Now & Then

Master storylines, character relationships, and unlock all scenes in this branching narrative experience

Now & Then is a narrative-driven game featuring complex branching storylines and multiple character paths that significantly impact your gameplay experience. This guide explores the game’s intricate relationship system, character-specific content, and how your choices throughout the story determine which scenes and endings you’ll unlock. Whether you’re starting fresh or looking to experience all available content, understanding the game’s mechanics will help you navigate its multiple branching choices and stat-tracking system effectively.

Understanding Now & Then Game Mechanics and Story Structure

Welcome, fellow time-traveler! 👋 If you’re here, you’ve likely been captivated by the emotional whirlwind that is Now & Then and are ready to dive deeper. Maybe you’re wondering why your story didn’t turn out like a friend’s, or you’re determined to see every heartbreaking and heartwarming moment this beautiful game has to offer. I’ve been there—spending hours agonizing over a single choice, only to reload and see where the other path led. Understanding the game’s inner workings isn’t about “winning”; it’s about fully appreciating the brilliant, intricate tapestry of stories waiting to be discovered.

This guide will break down the Now & Then game mechanics, giving you the map to navigate its complex narrative landscape. We’ll explore how every decision ripples through time, how to manage your bonds with its unforgettable characters, and the smart strategies to ensure you leave no scene unseen. Let’s begin our journey.

How Branching Choices Shape Your Gameplay Experience

At its heart, Now & Then is a masterclass in branching choices gameplay. This isn’t a story where you pick a color and get a slightly different shade; it’s a narrative that splinters into wildly different directions based on your actions. Think of it less as a “choose your own adventure” book and more as a delicate web where every thread you touch vibrates and changes the entire structure.

The core mechanism here is what I like to call the “Relationship Seesaw.” 🎢 Your attention is a finite resource. Choosing to spend time with, comfort, or side with one character will directly impact your standing with another. For example, in an early chapter, if you choose to approach Naomi to offer support, you might gain a precious +1 to your relationship with her. However, the game notes that this action comes at a cost: -1 to your relationship with Carol, who may perceive your absence as indifference. This creates immediate, compelling drama and forces you to role-play authentically. You can’t be everyone’s hero all the time, and that’s the point!

This system means your playthrough becomes uniquely yours. My first run was a dedicated Naomi path, and I was shocked when a friend described a pivotal scene with Sydney that I never even triggered! The branching choices gameplay ensures that no two players’ experiences are identical. Major plot points, character revelations, and even survival outcomes hinge on the cumulative weight of these seemingly small moments.

🎯 Pro Tip: There is no “perfect” path. The game is designed to make you feel the weight of your decisions. Embrace the regret or joy of a choice—it’s all part of the story. Save the completionist run for later!

To help visualize the major narrative roads you can travel, here’s a breakdown of the core character paths. This isn’t just about romance; it’s about whose story you choose to prioritize and intertwine with your own.

Character Relationship Stats and Conflict Tracking System

Beneath every conversation and choice lies the game’s robust relationship tracking system. This isn’t a simple “like” meter you fill up. Instead, it’s a hidden, dynamic spreadsheet that records your allegiance, trust, and conflict with every major character across all chapters.

Your character relationship stats are the invisible gears turning the story. They determine:
* Which dialogue options are available. Higher trust with Naomi might unlock a gentle, understanding response, while low trust might leave you with only blunt or distant choices.
* Who supports you in critical moments. Need backup in a tense argument? The character with the highest relevant stat is most likely to step in.
* The ultimate endings you can access. Your final path is essentially locked in by Chapter 13 or 14, based on who you’ve consistently prioritized.

The genius of this system is that it tracks everything. I learned this the hard way. In one playthrough, I tried to play mediator between Carol and Sydney early on. I thought I was keeping the peace, but the game’s relationship tracking system registered my actions as indecisive, slowly lowering my standing with both of them. By Chapter 10, neither considered me a close ally, and I was locked out of their most personal scenes. It was a brutal but brilliant lesson: in Now & Then, neutrality can be its own consequential choice.

The game also monitors group conflict and morale. Certain choices might boost everyone’s spirits, while others, even if they boost your bond with one person, might sow discord in the group, affecting events several chapters down the line. This creates a fantastically complex web where you’re managing both individual relationships and the health of the entire survivor group.

Unlocking Scenes and Accessing the Gallery Feature

This is the holy grail for completionists: the scene unlocking guide. 🗝️ Seeing “Scene 4/8” at the end of a chapter can be maddening, but unlocking everything is a rewarding puzzle. Scenes are gated primarily by two things: your path (which character you’re closest to) and specific stat thresholds.

