Until Then: Afterimages header art
Game InsightsQuality 85Released Jun 18, 2026

Until Then: Afterimages

Until Then: Afterimages is a two-chapter narrative DLC that returns to familiar characters with melancholic, mature stories. Chapter 1 (Homecoming) follows Sofia and Chapter 2 (Sparks) follows Mark; the DLC includes small minigames (tarot, baking), in-game phone apps, and pixel-art presentation. Player reception is largely positive overall but the second chapter and the ambiguous ending are divisive; a number of players report short playtime and occasional performance or rendering issues. Best suited for players who loved the base game and want more character-focused scenes rather than a long canonical continuation.

Release Date

Jun 18, 2026

Difficulty

30/100

Learning Curve

Easy to pick up

Pace

Slow, reflective

Replayability

55/100

Until Then: Afterimages Game DNA

Main Skills

Narrative comprehensionEmotional reasoningObservationLight minigame mechanics

Emotional Tone

MelancholicBittersweetIntrospectiveMature

Mechanics

Branching narrative scenesShort minigames (tarot, baking)Interactive in-game phone appsExploration of character moments

What Players Like About Until Then: Afterimages

Character-focused storytelling

The DLC centers two intimate chapters—Sofia's Homecoming and Mark's Sparks—that expand on characters and present mature, reflective scenes.

Art and music reinforce tone

Players repeatedly praise the pixel art and soundtrack for enhancing the melancholic atmosphere and emotional beats.

Good value for fans

Multiple players describe the DLC as affordable and worthwhile if you enjoyed the main game; it delivers compact, meaningful content.

What Players Question In Until Then: Afterimages

Divisive second chapter and ending

Many players find Chapter 2 and the final moments ambiguous or emotionally difficult; some reviewers felt it didn't provide the continuation they hoped for.

Technical and performance issues

Several reports mention stuttering, frame drops, rendering transitions issues, and at least one instance of black-screen bugs during chapters.

Some minigames criticized

The baking minigame and certain floating-word sections were called unnecessary by some players and one reviewer flagged colorblind accessibility concerns.

Short length

Multiple players describe the DLC as relatively short (a few hours), which may leave those expecting a longer continuation wanting more.

Who Until Then: Afterimages Is For

  • Players who enjoyed the Until Then base game and want more character scenes
  • Fans of narrative, melancholic adventures and intimate drama
  • Players who prefer short, story-focused DLC over long expansions
  • Those who appreciate stylized pixel art and soundtrack-driven storytelling

Who Should Wait On Until Then: Afterimages

  • Players expecting a definitive continuation of the base game's ‘true ending’
  • Those who dislike ambiguous or bittersweet conclusions
  • Players with low-end hardware concerned about reported performance problems
  • Colorblind players who rely on color cues in minigames (reported issue)

Until Then: Afterimages FAQ

Is Until Then: Afterimages worth playing now?

If you enjoyed the Until Then base game for its characters, art, and music, Afterimages is commonly reported as worth the time: it offers two new chapters and emotional scenes at a short length. Be aware the ending and Chapter 2 divide opinion and some players reported performance issues.

What does the DLC include?

Until Then: Afterimages contains two chapters—Homecoming (Sofia) and Sparks (Mark)—with fresh minigames (tarot, baking), interactive in-game phone apps, and new character interactions; it requires the base game to play.

How long will the DLC take to finish?

Players commonly report a short playtime: many reviews describe the DLC as a few hours (around 3–5 hours) for a single playthrough.

Are there technical problems I should expect?

Some reviews mention frame-rate drops, stuttering, rendering transition hiccups, and isolated bugs such as black-screen moments; several players hope for patch fixes.

Does Afterimages continue the main game's true ending?

Afterimages explores a particular post-game timeline and focuses on character aftermaths rather than serving as a clear canonical continuation of the base game's ‘true ending’; several players note it depicts a different, more bittersweet route.

How accessible are the minigames?

Minigames like baking and floating-word sections are included, but some players found them unnecessary or frustrating; at least one review called the baking minigame colourblind-unfriendly.

Is Until Then: Afterimages beginner friendly?

Until Then: Afterimages looks more approachable than mastery-heavy games, though the confidence depends on review volume.

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Built from store details, player reviews, and update notes for Until Then: Afterimages. Generated from available Steam data and review signals. Last generated: 6/21/2026.