What it is
The Commander Can't Communicate is a dark fantasy romance visual novel where you play as a dreaded knight Commander who is feared across the realm. After inheriting the rulership of a small city, the Commander must deal with local politics, an approaching threat, and the possibility of romance. This teaser release includes the opening chapter of a planned full commercial game, with 76 hand-drawn CGs and original music.
From the developer
In the developer’s own words, from futotori.itch.io.
"They say you are not a person at all, only a set of armor the Goddess forgot to empty. That you eat once a year, on the solstice.
And... that you were the last to see her alive."
Ever wonder what Dark Souls would look like if it was a romance visual novel? Wonder no longer, as The Commander Can't Communicate lets you play as the eponymous Commander, a dread knight whose final boss energy has led them to be feared across the realm. Regular combat is a trifle to you, but talking? That's a whole other story. Certain... circumstances have led you to inherit the rulership of a small city. Help the Commander navigate the intricacies of local politics, a growing threat gathering outside the city gates, and maybe, just maybe find a love match along the way.
Read more
For Spooktober, we present to you a teaser of our game's full demo, set to release in Oct/Nov.
The game teaser features...
The opening chapter of a planned full commercial release
76 CGs, creating a cinematic comic-esque visual experience
Original music and sound design
The Commander Can't Communicate is a dark fantasy romance. It contains:
Depictions of violence and blood, including a stabbing
Death, grief, and mourning
Body horror
Religious persecution and religious thematic content
Themes of social anxiety and isolation
Suggestive content
Player discretion is advised.
Lauren Baker Lead Writer
Deborah D'Antonio Writer
Red Editor
Dax (Futotori) Lead Artist
Natalia Foltyn Sprite Artist
Calnite UI Designer / Itch.io page / UI Programming assist
Zack Composer / Sound designer
Nawal Programmer
LeslieEmpty Marketing / Chibi artist
Biestibelzer Early Plot Concepting
Editor takes
“A Soulslike boss turned romance lead is a witty premise, and the teaser's 76 CGs give the dark fantasy real visual weight — now the writing needs to make the Commander's anxiety as compelling as the lore.”
“A few minutes per session is commuter-friendly, but this is a desktop Ren'Py teaser with no touch version or save system mentioned, so it isn't a mobile-break pickup yet.”
“The opening chapter offers no runs, builds, or combat loops to sink teeth into, so my one-more-run itch stays hungry — replay value will have to come from the full release's romance and politics branches.”
“Progression and upgrade pacing are impossible to judge from a teaser, and a 5/5 from three ratings is a promising but tiny sample before the longer loop is proven.”
How to play
Read through the story and make dialogue choices as the Commander. The teaser is a short experience, lasting only a few minutes, and is played like a typical Ren'Py visual novel. Progress through the narrative by clicking through text and choosing responses when prompted.
Tips
- Treat the teaser as an introduction to the characters and setting before the full demo arrives.
- If the game allows saving, save before major dialogue choices so you can revisit them.
- Read the content warnings if you're sensitive to themes like violence, grief, or body horror.
- Replaying with different choices can reveal more about the Commander's personality and the world.
Questions
Is this the full game?
No, this is a teaser containing the opening chapter of a planned full commercial release. A full demo is expected in October/November.
What platforms can I play it on?
The game is listed for HTML5, Windows, and Linux, and the download section also includes a Mac build. The HTML5 version runs in a browser.
How long does it take to play?
The average session is a few minutes, as it's just a short teaser.
How much does it cost?
It's 'name your own price' on itch.io, so you can download it for free or support the developers with a payment.
Is there any mature content?
Yes, the page warns about depictions of violence and blood, death, grief, body horror, religious persecution, social anxiety, and suggestive content. Player discretion is advised.
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