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About Under the River
Under the River is Nightfire Games' debut indie RPG set in the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty. Players assume the role of Shuijsheng, an opera performer who falls into a river, becomes half‑ghost, and is drawn into a mystery that links humans, spirits, and gods in the sinking city of Sui'an. The narrative draws from Pu Songling’s Strange Tales, weaving elements from The Painted Skin and other classic stories. With 150,000 words of text, fully voiced dialogue, and eleven distinct endings, the game challenges players to choose between two female protagonists and decide their own path to redemption.
01 / THE GUIDE
Story and Setting
The plot unfolds in the prosperous ancient capital of Sui'an, a city nestled between mountains and water before it sank beneath a lake. Shuijsheng’s troupe is summoned for a ritual sacrifice to the River God, but a slip into the river triggers a supernatural transformation.
The game’s world blends historical Ming‑Dynasty details with mythic realms, creating a labyrinthine plot that spans human, ghost, and divine domains. Players explore the depths of the city to uncover hidden secrets and shape the outcome.
- Compare the historical backdrop with the mythic elements to deepen immersion.
- Pay attention to environmental descriptions; they often hint at narrative branches.
02 / THE GUIDE
Main Characters
Li Qingqing is a 10,018‑year‑old water ghost who refused reincarnation and now haunts the rivers of Sui'an. She offers Shuijsheng a chance to extend his life by consuming her spectral form.
Huang Cuicui, a 10,016‑year‑old daughter of an opera troupe leader, is Shuijsheng’s junior fellow apprentice and suggests praying for divine mercy instead of relying on Qingqing.
- Consider each character’s motivations when making choices.
- Note their ages and backgrounds; they reflect distinct mythic archetypes.
03 / THE GUIDE
Multiple Endings
Under the River features eleven unique endings, each determined by the player’s decisions, especially the choice between Qingqing and Cuicui. The endings reflect different resolutions of Shuijsheng’s half‑ghost condition and the city’s fate.
Because the narrative is choice‑driven, replaying can reveal new dialogue and outcomes, encouraging exploration of alternative moral paths.
- Track key decision points to understand how they affect endings.
- Experiment with different choices to experience all eleven conclusions.
04 / THE GUIDE
Dialogue and Voice Acting
All 1,500 lines of dialogue are fully voiced, providing an immersive auditory experience that brings the period’s opera troupe and supernatural characters to life.
The extensive script, drafted by Huyu and refined by Huyan, ensures that each character’s personality and the story’s tone are consistently conveyed through voice performance.
- Listen for vocal cues that may hint at hidden story layers.
- Revisit the fully voiced dialogue if you want to catch every nuance of the 1,500 lines.
05 / THE GUIDE
Adult Content Elements
The game includes adult‑content elements such as combat imagery without blood, depictions of bones, intense pain, criminal behavior, suicide, partial nudity, and alcohol consumption. These are presented within the narrative rather than as gameplay mechanics.
Players should be aware that the story contains mature themes and language, aligning with the darker aspects of the source folklore.
- If sensitive to mature themes, consider reviewing content warnings before playing.
- Focus on the story’s moral questions rather than the graphic descriptions.
COMMUNITY
Player discussion