Once Upon a Throne of Thorns

The release date for Once Upon a Throne of Thorns was July 24, 2026, on PC. Developed by ebi-hime, this boys' love visual novel shifts away from lighthearted romance to focus on a dark, moody fairy tale centered on a deposed royal serving as an assassin for a usurper king.

The story follows Tavi, a spy tasked with hunting dissenters to secure his ailing mother's care. The narrative hook relies on the tension between Tavi’s bloodstained duties and the eventual appearance of the missing prince he was meant to protect. Expect a heavy emphasis on political intrigue, crossdressing, and the moral weight of survival in a kingdom defined by paranoia. This is a targeted pick for readers who prefer visual novels with a bleak atmosphere and complex, compromised protagonists over traditional dating sims.

Fans of ebi-hime's previous character-driven dramas can check this out now following its summer launch.