Crying (Merka).
If Chromatic Agape has captured your heart, consider leaving a comment or vote—it means the world to the team and keeps them motivated to bring this project to life. And for all the latest updates, sneak peeks, and future releases, be sure to follow them on social media: Bluesky, Twitter
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