Shadows of the Ascendant is a choice-based visual novel by FrontierGames, built in Ren'Py with 3D CG art. You play Eve, a sect member summoned by the Primarch to a remote island cut off from the wider world. The sect experiments with powers beyond its understanding, causing some inhabitants to gain supernatural abilities. Your decisions decide whether Eve keeps the chaos in check, watches it unfold, or helps it grow. Themes include fantasy, corruption, and mind control.
The current build is Day 3 Oct, released on October 1, 2026, and development is ongoing. It runs on Windows and Linux in English, with no censorship. The latest update completes Day 3 and adds a major scene with Eve and James, plus another major scene involving Eve, James, and a redacted character. Eve also has a small outing to gather ingredients before a ritual, and a character's hair receives minor cosmetic fixes.
Developer's description
You will help Eve, a sect member, navigate the events that unfold after the sect's Primarch has summoned her to the main branch, a remote island that is disconnected from the rest of the world.
The sect is experimenting with powers far beyond their understanding, which will cause some of the inhabitants to awaken supernatural abilities...
Will you help Eve keep the chaos in check, see how it plays out, or maybe even help it along?
This is a choice-based visual novel, your choices will shape your story.
Day 3 October
DAY 3 IS DONE BABYYY!!!
A major scene with Eve and James.
A major scene with Eve, [Redacted] and James.
Eve has a slight outing for the ingridients before the ritual.
also minor cosmetic fixes for a certain characters hair.
Day 3 September
Notable additions to this release are:
Minor or a major scene with Max and Dmitri depending on lewdness stat and/or if Eve has the party girl past.
A minor story based scene where Catherine gains a more [Redacted] essence.
Day 3 August
Here we are once again at the en- beginning of the month with a new update where things can get heated in more ways than one. This time around Eve can find herself getting involved with Natalia and marcus that will lead to some interesting actions now and perhaps in the future. On another path Eve might choose to pay a visit to Nox and possibly find something what was taken or witness something curious depending on the approach.
Notable additions to this update are:
A major scene involving Eve and Marcus.
A major scene involving Hiroshi and Anastasia.
A chance to get closer to Nox to help the investigation along one way or another.
As always enjoy the update.
Day 3 July
Made UI look nicer
Improved the phone
Implimented a hint system
A minor and a major scene involving Aiko if Eve has gotten invite from her before the last interrogation round.
The hint system is still rudimentary so it might not give the clearest picture on route choices so for now we evoke WIP on that.
Day 3 May
A major scene on the Isabella and vincent route which continues Eves plot against Isabella.
A brief major scene with Sarah during the short break before the last interrogation round.
A brief setup scene where Eve has a chat with aiko if Eve takes a walk during the break.
Day 3 April
A minor scene with Eve and Isabella right after lunch where Eve provokes Isabella deeper into her game. This occurs if Eve has dined with the german family and has had the threesome with Isabella and Vincent.
A major scene involving Sam and Friedrich after a certain incident that Eve has a chance to witness.
Day 3 March
A minor scene with Isabella during lunch time where Eve gets a little handsy. This will occur if Eve has had the threesome with Isabella and Vincent.
Day 3 February
A major or minor scene if Eve has visited Sarah the previous evening and had a certain interaction with her.
There is also a fair amount of varying dialogue between Eve and the others depending on what has previously occurred.
Day 2 Complete
14 new scenes
Added more sound effects
Added more music
5 new sex scenes, including M/F, F/F, FF/M
Earlier releases
Day 2 Partial Hotfix
Bugfix
Day 2 Partial
Added sound effects
Started to rework the UI
Added 11 new scenes
Added the first M/F sex scene.
Added Femdom footjob scene (for plot reasons).
Day 1 Hotfix 1
Fixed Statsystem and made rollbacks possible with the new system. No more inconsistent saves/new games either.
Corrected typos and adjusted storytelling perspective, where lacking, to third-person for consistency.
Added a few renders and made slight adjustments to story for consistency.
-If Eve finds the dagger, she will slightly cut herself while inspecting it.
-Eve will now in some cases see a figure go downstairs in a hurry, instead of slipping out the front door.
Day 1
Initial Release
Player reviews
Player rating5.0 / 5 · 4 ratings
Written reviews4 · avg 4.5★
Positive (4–5★)75%
Latest review2026-07-08
What players say
Three five-star reviews and one mixed review indicate a mostly positive experience.
5★3
4★0
3★1
2★0
1★0
Players like
Female protagonist with agency and clear goals
Choices matter and shape the playthrough
Original plot with unique storytelling
Interesting characters and mysterious supernatural setting
Common complaints
Some issues need fixing
Needs more story
Best for players who want an adult cult mystery with agency and branching choices.
Summarised from 4 written player reviews.
Lemix2026-07-08★★★★★
This is underrated af. Female protagonist with agency, choices matter, original plot for a porn game. Can be lesbian or straight or bi. You play as a member of a sect that got invited on a remote island by the…
redox692026-06-03★★★★★
The game deserves more reach! I mean look at the story, such a Unique way of story telling , Multiple events that could change the playthrough. I really liked this one and was waiting for the update. I had seen…
Mhuahaha2026-02-01★★★★★
Review based on the day 2 complete version. Let me start by saying that there is a spark here, ready to light the flame of a good game (pun intended if you played the game). However, right now I see…