BUZZ Or DIE, A Death Row Game Show Visual Novel, Coming To PC 2026

Kodansha Game Creators' Lab is publishing BUZZ or DIE , a sci-fi visual novel from solo Japanese developer Bon, coming to PC via Steam in 2026.

The game centers on a televised competition where death row inmates dig through each other's pasts for a chance at freedom, with character portraits provided by manga artist Atsushi Okada.

A Game Show Where Going Viral Means Survival

Players take part in the show alongside a companion character named Sagishima, competing against a rival contestant to unearth the most damning material possible from their opponent's past. That means digging through old conversations and memories in search of scandalous secrets, disgraceful actions, and treacherous thoughts, then packaging the findings into a short video with a thumbnail designed to maximize views.

Whoever pulls in the most audience likes walks away with a clean record and a single wish granted. The loser is executed on stream, with an android built in their likeness condemned to permanent labor afterward. The contestant roster leans into that premise's dark comedy, including a former comedian turned bomber, a genius hacker, a revolutionary, and a chef with an unsettling appetite.

From the Developer Behind EgoMixer and Twelve Angry Boyfriends

Bon described BUZZ or DIE as extreme on its surface, but said there's "a ton of depth to be discovered" that they'd rather not spoil ahead of release, pointing to the game's characters and hard-hitting tone as more layered than the premise alone suggests. Bon's prior work includes EgoMixer and Twelve Angry Boyfriends , both known for pairing vivid character writing with dark, thought-provoking settings.

BUZZ or DIE will support English, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese at launch. Kodansha Game Creators' Lab, established in 2021 as the publishing giant's fourth department, focuses specifically on supporting indie creators and bringing their work to a wider audience.

The game is available to wishlist now on Steam ahead of its 2026 release.

This story was originally published by GameDaily on Sep 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Games section. Add GameDaily as a Preferred Source by clicking here.