Element 174 is a mature science-fiction visual novel from KnottyGames. You play a young man who has just been accepted into Branchfield University. His arrival triggers a mysterious event that changes him and everyone around him, and over the course of the story the campus turns from a place to study into a place with secrets. The game’s tagline asks “Who will you choose to become?”, and the answer is spread across sixteen routes that run at the same time and cross each other.
The cast is the clearest sign of the genre. Ash looks like an ordinary nerd, but she is not from Earth. Katy dabbles in occult magic. Caroline, the assistant dean, is cautious and excited at once. Penny is the most beautiful girl at the university and does not notice you immediately, while Jules is the rich and spoiled girl every campus story seems to need. Malia and Chloe, who lives alone in a small trailer, fill out the student side. In one storyline you even have to decide the fate of Emma: save her or hand her over to the policeman.
The game is built around episodes of seven in-game days, with four episodes planned. Choices matter, there are no early game overs, the story is meant to be replayed, and a Walkthrough Mode shows which route each decision leads to, which helps with the sixteen overlapping routes. It is still in development, with a free demo of Episode 1 available on itch.io, and updates arrive regularly through the developer’s devlog, so the story keeps growing between visits.
This site has 16 profiles, most of them tied to one of those routes. They are best read with the game’s premise in mind: almost nobody is exactly what she seems. The tags and similar-games list show which other titles share the mystery and science-fiction mood.
Element 174 FAQ
Who makes Element 174 and is it finished?
KnottyGames makes it, and it is still in development. At the time of writing the itch.io page lists version 0.20f for PC and Mac, with a free demo that includes Episode 1. It is available for Windows, macOS and Linux.
What is Element 174 about?
You are accepted into Branchfield University, and your admission triggers a mysterious event that changes you and your classmates. Over the story you meet students and staff, and many of them turn out to have secrets. The question the game asks is who you will choose to become.
How many routes does Element 174 have?
Sixteen character routes, which run at the same time and connect to each other. The game is designed for replay, and a Walkthrough Mode can show which route each choice leads to. There are no early game overs.
How long are the episodes of Element 174?
Each episode covers seven in-game days. The developer plans four episodes in total, and the game is still being released, so more content is expected. The free demo gives you Episode 1 to try.
Is Ash really an alien in Element 174?
Yes. At first she looks like an average nerd girl, but she is not from Earth. She is one of the strangest characters in a game where, as the site's profile puts it, they are all strange.
