Girls' Frontline 2: Exilium

The poster girl for the game is Groza.

Girls' Frontline 2: Exilium (少女前线2：追放), known as 소녀전선2: 망명 in Korean, is a game from Sunborn using XCOM-lite, tactical two-dimensional gameplay with 3D graphics and Physically Based Rendering and Non-Photorealistic Rendering. It is available for PC, Android and iOS. Despite being a sequel, Girls' Frontline 2 is due to run alongside Girls' Frontline rather than replace it. The game has Japanese and Chinese voice lines.

CN servers were opened on 21 December 2023. A verified (with ID card or passport information) account on Sunborn CN (shared with Taptap) or Bilibili (does not support iOS) is required to access this server. Global servers will open at later dates. The Korean version will be hosted by X.D. Global subsidiary Haoplay and receive a Korean dub.

It takes place in Eastern Europe in 2074, 12 years after the start of Girls' Frontline. Griffin and Kryuger has been dismantled by the government who felt it had become too powerful, but the Commander continues to lead Tactical Dolls in the frontier region between contaminated and safe land after their retirement, chasing bounties aboard the Amos mobile base. As they return from a delivery mission in the contaminated zone, they are attacked by an unknown force who seizes their cargo, which contains a mysterious girl. The Commander must retake the cargo and uncover old secrets and conspiracies linked to relics.

Development history

Girls' Frontline 2 was announced as a 3D game on 18 May 2018 during the livestream for Girls' Frontline's second anniversary. Though an animated 3D model of ^AR HK416HK416  was used in the teaser, the logo showed the silhouette of ^AR OTs-14OTs-14 . A Weibo post after the stream specified that the game was in early stages of development and was developed by a new team in parallel of Girls' Frontline's dev team. The name was announced as tentative.

Girls' Frontline 2 was revealed on 15 May 2020 during MICA Team's 4th anniversary stream, alongside Project Neural Cloud and Girls' Frontline: Glitch Land. Vanguard Sound would continue to produce the music, microtransactions would transition to more mainstream model compared to Girls' Frontline, and the technical side of development was deemed complete in January 2021, with focus switching to asset production. Producer Yuzhong and Director Smoke presented the game's features in the Beilan Island Shelter Broadcasts through 2021, such as the dorm system, cross-platform features between PC and mobile, plans for a CN dub and the weapon customization and gacha systems. A multiplayer mode was mentioned by Yuzhong in interviews. The game received a first closed beta test from 29 June to 3 July 2021 and a second from 18 to 31 October 2021. The non-final gacha system received special criticism.

On 13 May 2022, a second trailer was released on Weibo alongside new gameplay videos and new characters reveal. The game's registration was approved by China's National Press and Publication Administration on 22 March 2023 and the official preregistrations website was launched on 28 April. New gameplay footage was shown after the Girls' Frontline 7th Anniversary Music Festival on 15 July 2023. A third closed beta, titled “Spark Test”, was held from 20 July to 3 August 2023, and the first new Beilan Island Shelter Broadcast in nearly two years, with Art Director Daniel, announced some gameplay system simplification, redesigned player commanders and announced the first open beta test (OBT) in September. In an August 2023 interview, Yuzhong estimated that the expended budget spent on the game was over 100 million RMB (over 13.7 million USD or 12.8 million EUR at the time), and explained that the visual direction of the game was inspired by the game Code Vein.

The fourth beta test and first open beta, named “Gravitation Test”, took place from 28 September to 12 October 2023 on Android and PC. On 9 October, Sunborn issued an apology regarding content deemed inappropriate in Qiongju's story and Yuzhong announced that he would be revising the game's script in a Beilan Island Shelter Broadcast the following month. CN servers opened for all platforms on 21 December 2023 (some assets referred to it as an Open Beta Test), containing story missions up to chapter 6. Luffberry Chess was announced in the pre-release livestream on 20 December 2023.

Characters

Groza

An SST-05A2 Doll with an imprint for the OTs-14 rifle, the actual ^AR OTs-14OTs-14  from Girls' Frontline. After the Commander mounted their own bounty hunting team, they met with this Doll they used to command at Griffin & Kryuger. Groza now serves as the Commander's adjutant and field leader in combat operations, though she is still as lacking as ever in interpersonal communication.

JP CV by Marina Inoue and CN CV by 虫虫.

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  Costume "Battle Gear - Campaign at Dawn"

Nemesis

An SST-05A2 Doll with an imprint for the OM 50 rifle. Her previous name was C7U29. She was recruited by the Commander after a chance meeting in the contaminated region, the manpower shortage aboard the Amos being enough to disregard her strange behavior. She may be full of delusions, insist to speak in metaphors only Charolic understands and come up with terrible battle plans, but she is still an excellent sniper. She is compared to a star, tranquil but with immense inner potential. Also acts as the Amos' navigator and has an interest in fortune-telling, but she makes noticeably worse predictions when using her divination rather than regular analysis. She calls the magic trinket attached to her bag “the prism”.

