A rebellious new adventure is stirring in revolutionary Paris. Edinburgh-based indie studio College Fun Games has unveiled the first teaser trailer for Less Miserables, a sharply funny, hand-drawn point-and-click parody that playfully twists Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables into a chaotic, cartoonish detective caper.
Released on January 15, 2026, the “Overly Dramatic Teaser Trailer” offers a first look at a very unfaithful – and very British – take on the classic novel, blending traditional adventure gameplay with absurd humour, clever puzzles, and a vibrant cast of historical caricatures.
With a playable demo slated for Steam Next Fest in late February 2026 and a Kickstarter campaign planned for April 2026, Less Miserables is shaping up to be one of the most distinctive indie projects of the year.
A Revolutionary Parody of a Classic Tale
Rather than retelling Hugo’s story straight, Less Miserables reframes it as a comedic, puzzle-driven adventure inspired by classics like The Secret of Monkey Island and the sitcom ’Allo ’Allo!.
Players step into the ragged boots of Claude Van Claude, a man freshly released after 14 years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. Instead of redemption, he’s immediately thrust into another crisis: finding his missing daughter before she’s swept up in a violent uprising.
Hot on his heels is LaBleugh, a ruthless and relentlessly comedic police officer determined to drag Claude back behind bars.
The game promises a mix of witty dialogue, surreal situations, and clever environmental puzzles – all wrapped in a satirical riff on revolution, class, and chaos.
Classic Adventure Gameplay, Modern Twists
At its core, Less Miserables is a traditional point-and-click adventure with a contemporary spin. Players will:
- Explore 40 fully hand-drawn locations across Paris
- Interact with dozens of eccentric, fully voiced characters
- Solve logic-based puzzles using inventory items and dialogue
- Navigate a “hobo-based” hint system designed to keep frustration low without ruining the challenge
Every character is voiced by performers from the Edinburgh Fringe and UK stand-up scene, recorded through live-improv sessions that give the game a distinctly spontaneous comedic tone.
Visually, the game leans into bold, expressive illustration rather than pixel art, making it feel more like an animated series than a traditional adventure title.
From Teaser to Demo to Kickstarter
The teaser trailer marked the first public showcase of the game’s tone and style. Looking ahead:
- Late February 2026 – Playable demo during Steam Next Fest
- April 2026 – Crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter
- Q4 2026 – Targeted full release window
Less Miserables is planned for Windows, Linux, and iOS, with additional language support including French and German.
The team has already taken the project to multiple industry events, including Pocket Gamer Connect, GDLX London, and Debug Indie Festival in Norwich, where it received early attention from press and fellow developers.
A Small Studio With Big Personality
College Fun Games was founded in January 2024 by Daniel Turner, whose background spans software development and a lifelong love of classic adventure games. The studio previously released The Protagonish, an experimental narrative adventure where players don’t directly control the protagonist.
For Less Miserables, Turner serves as producer and lead writer, joined by a four-person core team that emphasizes sustainable development, flexible working hours, and a strict no-crunch philosophy.
Notably, the studio has been transparent about its creative process and confirms that no AI tools are used in the development of the game.
Why Less Miserables Stands Out
In a crowded indie landscape, Less Miserables distinguishes itself through:
- A daring comedic reinterpretation of a literary classic
- Fully hand-drawn environments rather than procedural art
- Live-improv voice acting for natural, unpredictable humour
- A blend of historical satire and modern puzzle design
- A tone that sits somewhere between absurd farce and heartfelt storytelling
For fans of classic point-and-click adventures with sharp British humour, this is one to watch.
To learn more about the game, visit the following:
- Kickstarter: tiny.cc/lessmis
- Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/4090610
- Itch.io: collegefungames.itch.io/less-miserables
- Devlog: collegefun.games/blog
- Mastodon: https://mastodon.gamedev.place/@collegefungames
