《Cabernet》是由Party for Introverts開發的2D角色扮演敘事遊戲，背景設定在近似19世紀的東歐社會，卻刻意融入現代視角與價值觀，使整體氛圍既古典又帶著當代思辨氣息。已於2025年2月21日在Steam平台推出，Nintendo Switch與 PlayStation 5版本則預計於2026年3月12日上市。作品核心並非爽快戰鬥，而是透過文字、選擇與人際互動，描寫一名新生吸血鬼在道德與慾望之間掙扎的內心旅程。

故事主角是剛被轉化為吸血鬼的年輕女子莉莎。她原本只是鎮上一名普通人，對上流社會、政治鬥爭與黑暗祕密一無所知，卻在命運的推動下，被捲入一個由吸血鬼主導的隱秘世界。這個世界表面優雅而理性，實則充滿腐敗、權力交易與階級壓迫。伯爵夫人等上流人物引領莉莎踏入吸血鬼社會，同時也不斷試探她的底線，索取她尚未準備好付出的代價。隨著故事推進，玩家將逐漸理解，成為吸血鬼並非單純獲得力量，而是一條通往孤獨、虛無與道德崩解的道路。

在劇情推進上，以夜晚為主要舞台。從黃昏到清晨的時間完全由玩家掌控，可以選擇外出狩獵、學習新知、與鎮民或吸血鬼同類互動，甚至冒著風險拯救他人。每一次行動都會消耗時間，而每一個選擇也都在悄悄塑造莉莎的性格與價值觀。她可以努力維繫殘存的人性，對人類保持同情與憐憫；也可以逐漸擁抱虛無主義，將他人視為單純的資源與工具。故事並不急著給出是非對錯，而是讓玩家在一次次抉擇中，感受到道德模糊帶來的重量。

操作與玩法層面，採取偏向傳統CRPG的敘事結構，但將重心放在對話選項、角色理解與知識運用上，而非數值堆疊。遊戲中沒有快速爽快的戰鬥系統，取而代之的是以「理解人心」為核心的行動設計。想要安全地引誘獵物，就必須先了解對方的性格與慾望：也許是一位善良卻酗酒的馬車夫，一對感情逐漸破裂的新婚夫妻，或是一名貪婪卻極具魅力的騙徒。對這些角色的選擇，可能帶來救贖，也可能導致毀滅，而後果往往不會立刻顯現。

莉莎作為吸血鬼所獲得的能力，也體現在操作層面。能在夜色中自由行動，利用魅惑、歌聲與隱匿能力接近目標，甚至像幽靈般避開危險。然而，力量的使用並非毫無代價，頻繁沉溺於捕食與操控，會逐漸侵蝕她的內心，使她與人類世界越來越疏離。遊戲透過細膩的文字與角色反應，呈現「力量如何改變心智」的過程，讓玩家清楚感受到吸血鬼身份對人格的長期影響。

知識系統是另一個重要特色。藝術、文學、歷史與科學並非單純背景設定，而是實際影響對話選項與事件結果的關鍵要素。玩家若在夜晚選擇閱讀、學習或思考，便能在未來的對話中解鎖更多選擇，說服他人、識破謊言，甚至改變整個事件的走向。在這個以狡詐與操控為生存法則的世界裡，知識往往比獠牙更致命。

市場評價方面，在 Steam上市後，迅速吸引喜愛敘事導向RPG的玩家族群關注。多數評價高度肯定其文字品質、世界觀塑造與道德選擇設計，認為它成功呈現吸血鬼題材中少見的內省與人性探討。美術風格以簡潔卻富有情緒張力的2D畫面為主，搭配沉靜而略帶憂鬱的音樂，營造出濃厚的文學氣息。部分玩家指出遊戲節奏偏慢、戰鬥成分稀少，可能不適合追求刺激操作的族群，但對重視劇情與角色心理描寫的玩家而言，這正是其最大魅力。

整體來看，《Cabernet》是以「成為怪物之後，是否還能保有人性」為核心命題的敘事 RPG。它不急著給玩家力量的快感，而是邀請玩家在一個充滿政治陰謀、階級衝突與道德灰色地帶的世界中，慢慢體會選擇的代價。莉莎的未來究竟是守住最後的溫柔，還是墮入優雅而殘酷的深淵，全都取決於玩家在黑夜中做出的每一個決定。

