Visual Novel Nook: Loan Wolf

Loan Wolf is Team Rumblebee’s visual novel/dating sim starring a werewolf named Laika who works in corporate IT. She spends her days dealing with the remedial tech issues of her annoying co-workers in a tiny cubicle in the basement to hopefully pay off her student loans one day.

The tedium is broken up on one wild day, where she wakes up in her best friend Daphne’s garden after a full moon. The nymph is understandably upset that Laika has ruined her garden, but forgives her and hustles her off to work. Things only get more interesting from there. A new coworker who can’t seem to stop having tech problems turns out to be an attractive and flirty succubus named Vicky. As you play through the game, you’ll have to decide which of the two you want to spend your time with and ultimately smooch.

Aesthetically, Loan Wolf is really cool. Everything looks kind of water-colored, and all the of the characters are very expressive. Laika’s ears move around depending on her mood, for example. There are also collectibles in the form of photos taken throughout the game that unlock depending on which routes you take.

While it’s short, Loan Wolf is charming. Neither relationship path feels forced, and though you don’t get a ton of time with them, the characters feel developed and relatable. Laika is funny, and very easy to play as. The world the game takes place in feels established and real, even though we only get a snapshot of it. It’s a world where monsters are out and about, working office jobs and posting selfies on Monstergram. I’d really love to see more games in this setting because Team Rumblebee did a great job with it and it would be great to see a bit more of it.

If any of this sounds interesting to you, you should head over to itch.io and pick Loan Wolf up. It’s name your own price, but be sure to throw at least a couple bucks the dev’s way.

All images courtesy of the Loan Wolf itch page.