Screenshots
Watch trailer on Steam ↗It Was That Summer
Echo Bay Studios · Published by Echo Bay Studios · Official site ↗
Last updated 28 Sept 2026
A narrative game set in Cambridge, 2006. Spend one unforgettable summer as Leon, a visiting student, balancing studies, friendship, and love. Your choices shape who you become: yourself, or someone new altogether.
Indie, Casual · More free games
Discover the summer of 2006 from a visiting student's perspective in It Was That Summer. Balance studies, friendship, and love while Echo Bay Studios guides you through Cambridge with its casual, choice-driven narrative experience.
About this game
One summer can’t change everything.
But it can change you.
It Was That Summer is a story-driven coming-of-age game set in Cambridge in 2006.
You play as Leon, a visiting student trying to find his place in a new school, caught between studies, friendship, and the first stirrings of love.
Over two unforgettable weeks, you’ll attend lectures, take quizzes, and spend long evenings with classmates from around the world. Each person you meet, from friends to rivals and teachers, will shape how your story unfolds.
Every choice matters: who you sit with at lunch, whether you study or skip class, how you respond to a midnight SMS. Each decision shifts relationships, opens new paths, and leads to one of many possible endings.
This isn’t a story about saving the world.
It’s about the summer that will stay with you forever.
Features
Choice-Driven Narrative: Every decision shapes Leon’s path and the people around him.
Romance and Friendship: Build connections, uncover conflicts, and find your place.
School Life: Attend classes, pass quizzes, or skip them in search of adventure.
Minigames and Secrets: Write essays, take photos, even join a football match.
Cambridge, 2006: A nostalgic world brought to life with hand-drawn art and mid-2000s music.
Over 60 Endings: Every player's summer will tell a unique and different story.
System Requirements
Will my PC run this? →Minimum
- OS *: Windows 7 or higher
- Processor: 1.8 GHz Dual-Core CPU
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: Integrated graphics
- Storage: 3 GB available space
Recommended
- OS: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
Supported Languages
*languages with full audio support
Latest news
Patch NotesOfficial
Development Update #1
Hi everyone, Thank you so much for supporting It Was That Summer. Your encouragement during these early days means the world to us.The project has started to gain attention in the media, and we would like to share some of the recent coverage with you.Press CoverageWe are grateful to see It Was That Summer featured across several international outlets. Early interest from the press gives our small indie team a real chance to be seen.Here are some of the publications that covered the announcement:• 4Gamer (Japan) https://www.4gamer.net/games/962/G096216/20251119008/• Gamebiz (Japan) https://gamebiz.jp/news/416296• Noisy Pixel https://noisypixel.net/it-was-that-summer-steam-page-cambridge-visual-novel/• Gamehope https://www.gamehope.com/news/43930-le-visual-novel-inde-it-was-that-summer-sortira-l-an-prochain-sur-steam.htmlIf you find more articles or tweets about the game, feel free to share them with us. Seeing players react from different parts of the world is truly motivating.Demo Development ProgressWork on the demo is moving forward steadily. This is the same demo that Early Bird backers will receive.Here is what has been completed or is currently in progress:• Implementation of Day 0 and Day 1 story scenes • Character sprite animations and expression sets • Background art for key Cambridge locations • Integration of the stat system for Leon and Hunter choices • Music theme and ambient tracks in production • User interface polishing and transitions • Internal first build already runningOur goal is to deliver a polished, emotional, choice driven experience that captures the heart of the full game.More screenshots, GIFs, and behind the scenes looks will be included in the next update.Thank YouThank you for supporting and believing in this project. Independent games grow through early community enthusiasm, and we can already feel that momentum building.If you have any questions or want to know more about any part of development, please let us know. We are always happ...Read full article on Community Announcements (Seblab)AnnouncementsOfficial
The Trailer Has Arrived
Hi everyone,The official trailer for It Was That Summer is finally live.This is the first proper look at the atmosphere, characters, and sound of the game we have been quietly building for a long time. It captures a little of what we love most about this project — small choices, warm light, and that feeling of being seventeen in a new place.Watch it here: Thank you for following along and supporting us. We hope you enjoy this first glimpse, and we cannot wait to show you more in the months ahead.Konstantin Echo Bay StudiosRead full article on Community Announcements (Seblab)AnnouncementsOfficial
Welcome to It Was That Summer
Hi everyone,I’m Konstantin from Echo Bay Studios, and I’m really happy to finally welcome you to the Steam page for It Was That Summer.This project has been in the works for a long time, and it’s something very personal to our small team. The game is set in Cambridge in 2006 and tells the story of Leon, a 17-year-old spending two weeks at a summer program where every small choice, who you hang out with, what you say, when you stay silent, it shapes how others see you and how you see yourself.It’s a quiet, story-driven experience about connection, identity, and those moments that stay with you long after the summer ends.We’re currently finishing the announcement trailer, which will be released in about two weeks. It’ll give you a first real look at the atmosphere, characters, and tone of the game, we can’t wait to share it with you.In the meantime, we’d love for you to wishlist the game, share your thoughts, and join us on this journey. Every bit of support means a lot to us as a small indie studio.Thank you for being here and welcome to It Was That Summer!Konstantin Echo Bay StudiosRead full article on Community Announcements (Seblab)
