Overview

wishbound is a single-player adventure that unfolds entirely on a fictional phone screen. Developed by MyShell Games and Americode, and published by Americode, this atmospheric visual novel puts you in the role of someone who wakes at 3am to find an app called tally installed on their device.

The app has no settings, no terms of service, and one function: it grants wishes. All of them.

It never asks what a wish should cost.

The game's core loop is simple yet unsettling. You read messages, make choices, and watch four numbers shift: affection, suspicion, sanity, and debt.

Nobody tells you which one kills you. Every wish triggers a playable dream sequence.

Win it and the wish lands the way you meant it. Lose it and the monkey's paw writes the outcome instead.

Some of the game's best endings are on the other side of losing on purpose.

Highlights

  • Phone-based interactive fiction: The entire experience takes place on a simulated phone interface, with text messages and choices driving the narrative.
  • Four-track stat system: Affection, suspicion, sanity, and debt are the only numbers that matter, and their interplay determines your fate.
  • Replayable dream sequences: Each wish leads to a playable dream, and losing deliberately can unlock alternate endings.
  • Built to be finished, built to be replayed: The structure spans 5 nights and 3 routes, encouraging multiple playthroughs to see all outcomes.
  • Atmospheric and mature: Content is conveyed through text only, with no imagery of violence or sexual content, yet the tone remains tense and thought-provoking.

Who It's For

wishbound is for players who enjoy narrative-driven experiences where choice has weight and consequences are not always clear. Fans of interactive fiction, visual novels, and immersive sims will find the phone-based presentation refreshingly intimate.

If you like stories that reward experimentation—including deliberately failing—this game offers a unique twist on the monkey's paw trope. It's also a good pick for those who prefer shorter, replayable sessions over long-form RPGs.

Game Info

  • Genre: Adventure, Casual, Indie
  • Developer: MyShell Games, Americode
  • Publisher: Americode
  • Release Date: October 26, 2026
  • Platform: PC (Steam)
  • Modes: Single-player, Family Sharing
  • Languages: English
  • Content Notes: Mature content is text-only; no visual depictions of violence or sexual content.