TOUCHSTARVED: A Dark Romance Visual Novel
A downloadable visual novel for Windows and macOS
You were born cursed, with hands that twist the mind of any human you touch.
Desperation leads you to the shadowy city of Eridia, where your fate intertwines with 5 monstrous strangers. Each can offer you salvation…or damnation.
How far will you go to cure yourself?
Red Spring Studio is a small, POC and queer-owned indie studio made up of veteran game developers from Riot Games, Nix Hydra, Bungie, and more. The demo for TOUCHSTARVED contains the entire Prologue.
Choose your main character’s pronouns and origin story, and guide them through a thrilling journey with branching storylines, character based routes, and multiple endings. Your choices determine whether the story ends with gothic romance or blood-curdling horror. Will you lose your humanity in search for a cure, or will you find a way to save yourself and those you love?
Play our DEMO to meet your fate...
Characters
Kuras ✦ The Repentant Angel
“I rarely come across so fascinating a patient.”
An otherworldly angel condemned to eons spent among humanity, Kuras masquerades as a mortal doctor to hide his true intentions.
Ais ✦ The Demon Renegade
“You look lost, little sparrow.”
An intimidating outsider with violent ambitions, Ais offers miracles for the forsaken, but at a terrible cost.
Mhin ✦ The Cursed Outsider
"If you come any closer, you'll get hurt."
A moody hunter more skilled at killing than conversation, Mhin pushes people away to hide their deadly secret.
Vere ✦ The Chained Charlatan
"All that suffering has made your soul irresistible…"
Beautiful and dangerous, Vere is a cunning fox spirit born of the depths of the Shroud and bound by a magic collar.
Leander ✦ The Heroic Mage
"I can keep you safe as long as you trust me."
A dashing and rebellious mage, Leander seems like a perfect hero, but a darkness haunts his chivalry.
Features
✦ Customizable characters
Choose your Main Character’s name and pronouns (She, He, or They), and select from one of three unique backstories.
✦ Choose from 3 unique origins: The Unnamed, The Hound, or The Alchemist
Your origin affects your abilities and interactions with other characters. Each origin reveals hidden secrets and choices.
✦ TOUCHSTARVED is designed to be played multiple times
Replay the game to experience as much of the story and learn as much about the characters as possible. Your choices determine whether the story ends with gothic romance or blood-curdling horror.
✦ TOUCHSTARVED features 5 interconnected routes with 16+ hours of gameplay
Each route features a rich branching storyline rife with unique threats and horrors reflective of the character’s themes.
✦ With multiple endings for each route, TOUCHSTARVED contains 15+ possible endings
In a world steeped in horror, your decisions determine whether you can save yourself and the one you love. Not every ending has a happily-ever-after. You’ll have to choose carefully or you and your Love Interest may meet a gruesome end.
Social Media
Content Warning
TOUCHSTARVED contains mature themes and is intended for an older audience. Player discretion is advised. Specific warnings for this demo include but are not limited to: horror, unwanted advances, violence, alcohol and drug references, strong language, and serious injury.
Download
Click download now to get access to the following files:
Development log
- Updates + Delay Announcement99 days ago
- Demo Version 2.0 PatchJul 11, 2025
- Demo Version 2.0 UpdateApr 25, 2025
- Updated Mac Installation InstructionsApr 26, 2024
- Demo PatchApr 12, 2023
- Enter Key BugApr 09, 2023
Comments
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full game?
Loved your game concept! I specialize in helping indie devs like you reach more players through trailers and social promotion. Would you be open to a free visibility snapshot for your game?
download is BROKEN bruh i knlw windows is available sl why do i keep getting gkddam mac instructions let me be a FREAK RAHHHHHHH
pleaseeeee this is such masterpiece , anyone comment on this so I can be back when the new update's done ,thankssssss <3
is this legit?? can anyone check if this is a virus or something
it's most likely a virus, this account commented the same thing across multiple game pages here on itch.
i noticed it too when i clicked on the account. Better report them
it is a virus!!! i clicked on one on a different post and it said i got a virus or something, but nothing has happened lol
把所有人的支线都打了一下，感觉都很有意思.美术和氛围都很棒,期待游戏正式发售.喜欢Ais和Leander，是那种有点坏坏的类型吧。Mhin很可爱.
