A downloadable visual novel

About

That person on the train. That person in the café. That person whose gaze you meet for a moment...

These are the people you meet only in passing, then never to see again...

Catch a glimpse of the world through Emma Sea's eyes. And meet the people she meets. What will Emma encounter on her commute home?

"Only in Passing" is a bite-sized, slice-of-life, indie visual novel with a chill, lo-fi aesthetic. It's all about those brief encounters we have during our daily lives.


Features 

  • 10-15 minutes of introspection
  • Four people to encounter
  • Randomized scenarios
  • Randomized passersby
  • Full voice acting
  • Lo-fi soundtrack
  • Can only be played once


Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I play the visual novel again? The "Start/Continue" button is missing.

A: The visual novel can only be played once. It is not meant to be played or experienced again.


Credits 

Story, Concept, Programming, UI Design, Casting Director, Character Art
Cho (DerpyChoCho)

Poem Reciter and Blue Line Announcer
Edwyn Tiong

The Missed Connection
Justin K. Brown

The Friendly Face
Sarah Nightingale

The Tea Cozy Barista
Vanessa Benoit

Background Art
Stock Images provided by
klyaksun/Shutterstock.com

SFX
Stock Media provided by
Soundrangers, SoundIdeasCom, soundsvisual, rdmusic, pond5frank, Alexander_Hardt,orangefreesounds, Soundideas1, PatchHillAudio / Pond5

Download

Download
PC - v1.0.0 276 MB
Download
MAC - v1.0.0 271 MB
Download
LINUX - v1.0.0 232 MB

Install instructions

Please download the VN directly. Do not download via the itch.io app.

Don't forget to unzip the folder before playing!

  • PC: Right click on the zipped folder and select "Extract All"
  • MAC: Double click the zipped folder.

Within the new, unzipped folder, the application will have a purple city icon with the title "OnlyinPassing"


Comments

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THAT INTRO TRANSITION WAS OMG AND THE STYLE IS LITERALLY DRIPPING EVERYWHERE AND... IT WAS SO GOOD CHO!!!!!! It's so short yet so impactful, the quality and the animations and the writing and the experience were just... <3! The un-replayability really adds to it as well and was a good move!

Sometimes I want to say hi or compliment a stranger, but I hesitate and don't allow myself to. But these moments in passing can be the most impactful, and I still remember some to this day.

(When I was a tiny child, I remember a stranger at a crane game won a necklace, then they gave it to me. Or just last year, a stranger on a plane initiated a conversation with me and we learned about each others' lives until the plane landed, knowing I would never see them again. Yes, your game made me remember these little moments again ;-;)

I didn't think I would find the time to check your project out this soon but I'm so glad I did!! It's really inspiring. Thank you for creating this game with such a sweet message Cho :D

(+2)

First off, I agree with another review's suggestion to play this at night; I happened to play it shortly before bed and that fit the vibe perfectly.

This thoughtful, cozy game digs into something I think about almost every time I take the train -- how I'm intersecting with strangers, seeing a sliver of their lives, and going on my way. It's a grounding experience in shared humanity, and the aesthetics and writing fit that feeling perfectly. It feels good to have pleasant encounters, but also there's a certain sadness to never being able to know everyone more deeply.

Very nice art and music choices to go with the full voice acting. Thanks for putting this little experience into the world.

(+3)

(Disclaimer: I am a friend of the dev.)

This game is...

It's bittersweet, and chill, and comfy, and affecting.

And the concept is such an excellent match for the story!

Combined with some really good writing and a lovely, comfy art-style, this is such a good, and intelligent, and empathetic experience, I find. ^_^

... Or, I should say, for me it was: as the description says, each player only gets to play it only once, and for me that once is completed.

And I'm sitting on the title screen, unwilling to close the game, just listening to the (beautiful) music as I type this.

But in due course it'll be time for my ship and that of this game to complete their transit, and pass by each other in the night...

So let me say more only this: if the game sounds good to you, I suggest that you take the time to cross your path with its, and see where the journey might take you...

(+4)

I've been looking forward to this since I saw the initial announcement, and it's just as wonderful as I'd hoped! My favorite thing about your games has always been the care and attention to detail you put into your UI, giving each game a distinct identity from each other, and you really nailed the cozy vibes with this one. The swaying of the subway made me wanna be on a subway or train so bad, I know the feeling and it called on it so well! The speech bubbles also gave the impression of idle floating thoughts so well, I adored it.

The strangers presented were charming as well. I loved the set up I got a lot, and even if part of me wishes to play again, just to see more of your work and the different sides of the cast I missed, I am content with the passings I experienced all the same. Thanks for another great experience Cho!

If I can pass on one recommendation to others, it's to hold off on playing this until it's night! I jumped on this in the middle of the day and while I don't regret it, I know I lost out a little bit in the process. Let your day end alongside Emma's for max chill.

(+4)

Ooh, let me second that recommendation of playing at night!

Thankfully I did, and I do think that it added to the atmosphere! ^_^

(+1)

Ahhhhh lately I haven't had time to write longer replies, but I wanted to make sure to reply to your comment!  I'm always happy to see your comment on my games and I'm so happy you played my original VN!  Thank you so much for playing!! And thank you so much for your support in all my work!!  I don't think I can tell you how thankful I am that you've stuck around this long, even when I've shifted to non-Undertale projects!

I'm happy that you like the UI!  It was very minimal in order to keep that chill atmosphere and to keep the focus on the characters.  And I'm glad you found the strangers charming and that you enjoyed the scenarios you encountered!

And thank you so much for that recommendation to other players!  Ending the day with Emma is an awesome idea to experience that chill, calm atmosphere!