Arches
A downloadable game for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android
(Arches contains themes of an adult nature - you must be 18 or older to play)
CW: Arches is a horror story that can be an emotionally intense experience for some readers. Themes of drug addiction, mental illness, and physical and mental abuse are explored, along with descriptions and imagery of brief, but intense violence. Please consider your mental well-being before downloading.
In March 2020, boyfriends Cameron and Devon arrive in the ghost town of Echo to conduct a paranormal investigation. It has been five years since the mass hysteria supposedly left the town completely abandoned. While it does seem empty at first, they realize that something evil still lurks in Echo, evil enough that it has kept the horrors alive.
Arches is a standalone story that takes place after the events of Echo.
Sprite art and illustrations by Paintfox
Background art by Kardamon
Soundtrack composed by Moe
Coding assistance by Orion
Splash screen and main menu animation by Gumdrop_Studios
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Updated | 13 days ago |
Status | Released |
Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android |
Rating | Rated 4.9 out of 5 stars (790 total ratings) |
Author | Echo Project |
Genre | Visual Novel |
Tags | Furry, Gay, Psychological Horror |
Average session | A few seconds |
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Development log
- Arches Release45 days ago
- Arches Build 8 - PermanenceMay 28, 2023
- Arches Build 7 - PsychosisJan 13, 2023
- Arches Build 6 - PlasticitySep 15, 2022
- Arches Build 5 - Spiked + Polish UpdateApr 24, 2022
- Arches Build 4 - ProdromeDec 06, 2021
- Arches Build 3 - Cascading FailureSep 02, 2021
Comments
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wow, I thought the game was over but NOPEEE
this is amazing
I don't know anything about Echo, I decided to check this after Adastra, to see how its writer would do without a 1st-person-isekai trick.
I wasn't ready for it to become my favorite vn / story ever.
Love the thrilling plot alternating between the two perspectives of a cute couple, it also makes them both so wholesome as you get to know their minds (I tend towards Cameron, but could definitely relate to Devon too)
It deals with some difficult themes sensibly, with disturbing horror of all kinds keeping you on edge all the way. Really great art and ost too.
Thank you Howly and the whole team, I'll remember Arches forever.
Can someone tell me how do I access the short-stories, please!
Click on Cameron or Devon on the main screen after finishing the main story.
Finally 100% caught up aw yeee boi I loved it but I wish there was butt a small change, though I'm not gonna spoil. 99.9/100 isn't so bad :)
Was it updated today? Whats new? I haven't played the last update that came out a few weeks ago yet.
Devon's short story came out, amongst another QoL updates.
Ah, ok. cool
after playing all the routes in Echo I can say this game will definitely mess you up but not as bad as Echo. Enjoy the +10 psychic damage this game deals!
More like +40, lmao
But still, it's so amazing.
heh yah yer right since Echo is +400 psychic damage.
Personally this one hits a lot more for me, while Echo still is trauma inducing this one is just... Hard.
Sobbed a few to many times for a healthy man...
On a serious note amazing job. Not as good as some of your other vn but still hits as hard in the feels, good job!
I just finished Arches for the first time. This is genuinely the most beautiful thing I have ever read every person on the team did incredibly and while this will never be mainstream it is my game of the year and its not even close.
Cam is a precious cinnamon roll and adorable scrunkly who must be protected at all cost.
Idk why but i never like the main characters in echo project vn's lol they're always so annoying to me personaly
Not every character is designed to serve the player.
I don't know if you've seen *Inside Out 2*, but accepting one's flaws also takes courage.
finally read Dev's short story...
i'm not okay
but this does remind me of a Glory Hounds x Arches crossover idea I had
In it, the Devon from the bad timeline (the one where Brian killed Cameron, and a ghost demon Cameron possessed Devon), becomes a kind of Echo-slayer, going around finding Echos and stopping whoever is feeding them, by whatever means necessary, over the years he becomes increasingly unhinge and ruthless due to the influence of ghost Cameron, eventually he makes his way to Batavia, the now 39-year-old Devon (putting him in the time-frame of glory Hounds) tries to slay the Echo of Schippersburg (the mysterious entity that talks to Alex and revived him in issue 3), to defend itself the entity sends him across the multiverse into the timeline of Glory Hounds, where he would make it his goal to kill Alex (because he is "feeding" the city's entity)
Oh god, not a new update, ill have to play this again.... (trauma.)
Just finished Echo for the second time, and came to check out more from this team only to see this was finished today and got even more excited to see it's about the bear and coyote seen at the end of one of the paths.
Have really enjoyed reading these, and I expect this to be maybe the best one yet given how passionate the author is about it.
Thank you to everyone at Echo Project for making these awesome stories with incredible art.
Edit: Finished the whole thing. Loved it! And the "alternative reality" part would make for a sick episodic series, IMO. Like a kick ass buddy cop thing with a paranormal twist. Would love to read more about that whole premise. 😃
Personally, I don’t consider Arches to be a romantic story, and I hope others don’t either. It feels more like an autobiography of Cameron, with Devon being more of a “witness” to a legend.