Cabernet is a 2D role-playing narrative game developed by Party for Introverts. It is set in a society resembling 19th-century Eastern Europe, yet it deliberately incorporates modern perspectives and values, creating an atmosphere that feels both classical and infused with contemporary reflection. The game was released on Steam on February 21, 2025, with Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 versions scheduled for release on March 12, 2026. Rather than focusing on fast-paced combat, the core of the experience lies in text, player choices, and interpersonal interactions, portraying the inner journey of a newly born vampire struggling between morality and desire.

The story centers on Lisa, a young woman who has just been transformed into a vampire. Once an ordinary town resident with no understanding of high society, political intrigue, or hidden darkness, she is drawn by fate into a secret world ruled by vampires. On the surface, this world appears elegant and rational, but beneath it lies corruption, power bargaining, and rigid class oppression. Aristocratic figures such as the Countess usher Lisa into vampire society while constantly testing her limits, demanding prices she is not yet prepared to pay. As the narrative unfolds, players gradually come to understand that becoming a vampire is not merely about gaining power, but about stepping onto a path leading to loneliness, emptiness, and moral collapse.

Narratively, the game is primarily set at night. From dusk until dawn, time is entirely under the player’s control. Players may choose to hunt, study new knowledge, interact with townsfolk or fellow vampires, or even risk themselves to save others. Every action consumes time, and every decision quietly shapes Lisa’s personality and values. She can strive to preserve her remaining humanity, maintaining compassion and empathy toward humans, or gradually embrace nihilism, viewing others as mere resources and tools. The game avoids rushing to moral judgments, instead allowing players to feel the weight of moral ambiguity through repeated choices.

In terms of controls and gameplay, Cabernet adopts a narrative structure reminiscent of traditional CRPGs, but shifts the focus away from numerical optimization toward dialogue choices, character understanding, and the application of knowledge. There is no fast, exhilarating combat system; instead, the core gameplay revolves around “understanding the human heart.” To safely lure prey, players must first understand their personalities and desires—perhaps a kind but alcoholic coachman, a newlywed couple whose relationship is quietly falling apart, or a greedy yet charismatic con artist. Choices involving these characters may lead to redemption or destruction, and their consequences often do not manifest immediately.

Lisa’s vampire abilities are also reflected in gameplay. She can move freely under the cover of night, using charm, song, and stealth to approach her targets, or avoid danger like a ghost. However, power is never without cost. Frequent indulgence in predation and manipulation gradually erodes her inner self, pushing her further away from the human world. Through nuanced writing and character reactions, the game vividly portrays how power alters the mind, allowing players to clearly feel the long-term impact of the vampire identity on one’s personality.

Another key feature is the knowledge system. Art, literature, history, and science are not merely background elements, but critical factors that directly influence dialogue options and event outcomes. By choosing to read, study, or reflect during the night, players can unlock additional choices in future conversations—persuading others, exposing lies, or even altering the direction of entire events. In a world where cunning and manipulation are essential for survival, knowledge often proves more lethal than fangs.

Regarding market reception, Cabernet quickly attracted attention from fans of narrative-driven RPGs following its release on Steam. The majority of reviews praise its writing quality, world-building, and moral choice design, noting that it successfully delivers a rare sense of introspection and human exploration within the vampire genre. The visual style features restrained yet emotionally charged 2D artwork, paired with subdued, slightly melancholic music that creates a strong literary atmosphere. Some players point out the slow pacing and minimal combat elements, which may not appeal to those seeking action-heavy gameplay. However, for players who value story and psychological character development, these aspects are precisely the game’s greatest strengths.

Overall, Cabernet is a narrative RPG built around the central question: “After becoming a monster, can one still retain their humanity?” Rather than offering the immediate thrill of power, it invites players to slowly contemplate the cost of choice within a world filled with political intrigue, class conflict, and moral gray zones. Whether Lisa preserves her last traces of tenderness or descends into an elegant yet cruel abyss is determined entirely by the decisions players make in the darkness of the night.