indiegame.fan
Because We're Here - Act I header art

Because We're Here - Act I

Stagger through the First Lassallian War and find love amongst doomed youth. Because We're Here is an otome visual novel in an unforgiving WW1-inspired setting. Nothing to worry about - it'll all be over by Christmas.

Steam Page
Release
July 19, 2018
8 years and 16 days ago
Steam Reviews
Very Positive92 reviews95.7%

Does this feel indie?

Vote based on whether this game feels indie to you. You can change your vote at any time. Results earn an IGF score after 10 accepted votes.
No votes yet
Vote on More Games
Game contextLatest: IGF Team
ContextThe evidence factors used to assess whether this game belongs on IndieGame.Fan.Status
Notes
Latest Contributor: IGF TeamEdit notes
Updated: Jul 11, 2026Developer scaleThe operating scale of the game's developer.
Updated: Jul 11, 2026Publisher scaleThe operating scale of the game's publisher.
Updated: Jul 11, 2026Publisher statusHow the game's publishing relationship is classified.
Search Google: How is Because We're Here - Act I and Studio Elfriede funded?FundingThe known source of funding behind the game.
Search Google: Who controls the creative direction and IP for Because We're Here - Act I and Studio Elfriede?Creative controlWho appears to retain creative control of the game.
Updated: Jul 11, 2026Release statusWhether and how the game has been released.

Media

10 items

About the Game

Because We’re Here ~Mohnblume und Blauerose~ is a bittersweet otome dating sim in an unforgiving First World War-inspired setting. It's an episodic visual novel, released in four acts.

1915, Wesslinger National Calendar. The Great War rages on.

As neurotic Postal Corps volunteer Elfriede Rauss, you walk the trenches with the men of a lost generation. And amidst the chaos and brutality of the front lines, you encounter an obstacle that you are absolutely and categorically not prepared for: love.

However. Love can be a difficult thing to hold on to at the best of times. And these are not the best of times...

  • A Horror-Tinged Anti-War Epic - Act I sets in motion a twisting trench-opera of conflicted loyalties and life-changing decisions. This first act features 20 pieces of original CG art.

  • Romance a Diverse Array of Bachelors - A large and varied cast, spanning childhood friends, aristocrats, corporals and cowards. Act I introduces 11 main characters; Act II introduces an additional 8. (A total of 16 are available as love interests.)

  • Discover a Rich WW1-Inspired Setting - Investigate a grave turning point in the continent’s history as you journey across the towns and battlefronts of the First Lassallian War.

  • Master the Battle of Wits System - Argumentative boss battles that pit your emotional literacy and persuasive power against enemies and allies alike.

Estimated playthrough time for Act I (Never Such Innocence) is roughly 3 hours. (55k words.)

Act I is a significantly-updated version of the early WIP demos from 2015 and 2016.