It's not a romantic story in that the romance is the focus; but I feel like the romance between the main characters adds heavily to the elements of horror because you're made to care just that more about them.
How do you access the side stories in the 1.0 version?
You have to run through the credits, and they will be unlockable.
At the end of the credits there is an option to view the gallery and ??? when I click on the triple question marks I see a quick flash of images but then it brings me back to the title screen, and I cannot seem to find the short stories.
Try clicking on Cam and Dev separately.
Oh, got it, thanks!
Cool I'll replay this then!
How do I get the Cameron side story?
I tried clicking on Cam in the main menu but it didn't work
Try going through the end credits. It should be unlocked afterwards.
OMG A new release!!!!
I wanna read it how so bad, but i have to focus on school😩
Imma treat myself to this after I'm done with school in a few weeks. Thanks @TheEchoProject!
what the difference between build 8 and last release ? since ive been finish the main story do i have to play it again ?
Basically we got "Vessel" side story, which is set in an alternate universe which Cameron is kill.ed by Brian and a little addition in "Halloween" side story, which is happend before the main story.
Thanks!
Do I have to play the other games to play Arches?
Well, technically yes. It can be a good story by itself, though, some things will seem random. I do suggest reading Echo first!
You can watch it directly. Different from TSR, the connection of them isn't strong
Thats odd, I got a notification that this was updated. What happened?
Same. Also not available to download.
Huh, odd.
Nevermind. A slight delay with the update.
Ah, yeah ok then.
I would suplex the living crap out of the developer if they didn't update this GAME
when is the update coming out?
the short story Vessels has been on patreon since April
You're in luck, it just released an hour ago
Speechless, so many emotions. Amazing VN. Devon and Cameron deserve everything. 10/10
TW is surely there for a reason (I had a full breakdown during this), still amazing thou
peak fiction
Is this before Echo or do I read one route and then this?
after Echo
After but there’s some timeline foolery.
I started reading furry visual novels this year and have read 8 so far, but Arches is still my number one spotlight. The story really touched me, and I love the relationship between the main characters. My favorite scene so far is the one in the car. After what happened in the motel, I thought the intensity would go down, but it just keeps getting better and better. Thank you for creating this masterpiece. I hope that one day I can be like Devon and find my own Cameron.
The ending had me reflecting on my own life long after I finished reading it, Last chapter was so bittersweet but THAT'S one of the best part about this vn :')
I just finished this game and what an amazing game, intense and alot of feeling there was always something happening, the writing is really good to, i loved it from the start to the end i was telling myself i just wanted an happy ending and i'm so happy it got one, i love Dev and Cam they are so sweet they truly deserve to be happy, what incredible work this people made, i don't really know what much to say it was just an amazing expirience
Incredibly grateful I was able to experience this story. It's hard to find tales that capture such an intricate blend of loss and perseverance, not out of spite or blind optimism but steadfast love and a small spark of hope. You've created something really beautiful here that I'll carry with me for a long, long while.
Thank you for creating this. Thank you for helping me unfurl years of bottled up emotions into one, 15 minute long cry when I finished this game. I still dont know what Ill do with this, but I think this game truly just changed my life forever.
Thank you
Game was intense but nice
Cameron Wilson: agreeable ISTP with developed Se and Ni
Devon Mateo Ortega: agreeable ENTJ with developed Ni
Arturo “Artie” Herrera: ESFP
Duke: INTJ with developed Te
Brian Dubois: disagreeable ESFP
completed the storyline in 7 hours! i binged it, but in hindsight i wish i'd drawn it out for longer.
i picked up arches because of its good rating. i didn't know anything else about it or the echo universe, and this happened to be my first vn. but i am really grateful that this is the first one that i read because my god was it an experience. this is one of those few stories that have managed to make me cry after the initial period of reading it, as i continue to live on in my life and realize how the characters especially cameron and devon relate to my own experiences.
on bad days i listen to the soundtrack, and on good days i hark back to the ending. the characters, even brian, have stuck with me for a while now. i think they will continue to have their impression on me for as long as i live, or until the day i turn 110, at least. haha :p
and to the developers of this tale- thank you so much.
you are all such incredibly talented and gifted creators, and your work is an absolute blessing to grace the eyes, heart, and soul of me and certainly so many others.
cheers and best wishes on all the future projects you guys embark on!
this game got me crying like no game has ever i love it
is the game done?
Yes the main story is done. I also remember they metioned goin to add an epilogue to the game later, tho.
would u say I should read this before Smoke rooms?
Yeah, its a standalone story to TSR anyway so it won't effect your experience, assuming that u've finished Echo.
Yes I have only just finished Echo, so I will start this one now! Originally I was ganna read TSR but ill wait after Arche now!
Im crying rn