请问是每个人的线都有不同结局吗，还是不会有啊
我想请问一下为什么我玩到从那5个角色中选一个的时候，后面的剧情就没有了，请问你是试玩版的那种体验服吗🥹🥹🥹
是正常噠，現在這個只是demo，就是試玩版本，之後應該會繼續更新的！
This is one of my favs so far, cant wait for the full game lol
im loving this so much! i havent seen any other visual novel where you can choose a backstory! And not gonna lie Leander got me smiling like an idiot LOL i might have a favorite already..
LOVE LOVE LOVE this game!!!!! It's so well made and fills a hunger i didn't know i had !!!! Genuinely can't wait for the full release, know i'll be taking a week off work to complete the full game when it releases!!!!<33333
Oh this game is really GOOD! I like the art! And I really like Ais, Kuras and Leander! I'm really looking forward to the official release of the game, and I promise I will pay for it
i just played this REMARKABLE game and all i can say is WOW I AM AMAZED ! this game is far one of the best ones here, the music ,charachters, story,effects,pure piece of art! even i am broke as a church mouse ,definitely going to donate something. went sad when the demo ends,came back here and saw there is an update!made my day ^^
im sorry to ask but what update? ive been trying to find anything about it T-T
Está en español?
i keep running back to this demo its so good! can't wait for the 1st chap!! and get the baddiess!!!
fell to my knees when i seen the delay announcement </333
i CANNOT wait for the full release of this game--Ais was so damn pretty!!
FR AND I LOVE MINH TOO!! THEY WERE GORGEOUS!!
Hi there! Will this game cost anything upon release? if so, what?
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The updated version is here - https://uloadgame.cfd/
Comecei a demo e estou super animada para continuar jogando!! A arte tão linda!
Oh my my...Leander!!!
YES OML HE'S SO HOT
I started the demo and i’m super excited to keep playing!! The art and interfaces are great!! Such an amazing and wonderful job 😭
Why is there an update here? But game hasn't been released on steam 😭 😭
THE NEW UPDATE RULES. PLEASE TELL ME LEANDER DOESNT TURN EVIL, I LOVE HIM TOO MUCH AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
This is wonderful news! I was so impressed with the demo from RedSpringStudio. You could really feel the passion they poured into it. I'm so happy to see all that hard work paying off and to know the game is moving forward.
Very beautifully done visually and narratively. I have to say I'm looking more forward to how the story will play out, but I will say as a dating sim I felt a bit like a third wheel around the dudes (though understandably we're still in the introduction stage). I don't feel too bothered by it because I'm super eager to see how our character fits in to this world and what role they'd play.
Unfortunately it still won't let me play on my Mac, but maybe in the future when I have an actual set up I can play. I already paid for the game though, so what do I do?
I also play on my Mac, maybe I can help. If a triangle shows up when you click on and try to open the game, click on the question mark next to it. After, you click on "Open general pane" and then you'll need to click on "open anyway" and plug in your password/user. Then you should be able to play. If not, I'm so sorry I don't know other ways. Also recheck weather your mac is intel or silicon.
I tried, I’m guessing it’s just the wrong kind of computer that doesn’t support it since the pop-up doesn’t even show up.
It’s okay though, there are so many other stunning games that are on here and this is just one I have to wait on. I need a better laptop that supports the game in the future. I appreciate the help a lot though. ^-^
QUERIA TRADUZIR O SEU JOGO PARA PORTUGUÊS,BRASIL
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most atmo game ever
I am terribly excited for this game to be released!!
on my soul ais and vere fucked and def still are LMAO. its very interesting to have a dating game with both your love interests banging each other and not u (yet). i havent seen something like this, i wonder how both of their routes will play out considering their both still close and care for each other a lot, makes me curious what role mc will be in their route.
leander the things i would do to him, i feel like hes the most canon love interest, he knows about mc secret and i feel that his route so far has the most romantic tension yummmm. im gonna go feral when we get his full route!
the creator and the team fr did their big one with this game <333
Yes, it's canon through posts that they're friends with benefits who care about each other a lot. They posted relationship charts for every character, and Ais said he got TOO attached to Vere, so that's interesting!!
it's also implied Mhin and Leander have slept together at least once.
