Buried Stars is an interactive, mystery, and adventure game in the form of a visual novel that features 2D and 3D graphics along with an entire cast of voice actors. The game was globally released today for the PC, where it was initially released in July 2020 for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 platforms. Buried Stars is developed by Studio LARGO along with LINE Games Corporation and published by LINE Games Corporation.
The game’s premise surrounds a live survival audition show in its fourth season called “Buried Stars.” During the live finale of the show, the stage collapsed and trapped the contestants and some staff members in the area. With limited contact with the outside world, the contestants can only communicate through social media using their sponsored smartwatches, where they must rely on social media and fans of the show for updates on their situation. Suddenly, an anonymous user leaves a comment warning the contestants about a murder that will take place to make the contestants pay for their crimes. It is up to the main character to help the contestants survive until the rescue team appears.
As the player, it is your job to figure out who the murderer is and how they were able to plan this attack. You will use clues from social media, where you can check your timeline to receive hints about your current situation. You will also need to communicate with the contestants to find clues and keep them sane. There are also multiple endings that result from your choices, and these outcomes reveal the stories about each of the survivors.
If you would like to live stream your playthrough of Buried Stars, you should be aware of the streaming policy enforced by LINE Games Corporation. According to the official website for Buried Stars, only a certain amount of the game can be live-streamed, and the game will inform you when you reach this point. After that point, the game can still be live-streamed, but redistribution of the game through videos or screenshots is prohibited to allow other players to enjoy the game for themselves. The restriction will continue for the remaining playtime of the game, including the ending credits until you reach the title screen.
You can purchase Buried Stars on Steam for the original price of $39.99. Currently, the game is on sale for $33.99 until Dec. 6, 2021.