What is Love is Strange?

Love is Strange is a visual novel taking place in an alternate universe of Life is Strange that lets you take control of of Max Caulfield once again, now in her second year at Blackwell Academy. Max has spent the last year reuniting with her best friend, Chloe Price, and meeting and getting to know the other students at Blackwell, like Kate Marsh, Rachel Amber, and Victoria Chase.

Much of this visual novel’s backstory is roughly the same as presented in Life is Strange, with Max returning to her hometown, Arcadia Bay, from five years spent living in Seattle. Max has had a lifelong dream of pursuing a career in photography, which is the focus of her studies at Blackwell. At the beginning of Love is Strange, Max is presented with an opportunity to enter a photography contest- one that necessitates picking a partner. What happens from there on out is up to you.



This game falls under the ‘dating sim’ category of visual novels, although there is barely any emphasis on dating and the storylines are more about fostering trust and positive relationships. There are four different characters in the game with storylines to pursue (Chloe, Kate, Victoria, and Rachel), and nine different endings. The player will be able to make dialogue and action decisions throughout the game that have a real impact on the direction of the story and relationship being developed.

The alternate universe in Love is Strange is one without time travel, secret conspiracies, or hidden bunkers- the plot of the original game does not factor in whatsoever, although you will find nods to it here and there. You don’t actually have to have played Life is Strange to be able to play this fangame; while there are tons of references within the VN to the original game and all characters stay true to their original selves, all of the information you will need to know about them is in the visual novel. The setting of this VN is peaceful, without any of the pain and suffering the characters endured in the original game. By reshaping certain events of the original game and eliminating certain characters, like Mark Jefferson (who has been replaced by an analogue in the form of Hot Dog Man), we have been able to keep Rachel very much alive, for example, and prevent Chloe from being shot at the beginning of Life is Strange.

In this game, we hope to capture a sense of growing adolescence and love, built by bonds through time and moments of compassion. If you have any lingering questions about Love is Strange, please read the FAQ, and if you do not find your answer there, send the team a message!