JP CV by Aya Endo and CN CV by 秦紫翼.

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  Costume "Battle Gear - Wandering Star Trail"

Charolic

An SSD-62D Doll with a bladed weapons imprint and a strange bunny-ears headset she insists is tactical gear. Alternatively called Kroliko (КРОЛИКО). She was the target of one of the Commander's bounties, but ended up joining the team. Her sense of honor dictates her close-range fighting style and puts her at odds with the team's sniper Nemesis, but she's somehow also the only one who can translate Nemesis' cryptic metaphorical speech. Doesn't fare much better at socializing with the rest of the crew, but likes anything that relates to bunnies. Is searching for her lost partner Peritya.

JP CV by Sayaka Ohara and CN CV by 吱毛.

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  Costume "Clothes - Leaping Rabbit"

Colphne

An SSD-62D Doll with an imprint for the Taurus Curve handgun. Colphne came across the Amos crew as they were weary after a mission and offered to join them as a medic. She also doubles as an efficient mediator when crew members butt heads, mostly because they are a bit afraid of her mannerisms and she keeps blackmail material at hand. Also likes reading. The Commander later gifted her the book "The Art of Speechcraft" hoping she would become more careful in choosing her words when acting as the team's mediator, but it just made it worse.

JP CV by Naomi Ozora and CN CV by 四白.

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Vepley

An SSD-62D Doll with an imprint for the Vepr-12 (the shotgun, not to be confused with ^AR VeprVepr ). Vepley once worked as a promoter for the URNC cultural development program in Yellow Zones. She acts as an idol even after taking up arms and joining the Amos, to Groza's constant disapproval, and likes adding stars ☆ in her messages. She's also freakishly strong for her frame, but also very clumsy, which is not a safe combination for people around her.

JP CV by Hitomi Harada and CN CV by 闲踏梧桐.

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Peritya

An SSD-62D Doll with an imprint for the PKP-SP GPMG. Once Charolic's companion, they were separated and she has been wandering Green Zones ever since, indulging in her hobby of hacking public cameras to take a look at their records. She however made a point to never keep any of this data for long, also applying this rule to her cryptic notebooks. Outside of raw data, she likes to observe people and get to know them. While she is a hacker herself, she was also hacked in the past, leaving in her Neural Cloud a strange inner world and making Peritya very interested in finding this person again. She both helps bolster the Amos' security and sometimes gives Mayling's grey hair by simulating electronic attacks. Not formally part of the Amos crew, might actually be hacking into the Neural Clouds of the other Dolls to make them forget her each mission before leaving.

JP CV by Noriko Hidaka and CN CV by 张安琪.

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Sharkry

An SSD-62D Doll using a Robinson Armament XCR, and Vepley's former stage partner. Her idol career fell on hard times and she now works at Zucchero Café.

JP CV by Machico and CN CV by 刘雯.

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Cheeta

An SSD-62D Doll using an MP7, the original ^SMG MP7MP7  from Griffin and Kryuger. Tinkers night and day to create an invention that will prove she's superior to her rival ^SMG Honey BadgerHoney Badger . Sensitive about her height.

JP CV by Lynn and CN CV by 二娇.

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Sabrina

An SSD-62D Doll using a SPAS-12, the original ^SG SPAS-12SPAS-12  from Griffin and Kryuger. After G&K, she works as a cook for the Italian restaurants chain Caldo and also hosts a food review show on the net.

JP CV by Miyuki Kobori and CN CV by 阮从青.

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Tololo

An SST-05 Doll using an AK-Alfa, the original ^AR AK-AlfaAK-Alfa  from Griffin and Kryuger. Like a satellite drifting away after losing its planet, she grew even more isolated and couldn't make a new life for herself after G&K's disappearance, until a familiar person came to find her again.

JP CV by Akari Kitou and CN CV by 翁媛.

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Qiongju

An SSD-62G Doll using a QBZ-191, originally named “No. 9” and designated ^AR QBZ-191QBZ-191  at Griffin & Kryuger.

The punctual and efficient leader of Frostfall Squad. At Griffin, she was Helian's right hand, beautiful yet unyielding like polished jade. Her sharpness is sheathed in discretion, and she is a flexible collaborator and squad leader. If you work with her, make her orders clear, keep her intel up to date and pay on time, or the next cup of tea she brews for you will be extra bitter.

JP CV by Yuka Iguchi and CN CV by 徐慧.

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Nagant

An SSD-62D Doll using a Nagant M1895 revolver, the original ^HG Nagant RevolverNagant Revolver  from Griffin and Kryuger.

After G&K's reorganization, Nagant left the company and brought her experience to the security department of a nearby city. Nagant takes her role as a senior seriously and tries to act mature, but she retains her youthful vitality and heroic ideals. Rookies she brought up would continue to receive advice and guidance from her by mail. One such mail reached the Commander one day, where she tactlessly called them “old-timer”.