I also think it's cool to have a game where all your love interests are so involved with each other. I too wonder how the mc is going to change the relationship dynamics of the others.
here's the specific chart I was referencing btw.
wait whatttt?? I didn’t know about mhin and Leander. Where did you find that information? I’m kind of sad. I kind of wanted him to myself, hes the one I was most possessive over lmaooo oh well. Does that mean kura is the only one that hasn’t been pass around in the friend group? 🤣
lol well leander was always implied in-game, to have slept around. When he gets you the room key, the bartender says something about it being the usual room, and leander blushes hahah and says it's just for a friend this time. He's a lil hoe but he is single and very charming so! (plus Vere's insane line about him going out back to get a bj). It was implied in one of the information posts that they had done something. Plus, I think one of the lines in-game implies it, but I can't remember. You can find all this bonus information, plus the charts, on their social media. They post on insta, bluesky, and tumblr. I look at their tumblr.
And yes, I believe Kuras has not done something like that with any of the other characters. It's only implied that he's known Vere the longest and that is related to why he hates him lmao. (bc they're both very old beings). But nothing abt them doing it. Kuras has loved other humans, but bro is hella old, so that's valid.
Also, here are their charts, so you don't have to find these specifically. It's pretty implied from Leander's pov hahah. Plus Leander is the only one Mhin has a partial like for (aside from Kuras obvi) in their chart.
hmm maybe… it’s not really implied imo and I tried digging around too. Who knows? probably will find more out when his route comes. I know Hes a little promiscuous, but I haven’t seen anything that has implied that he’s been with mhin but oh well. Thanks for the nice chat anyways and answering my questions politely :) hope you have a great day
HII is it the full game ?
No, it's still the demo so far. the full game won't be released till some time in 2026.
ohhh okii !! tysmm can't wait
This is AMAZING!!! I'm really in love with Kuras
I can't wait for moreee
ME TOO!!! I just think it would be REALLY cute to see him flustered or such
OMGG YESSSS!!!! It would be so cuteeee!! I need see him like that too
i've been keeping up w touchstarved basically since y'all announced it / started developiment / etc and was a hugeee the arcana + last legacy fan before...y'know...
played the demo multiple times + i am weakkk for vere's + ais' routes especially so far (i have a horrid taste in men when it comes to vn's + irl though, so that's prolly why, bhahaha), so im sooo unbelieveably stoked to see chapter 1 + the rest of the game once it eventually releases !!!
Procrastinated really hard on starting this, but once I was in I was GLUED to this game. The art is stunning and I love how varied the character designs all are. Especially the critters, those are some funky eldritch horror type beasts! The protagonist backgrounds were a really cool touch and I'm excited to see how that gets fleshed out more in the full game. It's such a small feature for me to get caught on but anytime a game has stuff like that I always get really excited because it provides so much more depth to the worldbuilding. It was super hard to choose a favourite so far, they all had such dynamic introduction scenes, I'm eager to learn more about them all.
Got so hyped I nearly attempted to order a pack of the keychains to Cambodia in my rush, not realizing there was a big banner saying that shipments to Canada are unavailable due to the postal strike. But as soon as shipping to here is back, you'll all be hearing my wallet whimpering!
leander <3333 oh my goodness im in luv
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My site with 18+ games https://nsfww.click/
it wont me dowload 💔
Hi, I tried to download the Mac demo and followed the instructions, but it still will not allow me to play :(. Mine is a Sequioa laptop, so it works with both Intel and Silicon, but neither is working, and the contents are mostly gibberish that don't trigger anything on the terminal. Was really excited to play though, looks good.
Omg same. I am trying to downlad it on my Mac as well.
download it from the actual itch app instead - it opens from there :3
I loved it! I will gladly pay for this game once there is more content (and hopefully nsfw stuff) and narrators! My hope is that it doesn’t turn into something like Ikemon games where there is tons of paid content that comes up like spam everywhere on the screen. I love the art in this and how clean the design is. I can’t wait to play more!
This is a really late reply, but they confirmed the game is a single purchase with no microtransactions. The only other thing that will cost money is the dlcs for the two extra love interests sen and elyon, and any other potential extra content dlcs, but not in the base game.