Tsukihime

Tsukihime is a Japanese adult visual novel developed by Type-Moon, released for Windows on December 31, 2000. It was the first major work by Kinoko Nasu (writer) and Takashi Takeuchi (artist), and is considered a foundational title for the Nasuverse, the shared universe of Type-Moon works. The game follows Shiki Tohno, a high school student who, after a near-fatal accident, gains the Mystic Eyes of Death Perception, a power that allows him to perceive and cut the "Lines of Death" on objects and beings. Returning to his family's mansion in Misaki Town, he encounters Arcueid Brunestud, a mysterious vampire, and becomes involved in a conflict involving vampires and other supernatural beings.

Gameplay is narrative-driven, with branching routes determined by the player's choices, leading to different storylines or endings focusing on various heroines, including Arcueid as a primary route and several other relationships. The tone blends urban fantasy with horror, philosophical reflections on life and death, and themes of memory and identity. The original release is a doujin title and contains mature content; it was later revised and re-released by Type-Moon with updated materials and translations.

Tsukihime inspired a range of media and spin-offs. The setting and concept laid groundwork for later Type-Moon works and spawned related titles such as Kagetsu Tohya and the fighting game Melty Blood, expanding the world beyond the original visual novel. The franchise later drew additional adaptations in manga and anime formats, contributing to Tsukihime's enduring influence in Japanese visual novels and otaku media.