Pivot of Hearts, an upcoming visual novel set in the vibrant city of São Paulo, Brazil, is making waves at Steam’s Visual Novel Fest. From March 3 to March 10, 2025, players can dive into an updated demo featuring enhanced assets, animations, and sound effects, offering a fresh perspective on love and identity.
This unique game invites players to explore the complexities of relationships through the eyes of a Taiwanese-Brazilian protagonist. Pivot of Hearts delves into non-monogamous relationships, providing a narrative that contrasts with typical visual novels. Lead Developer Wilson Kazuo Mizutani shares, “Our small team has poured so much care into this project since 2019. We’re excited to showcase a game that breathes fresh air into the genre with its tarot-inspired mechanics and down-to-earth exploration of non-monogamy.”
Art Director Lívia Santos adds, “We wanted to create characters and settings that feel familiar yet fresh. For instance, highlighting Brazilian celebrations like Festa Junina alongside more commonly depicted events in Japanese media adds a unique cultural depth.”
Pivot of Hearts follows Wén Xiàn, a Taiwanese-Brazilian game developer, as he navigates relationships and self-discovery in modern-day São Paulo. After reconnecting with an important figure from his past and forming a new bond with a colleague, Wén Xiàn embarks on a journey that challenges his old notions of love. The game features four chapters, five endings, and over 100,000 words, offering a rich narrative that explores diverse relationship structures, sexual orientations, gender identities, ethnicities, and body types.
The game blends traditional visual novel storytelling with interactive tarot-inspired mechanics, celebrating São Paulo’s culture with fictional metal bands, nostalgic anime/game references, and detailed urban environments. Pivot of Hearts is designed with accessibility in mind, ensuring an inclusive experience for all players.
The updated demo is now available on Steam, giving players a glimpse into this immersive world. With the full release set for later this year, now is the perfect time to experience Pivot of Hearts. Download the demo, wishlist the game, and stay connected for the latest updates on Bluesky, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and X. Join the Pivot of Hearts community on Discord to engage with fellow fans.
