JAPAN GAMING & ENTERTAINMENT 
Traveler Stories: Journeys of Real People, a visual novel that portrays the stories of three real travelers as “80% true,” has launched on Steam. The release was reported on August 25, 2026.
The player takes on the role of a staff member working at a bar in Tokyo. By talking with the customers who come to the counter, the player gets them to share their outlooks on life. As the bond with a customer deepens, the design of the bar’s sign changes. The story branches based on the player’s choices and offers several endings. The game also includes a feature that catalogs the values expressed during conversations, as well as a gallery featuring more than 120 background images.
The game was developed solo by Karin Bell. After working at a major game company, Karin Bell now handles development single-handedly. As with the previous title, this game focuses on real people. Both the developer and the publisher are Karin Bell.
Three travelers appear in the game. The first is Rieko Ayumi, author of “Throw Away Your Bra and Set Off on a Journey,” who has visited 98 countries. Those episodes were adapted into a script drawing on Ayumi’s own book, YouTube and note. The second is Kenty, a nomadic worker who is not tied to any one place. The third is the developer, who appears in the game under the name Bell. Karin Bell has said that the motivation for making the game was a wish to tell younger generations that “the world is wide.” (translated from Japanese)
A playable version of the game was shown at Tokyo Game Dungeon 13, an exhibition of doujin and indie games held on August 8, 2026, followed by its release on Steam. The game supports PCs running Windows 10 or 11. The interface, audio and subtitles are all available in English and Japanese. A demo is also available on Steam.
| Platforms | Release date | Demo |
|---|---|---|
| Steam (PC) | August 24, 2026 | Yes |
Language: English
As of August 26, 2026