Thick Thighs Save Lives
NeoGAF's Physical Games Advocate Extraordinaire
Via Noisy Pixel
FuRyu has announced its new high-school RPG, Varlet, which will be released for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store on August 28, 2025. Team Noir, the studio behind the turn-based RPG Monark, is also helming this title.
Setting & Narrative
Kousei Academy is the first school to implement the cross-reality, virtual reality network known as Johari, which is used for everything from finding basic information and making purchases to even functioning as a social networking and messaging app. This app has demonstrated a significant increase in users' desire for approval and attention from peers.
An urban legend about users disappearing into otherworldly "Glitches" if those desires become too strong begins spreading. Further, monsters within the Glitches supposedly replace users in the real world, leaving everyone else ignorant. The protagonist discovers that this urban legend is real, and monsters have already replaced some of the students.
Players become members of the Student Support Services (SSS), a guild aiming to solve the academy's conflicts. Guiding friends and strengthening bonds is crucial, but navigating these relationships can be challenging, as getting too close to multiple people can cause unexpected consequences.
An urban legend about users disappearing into otherworldly "Glitches" if those desires become too strong begins spreading. Further, monsters within the Glitches supposedly replace users in the real world, leaving everyone else ignorant. The protagonist discovers that this urban legend is real, and monsters have already replaced some of the students.
Players become members of the Student Support Services (SSS), a guild aiming to solve the academy's conflicts. Guiding friends and strengthening bonds is crucial, but navigating these relationships can be challenging, as getting too close to multiple people can cause unexpected consequences.
Triad Stats
The Triad Stats system is at the core of this experience, shaping character progression based on choices made by the player. These six attributes are divided between Light and Dark Triad traits, influencing dialogue options and passive battle skills.
Light Triad stats emphasize morality, sympathy, and altruism. Dark Triad stats lean into Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism. As a result, players can become an uplifting, guiding leader who empowers allies in combat, or a ruthless ruler who wields major strength at a personal cost.
The teams have also made the online Triad Diagnosis personality test.
FuRyu has shared numerous screenshots, character illustrations, and more material that is all viewable via our galleries below:
Light Triad stats emphasize morality, sympathy, and altruism. Dark Triad stats lean into Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism. As a result, players can become an uplifting, guiding leader who empowers allies in combat, or a ruthless ruler who wields major strength at a personal cost.
The teams have also made the online Triad Diagnosis personality test.
FuRyu has shared numerous screenshots, character illustrations, and more material that is all viewable via our galleries below:
Key Art
