Mayak
A signal from a star // 3571 → 3559 → 3557 → … → 0 // 336 years remain // You and her, staring up at the sky. A hand-drawn sci-fi visual novel about first contact.
Mayak is a linear visual novel / 2D adventure where every frame is hand-painted. It is a story about humanity’s first contact with extraterrestrial intelligence. It is also a story about searching for the meaning of life. And, of course, about love.
This is a very personal author-driven project, made solo.
Story
Mayak is a hand-painted 2D adventure/VN about a signal from a star — the prime numbers 3571 -> 3559 -> 3557. All the numbers are prime, and they are counting down. You play as a young astronomer who starts studying the signal and slowly uncovers its secret.
The atmosphere is cozy, romantic, mysterious, and only occasionally dark. There are also some dumb jokes :) And a cute cat.
Features
Hard sci-fi, grounded in modern scientific concepts // Hand-painted art: impressionism + noir // Warm melodic synths // No choices. One strong ending.
Science fiction with real science at its core, inspired by Lem, Heinlein, Egan, the Strugatsky brothers, and other classics. The game dives into how civilizations might transmit signals, how such signals could be encrypted and decoded, the plausibility of interstellar travel, and more.
Beautiful art inspired by impressionist painters and manga artists. Digital oil paints. Everything is hand-painted, with real care for detail and meaning. Texture, bold brushstrokes, and linework are a big focus to strengthen the atmosphere. Photo references of real people are shot specifically for the artwork. Development is full of ongoing experiments to find a unique color, light, texture, and visual language. Making the game is, in itself, an exploration of visual art.
A love story set against the backdrop of space. The main characters’ relationship is genuinely warm, growing stronger under pressure from the outside world. Lively, sincere dialogue.
Distant operatic vocals, strings, keys, and warm synths. A melodic, atmospheric soundtrack, recorded live over the last eight years.
A linear adventure. No choices: one strong ending. A deliberate author decision that may not be for fans of branching stories.
Made by a real scientist working at a research institute. The events in the game are grounded in modern scientific concepts.
She
She’s wonderful.
