Keeping You Close
They were your closest friend.
They loved you, they really did.
They loved you to the point of hurting the people you cared about, to keep you for themselves.
So, you locked them in a rusted dog cage in your basement.
It was the only way.
Keeping You Close features:
- <1000 words
- 3 endings
- Full voice acting
- Simple stat-management gameplay
Content Warnings:
Kidnapping & Imprisonment, Emotional Abuse, Obsessive Behavior
Made in 10 days for O2A2 2026
Liked the game? Rate it 5 stars!
Credits:
Project Lead, Writer - Aine
Artist - Yvette
Programmer - Rythen
Voice Actor - Rebecca Mondry-Zanaglio
Assets:
Make Visual Novels! Speech Bubble Tools by Stella
Layered Image Visual Editor in Ren'Py by CuteShadow
Download
Click download now to get access to the following files:
Development log
- APK build out now! (yippee for mobile players)10 days ago
Comments
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Please make a yaoi version :p
ok we have yuri (I THINIK i havent played it actually yet) now someone needs to be inspired to make a yaoi version
I liked the art, Its well-drawn. I played on mute though because while the friend sounds like an adult the mc sounds like a 10 year old and it was throwing me off. Other than hating the one voice I liked everything else, stat managing was simple and fun, also being able to read it at my own pace along with having options to skip dialog (not that I used it) is really nice.
This game is so pretty was basically screaming the whole time i loved it!!! Is there going to be a show of what the MC looks like in the expanded version or is it up to the player? I loved this game everything is so pretty from the art to the voices
jan (MC) does have a canonical design that will be shown in the expanded version!
i love this smmm id love to see this made into a full game and the artstyle is so yummy :3
i love this!!
Is "Keeping You Close" coming to Steam in the future?
the expanded version in the future could be on steam, but not this current build
loved this, if this was a full game id 100% buy. i couldnt dream of making this quailty of visual novel, and it was made in 10 days. seriously so good and i cant wait to see your future projects, 5/5!
I love the concept for this game so much, I downloaded it so fast. Absolute cinema. I also love the art style. I played it muted so I could interpret it as mlm. I can't wait for more to be added, I would love for the opportunity to explore the basement and the house. More endings too. If I was the MC I would have folded immediately, I love their character design.
the muting it to interpret it as mlm is so real, i did the same
I DID THE SAME THING WITH THE MUTED omg
"mlm" for a non binary character 😭😭
oooh liked this !! really good especially witht he limitations u had to work around! the idea of reversing the yandere genre until its no reversed anymore is very tasty :pp
Hi! I hope you're doing well. I've finished translating your game into Spanish and tested all the routes to make sure everything works correctly. I'd love to share the translation with the Spanish-speaking community, but I wanted to ask for your permission first. If you're open to it, could you let me know the best way to send you the translation? I'd be happy to share all the files and uh even write a short note in Spanish for your game page if that helps.
Really good art and voice acting! Loved the concept, and it's pretty well done, especially given the really short time frame you had to work with!
Good concept, great art, and amazing voice acting. But it's short and maybe just lacked different endings. I enjoyed the game despite that I find it short. I looked forward on your future projects.
i wont lie this game actually really disappointed me. it has such an interesting concept yet does essentially nothing with that concept. theres only like... . one piece of art in the game, which is a bit dull, but that can be amended with compelling writing and dialogue. this VN did not do that. there's virtually no story, no interesting dialogue, and im really not fond of how the MC sounds like a little girl. i was really caught off guard by the MC sounding like a child, really not a fan of that and it kind of made me uncomfortable in a way i was not expecting lol.
there is so much that could be done with this type of plot. very very lackluster experience that i feel would have been a waste of my time if the idea of a captured Yandere hadnt inspired me to create my own characters and story with the same concept. theres that, at least.
please keep in mind that this was made for o2a2 jam, with restrictions such as only allowing one piece of art, and 1000 words or less. i’m sorry you were disappointed by it, but this was a project i had to start and finish within 10 days. i’m glad that the concept inspired you, though!
shrug. my other points really still stand, the length and single arrt piece wasnt really a deciding factor for how i feel, more the lackluster writing. it felt more like filler rather than pointing at or implying any deeper story or meaning, and for a single pic VN, i was hoping for at least somewhat compelling dialogue.... it is absolutely possible to have interesting story and dialogue in less than 1k words.... and the MC sounding like a child added an unfortunate unpleasantness that could have been avoided imo.
Some adult women sound like that, get over it.
what are the main characters pronouns? and would you describe this as secret thing or yuri? i want to describe this to a friend who i think would be into it either way if they can handle the yandere plot
the main characters use any pronouns! the game uses they/them for both. i would say that it’s a bit toxic and doomed
i wish we could release them with low sanity... good vn anyway
such a good game and i luv the voice acting!!
I can't see anything....?
is “run game” not working for you? try downloading it. there might be an issue with the web
broke rn but thank you
the games are free to download!
downloading it isn't 😭
it should look like this:
This game is free but the developer accepts your support by letting you pay what you think is fair for the game.
No thanks, just take me to the downloads
click on the line that says “no thanks”, and it’ll take you to the download
I first played with no sound and then I checked the comments and the I was shocked that there's voice acting and i was like "Whaaaat this has VA??" chat I low-key thought we were a male I was not expecting a shy little anime girl voice, I also didn't expect the caged up cutie to have a somewhat female voice either lol.
overall good game tho I love how desperate he is, #freethecagecutie
i give this 3
as yes doomed yuri, the game
i love them so mcuch i dont care who they killed let them out they so cuti
I like it :)
love it! does anyone know how to get the third ending? TwT
Care for but don't talk to them (too much) and you'll leave them.
Neglect them to well below no health and regardless of if you talk they'll die.
Care for them and talk to them until your sanity is well below nothing and you'll have a breakdown.
tysm!!! :D
its really good i cant wait to see more
I NEED MORE😭😭😭
ateeee omg this is so tea
awesome game
Very good! Would love to know more abt their backstory :3
Muito bom
the voice acting is so goood
it's really good 10/10
damn super cool game and the voice acting is so good but I keep getting the same two endings 💔
You can leave them in the end, starve them to death, or have a mental breakdown.
super cool. 10/10.
This is soo cool!! I really liked it even if it's short.
NO PUEDO, SE VE TAN HERMOSO! Y LA IDEA ME GUSTA, PORFAVOR PONGANLO EN ESPAÑOL 😭😭
10/10 the voice actors are AMAZING and loveee the health/sanity stats!
OBSESSED T^T
OH MY GOSH THE VOICE ACTORS HAD BILLS TO PAY!! SO PEAK
short but lovely,love this a lot
The VA is a FREAKING CHEF KISS HOLY SHIT. honestly one of the best VA I've heard in a game!! Hope to see more! 🤩