Weekend Ritual

About Weekend Ritual

Weekend Ritual is a small visual novel by Fiendish Fiction: writing and programming by Terra Babcock, character art by Johan Faulstich, backgrounds by Chasecubed and an original soundtrack by Walksoftly. It plays in the browser on itch.io or as a Windows download, and it is name your own price. The makers say no generative AI was used.

Something calls to you from above. When your friend Liam arrives for a Saturday night sleepover, you have already drawn the circle in the attic, among the boxes and an old motorbike, and it is only a matter of lighting the candles. A figure materialises in the light: a horned, grinning demon with several arms, who knows your family name and is extremely eager to get his hands on you.

From there it is a battle of choices. You can try to dispel the creature you summoned, or strike a deal, and the demon asks which hand you would like to shake. It is about 2,800 words with four endings, original art and music, and a name you enter yourself for the sacrifice.

The demon is flamboyant, but the makers warn of character death, loss of sight and audio designed to unsettle, without graphic imagery. It suits readers who like short horror visual novels about bargains that go wrong.

How to play Weekend Ritual

1. Play in the browser on itch.io, or download the Windows version.
2. Enter a name when the game asks.
3. Click to read the story as the ritual begins.
4. Choose how to deal with the demon: dispel it or strike a deal.
5. Play again to find all four endings.

Tips

• Play with sound on; the audio is part of the scare.
• Think about every deal the demon offers.
• Short enough to replay for the other endings in one sitting.

Questions