After launching in Japan in June 2017 and in international markets in the years that followed, SINoALICE is, and soon, was, a dark fantasy / role-playing game co-developed by Pokelabo Inc and Square Enix, featuring an original story by Yoko Taro, music by Keiichi Okabe and character designs by Jino. Weaving a darker tale featuring iconic story book characters, from Alice to Snow White to Sleeping Beauty to Pinocchio, it was not a flashy mobile game even for its time, but made up for it with some solid writing, amazing artwork (including collaborations with the likes of Full Metal Alchemist, Rozen Maiden, Higurashi no Naku Koro ni and NieR: Automata) and in general being a good game to pick up every now and again.
Unfortunately whether you are like me and played the Japanese version, or preferred the localised Global release, SINoALICE will be shuttering its servers over the coming months – with final story updates rolling out and more.
SINoALICE Global, after launching on 1 July 2020, will be first to shut down on 11 November 2023. For the Japanese servers, there is just a little more time, with confirmation late last month that the iOS/Android versions will be discountinued on 15 January 2024, with the final episode scheduled to be released on 20 December 2023 – bringing the entire storyline (which sadly, the global server players will not get to experience) to a close.
Up, down, left, right… Here, it’s all the same.
Books are piled high in every direction.
Welcome to the “Library.”
A space ruled by stories and words.
The sounds of penitent sobs, mournful howls, withering laughter, and terrible screams rebounding off the shelves.
These are the voices of characters from countless tales.
The muttered curses of the inhuman.
They all share a single wish:
To revive their Author.
But for this simple wish to come true, every other character must die.
Regardless of the outcome…
and so, another game dies as a live service, once again highlighting that development teams need strategies to convert their mobile games into (even once-off paid) single player experience once they decide to end live service. Pity.