Here’s the crucial part: not all scenes are found in the chronological story chapters. The game smartly separates “path-specific” scenes from “conclusion” scenes.
* Story Chapter Scenes (Ch 14, 15, 16, etc.): These are the scenes you encounter while playing the main narrative. Reaching a Sydney-specific scene in Chapter 14 requires you to be firmly on her path with the correct stat levels.
* The ‘Endings’ Chapter: This is a special chapter that collects the various conclusions your story can have. You will only unlock the ending corresponding to your final relationship state. To see the other endings, you must replay from a strategic point and make different choices.

This is where the brilliant Now & Then gallery feature comes in! Once you view a scene in your playthrough (whether it’s in a story chapter or an ending), it is permanently added to your Gallery. This feature is your personal library of memories. It allows you to revisit any unlocked scene at any time, which is perfect for soaking in the details or just reliving your favorite moments. 🖼️

So, how to unlock all scenes? You need a strategic approach to saves. Trying to play through the entire game from the start for each path is inefficient.
1. Identify Branch Points: Use community guides or your own knowledge to find key chapters where paths diverge significantly (like Chapters 3, 5, 7).
2. Create Dedicated Save Files: At these branch points, create a named save file (e.g., “NAOMI PATH START” or “SYDNEY DECISION CH5”). This lets you jump back without replaying hours of content.
3. Focus on One Path Per Playthrough: The relationship tracking system is cumulative. To hit the high stat requirements for the most intimate scenes, you generally need consistent devotion. Don’t waffle on a single run if your goal is to unlock a specific ending.
4. Leverage the Gallery: Your progress is saved per scene. You don’t need to get every scene in one linear run. Use your strategic saves to target missing scenes, view them, and they’ll be safely stored in the Gallery.

A note on the game’s development: as of now, the story is complete through Chapter 11, with more chapters in active development. The developers have confirmed that a final, complete version of the game will include a much-requested “Unlock All” feature for the Gallery, allowing players to experience every narrative thread without the need for multiple replays. However, I’d argue that the journey of getting there yourself—making the tough calls and living with them—is the real magic of Now & Then.

FAQ: Your Now & Then Mechanics Questions Answered

Q: I’m stuck! How can I unlock a specific scene I’ve seen mentioned online?
A: First, note which chapter the scene is in. If it’s in Chapters 14-16, you need to be on that character’s path. Load a save from a major branch point (before Chapter 10 is best) and make every choice that favors that character. If it’s an ending scene, you must finish the game with that character as your highest relationship.

Q: What’s the best way to manage save files?
A: Be prolific! Save at the start of every new chapter. Crucially, save in a NEW SLOT before any major decision (like who to spend the night with or who to defend). Name your saves descriptively (“Before Choosing Sydney,” “Carol High Trust Run”). This creates a decision tree you can easily jump around in.

Q: Can I access scenes in the Gallery without playing through whole chapters again?
A: Yes and no. You must trigger the scene in a playthrough at least once for it to register in the Gallery. However, once it’s there, you can watch it infinitely. Strategic save files (as above) minimize the replay needed just to trigger a missed scene.

Q: Do choices from early chapters really matter much later?
A: Absolutely. The relationship tracking system has a long memory. A choice in Chapter 2 that gives you +1 with Alice might be the exact point needed to unlock a critical dialogue option with her in Chapter 15. The game is designed with this long-term cause and effect in mind.

Mastering the Now & Then game mechanics transforms your experience from a passive story into an active narrative exploration. It’s about understanding the profound connection between choice and consequence, between stat and story. Use this knowledge not to robotically check boxes, but to intentionally craft the journeys you want to experience. Your saves are your timelines, the Gallery is your scrapbook, and every choice is a chance to discover a new facet of this incredible world. Now go forth—there are stories waiting for you. ✨

Now & Then offers a rich, choice-driven experience where every decision meaningfully impacts your story progression and available content. Understanding the relationship stat system, the teeter-totter effect of competing character paths, and strategic save file management allows you to experience the game’s full depth. As the game continues development with new chapters, animations, and scenes being added regularly, keeping multiple saves at key decision points ensures you can explore different character routes and unlock all available scenes. Whether you’re pursuing a specific character path or aiming to see all content, approaching the game with awareness of how your choices cascade through the narrative will significantly enhance your experience.