Where It All Began

Discover the origins, characters, and choices in Ocean’s immersive adult adventure

Imagine returning home after years away, only to dive into a web of family secrets, steamy romances, and a rising criminal empire—that’s the gripping hook of Where It All Began. This interactive visual novel by Ocean kicks off an expansive universe packed with forgiveness, ambition, and intense passion. As the protagonist, your choices shape relationships with characters like Miru, Katie, and Zoey, blending heartfelt reconnection with bold underworld intrigue. I’ve sunk hours into it myself, and let me tell you, one early decision with Miru changed everything for my playthrough. Ready to explore where your story truly starts? Let’s uncover the essentials of this captivating game.

What Makes Where It All Began a Must-Play Visual Novel?

I remember the first time I booted up Where It All Began. 🎮 I’d just moved back to my hometown after years away, feeling all those weird pangs of nostalgia and anxiety. So, when the game opened with the protagonist rolling back into a place he’d left behind, it hit a little too close to home! 😅 That’s the magic of this Ocean visual novel—it grabs you with a premise that feels intensely personal, then spins it into a whirlwind of family secrets, chaotic reunions, and impossible choices.

This isn’t just another click-through story. Where It All Began is an immersive, choice-heavy experience that asks you: what would you do to protect—or rebuild—your family? From the moment you hit “Start,” you’re not just reading a story; you’re living it, making decisions that ripple out in surprising and sometimes heartbreaking ways. Let’s dive into what makes this adult adventure so unforgettable.

How Does the Story Unfold from the Very Beginning?

The Where It All Began story kicks off with a simple, powerful premise: you’re coming home after years away. But “home” is anything but simple. You’re immediately thrown back into the tangled web of the Zane family and their associates. Your father, William Zane, is a formidable presence, and reconnecting with siblings like Dylan and Katie Zane is fraught with years of unspoken history and tension. Then there’s Helen, a pillar of strength with secrets of her own, and Leia, whose quiet demeanor might hide the stormiest past of all.

The narrative expertly weaves together grand themes of forgiveness, ambition, and the scars of mental health with the gritty, rising tension of a criminal empire. Early chapters (like the detailed walkthroughs for Chapters 1-3 show) are a masterclass in pacing. One minute you’re in a hilariously chaotic squash match trying to impress someone, and the next, you’re uncovering a dark family revelation that makes you question everything. 🎾

The structure is episodic, with each chapter building the world and raising the stakes. You’ll navigate tense family dinners, clandestine meetings in nightclubs, and fragile romantic moments, all while the shadow of a larger, dangerous world looms. The Where It All Began gameplay is all about living in these moments, with the story branching significantly based on your dialogue picks and key actions.

Who Are the Key Characters Driving the Narrative?

The heart and chaos of this visual novel lie in its incredible cast. Where It All Began characters are deeply flawed, beautifully written, and feel startlingly real. Your relationships with them define every part of the journey. Here’s a quick look at some of the key figures you’ll meet:

• Miru Maeda: 🔥 An early and fiery romance option. Your choices with her can lead to passionate, rebellious paths or more complex emotional connections.
• Katie Zane: 👨‍👧 Your sister, representing the core family dynamic. Interactions with her are central to exploring themes of protection, jealousy, and buried childhood memories.
• Dylan & Helen: The brother and mother figures who anchor the family. Their stories are deeply tied to the central mysteries and your place within the home.
• Scarlet & Daphne: Connections that pull you into the city’s vibrant and sometimes dangerous social scene, from nightclub dealings to more personal entanglements.
• William Zane: 💼 Your father, whose ambitions and legacy are the engine for much of the game’s conflict. Understanding him is key to understanding your own path.
• Zoey Holgerson: A friend from the past who represents a possible link to a life outside the family’s intense orbit.

Each character isn’t just a love interest or a plot device; they are vessels for exploring different facets of the game’s themes—love, loyalty, power, and trauma.

What Choices Impact Your Path in This Adult Adventure?

This is where Where It All Began truly shines as an adult visual novel Ocean is known for. The visual novel choices here are meaningful and consequential. We’re not talking about “nice” or “mean” dialogue options; we’re talking about decisions that lock or unlock entire character paths, alter family alliances, and shift the story’s moral compass.

Pro Tip: Save often and in multiple slots! You’ll want to go back and see how saying “yes” to Miru’s bold offer opens a different world compared to gently declining and focusing on mending fences with Katie.

For instance, encouraging certain characters down ambitious or “porn paths” (a feature for those seeking that content) will drastically change their storyline and your relationship with them. Discovering hidden truths, like adoption revelations, can completely recontextualize your entire playthrough. 🕵️‍♂️ Do you side with a potential club owner ally for power, or refuse to dive deeper into that world? The game doesn’t judge, but it remembers.

Technically, the game supports this branching gameplay with impressive polish. Recent updates boast thousands of new renders and animated frames, making every scene feel dynamic and alive. And the good news? Diving in is easy.

Getting Started with Your Playthrough
You can play Where It All Began on PC and, wonderfully, it’s fully compatible with the SteamDeck! The controller layout works intuitively for a visual novel, letting you kick back and immerse yourself. As for system requirements, they’re very accessible, so you can focus on the story, not your specs.

In my opinion, it’s this combination of immersive worldbuilding and interpersonal depth that makes Where It All Began a must-play. It’s a story about the past that is fiercely concerned with the future you choose to build. Every playthrough can be a unique journey into love, power, and redemption.

Ready to see where your choices lead? The first chapter is waiting to pull you into its rich, chaotic, and utterly compelling world. Trust me, your second playthrough will look nothing like your first. ✨

From the shocking family revelations to those game-changing choices with Miru and beyond, Where It All Began pulls you into a world of passion, betrayal, and empire-building like no other. My own runs showed how one decision ripples through relationships and storylines, making every playthrough fresh. Whether you’re chasing romance paths or underworld dominance, this visual novel delivers thrills and depth. Dive in today on Steam, grab that controller layout, and start your journey home. What’s your first big choice going to be? Share in the comments—I’d love to hear your stories!