Trapped with Jester

Trapped with Jester is a horror-themed visual novel where players wake up inside a carriage with a mysterious stranger dressed as a jester. From the start, there’s an unsettling atmosphere, as the jester seems to know more than he should—especially about the player’s past. His playful but threatening behavior quickly shifts into something darker, revealing that he’s not just a stranger but a manipulative figure tied to betrayal and death.

The story unfolds through choices and dialogue. Players discover that the main character, a member of the Qualian royal family, has actually been killed by a relative. In this state between life and death, the jester—who represents deception and nightmares—offers a contract. Signing it means enduring torment and reincarnation, but also gaining the chance to take revenge on the one responsible for the betrayal. Refusing him isn’t simple; the jester persists until players are cornered into a decision with lasting consequences.

Gameplay is short and focused on storytelling rather than action. Built with the Ren’Py engine, it’s designed for visual novels, placing emphasis on dialogue, branching paths, and haunting imagery. The experience mostly comes down to reading, making choices, and seeing how the different endings play out.

The cast is deliberately limited. The Main Character is the betrayed royal who must face the decision of revenge or resistance, while the Jester is an ambiguous, almost divine tormentor who twists the player’s will, serving as both guide and manipulator throughout the story.

This setup makes Trapped with Jester a psychological experience centered on choices, consequences, and the unsettling bond between player and trickster.

Story:

Your head aches. Your memory is in shambles.

You hear the clip-clop of a horse’s careful steps.

You feel shaking around you… and a pair of eyes watching you.

You are awakened by a voice. An unfamiliar face.

Where are you? Who are you? Why are you here…?

… AND WHY WON’T THAT ANNOYING STRANGER SHUT UP?!

[Don’t worry, it’s not scary… I think.]

Credits:

• Writing, Art, Coding: Anta (Yes, I’m a solo dev), Voice Acting: Ethan Waldrep, BGM & SFX: Zapsplat (Royalty-free), Translations: Spanish: MaryZ, Russian: Viktor Licht, German: Pixlion, Malay: Ra~Chan, Ukrainian: RottenGod, Turkish: HasanH, Kivi, Chinese: 青灯不弈, Vietnamese: Nhung Tran, Polish: RiffOfBlues, Italian: Neoclassic Games, French: Asteria & Meen, Brazilian Portuguese: nenosuns, Korean Fan Patch: Korean Fan Patch