To the Moon: its lineage, descendants, and standing in Japan
01What this origin is
To the Moon is a narrative-focused adventure game developed and published by Freebird Games, designed by Kan Gao using RPG Maker XP and released in November 2011 as the studio's first commercial title. With minimal gameplay and a story about two doctors fulfilling a dying man's last wish through artificial memories, it won GameSpot's 2011 Best Story award and is a key origin of the emotionally driven, story-first indie adventure made in RPG Maker.
02Sources
03Buried gems that carry this root
One-Armed Crayfish Buried gem
A short Japanese doujin visual novel where a boy who only ever goes with the flow meets a girl who does the opposite of everything, and is forced to face what he actually wants. 100 percent positive across 166 reviews in Japan, but it has no English support, so the West has barely found it (only 5 English reviews).
Kugayama Shiori's Death Diary Buried gem
A Japanese visual novel where a ghost who keeps dying traces her own cause of death and the regrets that bind her, through a horror-tinged occult comedy of branching choices. Overwhelmingly Positive in Japan at 586 reviews and 95 percent, but only 35 English reviews, so the West has barely found it.
SMOKY WHITE Buried gem
A Japanese doujin short visual novel where you meet a mysterious-atmosphered senior on a snowy winter rooftop, and part. Choices in conversation branch the ending, in about ninety minutes. Very Positive in Japan at 98 reviews and 96 percent, but it has no English support, so the West cannot read it yet (only 3 English reviews).