February Devlog: 

Romance, Rivalries, and Spooky Love

Now that the Archive doors are open, we’re turning our attention to what’s next: the first of our Codices. These expansions are designed to breathe new life into the archive, adding layers of mystery, interaction, and challenge.

For February, we’re rolling out two Codices—one to bring depth to relationships and another to pull you into a haunted, liminal post office. Love & Loathing drops on February 14th, just in time for an in-universe Valentine's drama, while Love Beyond the Veil arrives toward the end of the month, dragging you into a supernatural mailroom filled with undelivered love letters and lingering spirits.

Codex I: Love & Loathing (released: 14 February)

Between the rustling of ancient pages and the dim glow of candlelit study halls, relationships take shape—alliances, rivalries, friendships, and perhaps even something more.

This will be an optional expansion designed to add depth to NPC relationships, giving structure to social interactions, personal conflicts, and evolving connections. The heart of this Codex is the Affinity system, where NPC relationships are tracked via Affinity Points (AP), shaping the way connections unfold over time.

Some hints at what’s coming:

• Track relationships across eight tiers, evolving from strangers to confidants… or sworn enemies
• Fifteen Prompt Tables for encounters for friendships, rivalries, and romances
• Seven NPC Tables to generate backstories, quirks, and hidden depths
• Two sets of tables for friendly hangs, heated debates, and romantic evenings, both on and off campus

Affinity shifts naturally through draws, roleplay, and player choices. This isn’t just a dating sim add-on; it’s a full-fledged relationship mechanic that lets bonds form (or break) over time.

Codex II: Love Beyond the Veil (expected: end of Feb)

The second February Codex leans into liminal horror with an eerie, love-letter-fueled adventure. This will be a standalone mystery that seamlessly integrates into any playthrough, offering an alternative to the usual "Cataloging New Arrivals" task.

The Premise: One night, an unopened stack of love letters arrives in the archive—each one undelivered, their intended recipients long gone. But these aren’t just any letters. The moment you touch them, you are pulled into a pocket dimension: a haunted post office frozen in time, filled with the whispers of unfinished love stories.

Problem is, the ghosts don’t remember who they are. The letters are damaged, fragmented, and fading. Some spirits want their letters delivered, while others would rather you burn the evidence. The only way back to reality? Deliver enough letters to resolve their unfinished business before the mailroom disappears at dawn.

What’s Next?

Beyond February, we’re already planning the next wave of expansions. The March Codex will put the Academy in our dark academia, adding in options for players interested in expanding the campus section of their game, with class schedules, specialisations and a possible skill system that will help keep you alive during the darker nights in the Archive. As the months roll on, more anomalies, horrors, and hidden truths will emerge, ensuring no two playthroughs of The Archivium are ever the same.

Stay curious, stay cautious, and don’t let the whispers distract you too much.

Join the Conversation

Got ideas, feedback, or wild theories about The Archivium? Jump into the discussion over on our Discord. We love seeing how you’re shaping your own narratives within the archive!

Find all the Archivium games and expansions in this collection!