Rain98, a visual novel set in a rainy, blue-toned Tokyo of 1998, casts players as a "Generic Man" traveling back in time with the goal of ending the world. The protagonist encounters Reina Amehara, who refers to herself as the Angolmois, a figure associated with Nostradamus's end-of-the-world prophecies. Both characters are deeply troubled by the state of the world, a shared sense of depression driving their pact to bring about the apocalypse.
The game's setting and themes reflect the Heisei era in Japan, a period known for economic stagnation and a cultural output that included anxieties and ominous works such as Serial Experiments Lain, Neon Genesis Evangelion, and All About Lily Chou-Chou. Rain98 explicitly cites Serial Experiments Lain as an influence on its overall atmosphere.
The narrative premise of characters from different eras grappling with similar existential despair forms the core of Rain98's time travel conceit. The demo, which lasts about an hour and is part of a total three-hour runtime for the full game, introduces a unique Steam achievement for receiving a game over simply by entering one's name. The demo does not fully reveal all the game's mechanics, but hints at various minigames, described as legally distinct versions of popular rhythm, virtual pet, and fighting games.
The developers have indicated that Rain98 is planned for release by the end of the year, with its Steam page detailing its premise and inspirations.