Idea Factory has announced a new brand called IFChronicle. This brand specializes in visual novel games. Along with this announcement, Idea Factory also introduced IFChronicle’s first game, ICONOLOGY. This game is a visual novel in the crime-suspense-adventure genre.
Based on information from Gematsu, ICONOLOGY is coming to Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. Gematsu reported this announcement on September 29, 2026. As of now, Idea Factory has not announced a release date for the game.
Screenplay by the writer of PSYCHO-PASS
ICONOLOGY features two creators with experience in anime and video games. The screenplay for ICONOLOGY was written by Makoto Fukami. Makoto Fukami is a writer who worked on the PSYCHO-PASS anime series. In addition, Makoto Fukami also wrote Resident Evil: Vendetta and Resident Evil: Death Island.
For character design, Idea Factory collaborated with Teita. Teita is an artist who has worked on illustrations for *Fate/Grand Order* and *CharadeManiacs*. According to the official description on the Steam page, Makoto Fukami has a keen sense of human drama. Meanwhile, Teita contributed detailed character designs.
An investigation into the suspect's mind
The story of *ICONOLOGY* is set in the not-too-distant future. At that time, crime rates were rising rapidly. Criminal cases were also becoming increasingly complex and brutal.
To address this situation, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department formed a secret division called the Experimental Task Force. This division uses a device called the White Cube. This device can transform a suspect’s thoughts into abstract images known as “cognitive paintings.”.
The main character of this game is Haruho Tsubakiya, a student at an art school. Ten years ago, Haruho’s parents were brutally murdered. The murder case remains unsolved to this day.
Haruho has a talent for deciphering the meaning behind cognitive paintings. Because of this talent, the Experimental Task Force recruited Haruho as a Special Investigator. Haruho accepted this role with two goals in mind: to uncover the truth and to avenge the murder of his parents.
White Cube and Cognitive Painting
The White Cube is at the heart of ICONOLOGY’s gameplay. The full name of this device is the Brain Wave Visualization Apparatus. In investigation mode, you’ll analyze cognitive paintings generated by the suspect’s brain.
To understand the image, you’ll need to draw on your knowledge of art. Through this analysis, you can uncover the motifs and traumas hidden by the suspect. According to the game’s official description, the suspect cannot falsify the content of a cognitive painting.
Your analysis will prompt the suspect to make a partial confession. That confession will then help you obtain concrete evidence. This evidence is key to solving the case.
In addition to the cases you’re investigating, ICONOLOGY also has a mystery involving a serial killer. This serial killer has been on the run for ten years. He may be connected to the deaths of Haruho’s parents.
Your choices determine the ending
ICONOLOGY features multiple endings. The choices you make throughout the game will determine how the story ends. You can also team up with other investigators and strengthen your relationships with them.
However, every choice comes with risks. If you misinterpret the cognitive painting or make the wrong decision, the story could end badly. The case might also remain unsolved. That’s why you need to be careful when making decisions.
About ICONOLOGY and IFChronicle
IFChronicle is Idea Factory’s newest brand, focused on visual novels. ICONOLOGY is the first title announced by the brand.
ICONOLOGY will support English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese. Idea Factory has also released a teaser trailer in those four languages. In addition, there is an announcement trailer for the IFChronicle brand in Japanese.
This game already has a page on Steam. For those of you who enjoy detective-themed visual novels, ICONOLOGY might be a title worth checking out. Idea Factory has not yet announced a release date or price for this game.
Teaser Trailer (English)
Teaser Trailer (Japanese)
IFChronicle Brand Announcement Trailer (Japanese)