JP CV by Shinohara Narumi and CN CV by 虛元.

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Ksenia

An SSD-62D Doll using a Stechkin handgun, the original ^HG StechkinStechkin  from Griffin and Kryuger (and presumably also the same character as  KseniaKsenia )

After leaving Griffin, she joined the security department of a nearby city but little else has changed in her life: she's still the same hard working, money-conscious shopping enthusiast. While she loves money and the safety it provides, helping her friends is just as important for her.

JP CV by Kitamura Eri and CN CV by 吱毛.

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Mosin-Nagant

An SST-05 Doll using a Mosin-Nagant rifle, the original ^RF Mosin-NagantMosin-Nagant  from Griffin and Kryuger.

After G&K's reorganization, she joined the security department of a nearby city. Though she helps everyone with a smile on her face, Mosin-Nagant battles against her habit of negativity and overthinking. In difficult times, she may offer strange advice but her smile will motivate you. Of course, things always go even smoother if you bring a bottle of Northern Mule.

JP CV by Uesaka Sumire and CN CV by 陈睿婕.

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Littara

An SSD-62G Doll, the original ^HG WKpWKp  from Griffin and Kryuger, now wielding a Galil ARM machine gun.

Her introversion caused Littara to be expelled from the reorganized G&K before she found new companion in the contaminated zone. To rise up to the challenge, she replaced her model for a machine gun and started carrying pen and paper at all time to more easily communicate with others through writing. She's a thoughtful "counsellor" who gives advice to her companions to help them achieve their dreams. If you need to talk with her, write a letter, and you'll soon receive a heartfelt answer.

JP CV by Noda Maria and CN CV by 苏婉.

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Daiyan

An SSD-62D Doll, the original ^AR Type 95Type 95  from Griffin and Kryuger. After G&K was restructured, Daiyan left and picked up the guzheng again as a wandering musician.

Featured during the character event Exotic Music Emblem from 25 December 2023 to 22 January 2024 (during the all-platforms OBT).

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Mayling Shen

Born in the Neo-Soviet Union in 2053, Mayling Shen's parents were demolition workers who died from ELID shortly after her birth due to their unsafe working conditions during reconstruction efforts. After passing from foster home to foster home, she joined a small mechanical repair workshop at age eight, where she gained mechanical skills until four years later when the workshop was attacked and destroyed by Varjager bandits, leaving her alone once again. She was then found and cared for by the Commander. She now serves as general mechanic and logistics officer in the Amos, replacing the position once filled by Kalina. A fan of Tetris and alcohol to blow off some steam after another day of being overworked.

Commander's drone

The Commander can join the battle by commanding one of two land drones: the Chiara-IV Gatling (styled female) and the Pierre-II Howitzer (styled male).

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Other characters

^SMG UMP9UMP9 , now named Lenna, was showcased as a playable unit in early gameplay trailers. NPC artworks of Kalina, Persica and ^SMG UMP45UMP45  (under the file name “laiya”) were found in the second closed beta. ^SMG TMPTMP , ^SMG PP-90PP-90 , ^HG Welrod MkIIWelrod MkII , ^SMG VectorVector , ^RF VSK-94VSK-94 , ^SMG UMP45UMP45  (with a new design), ^AR ST AR-15ST AR-15 , ^SG DP-12DP-12  and Kalina were shown in the 6th Anniversary trailer. ^AR Type 95Type 95  (under her name Daiyan), ^RF KSVKKSVK  (under her name Dushevnaya), ^HG WKpWKp , ^RF WA2000WA2000 , ^AR AK-AlfaAK-Alfa , ^HG Nagant RevolverNagant Revolver  and ^SMG MP7MP7  (under new names), as well as new characters Zhaohui, Wuerlide and Anduosi were revealed in the teaser picture below. ^AR G36G36  (under her name Centaureissi), ^AR Type 97Type 97  (under her name Jiangyu) and ^RF SpringfieldSpringfield  were announced in the 20 December 2023 pre-OBT release livestream.

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Locations

Black Zone (黒区)

Also called "Ground Zero", a dozen-kilometers wide impact crater emitting lethal levels of Collapse radiations. It's the final objective of the European Collapse Radiation Contaminated Region Recovery and Revitalization Joint Development Agreement. Only ELID infected and mutated plants can survive here. Surface soil was vitrified mid-flight and formed sharp crystalline spires, and radioactive collapse storms regularly sweep the wastelands, destroying any living or electronic object. A mysterious tower in this zone contains the entrance to a relic and its research structures. Contamination level is over 10,000 FBA (弗必安).

Red Zone (红区)

A contaminated area near the Black Zone, still needing to be purified by the European Collapse Radiation Contaminated Region Recovery and Revitalization Joint Development Agreement. Humans or Dolls shouldn't enter the area without protective equipment, and be wary of ELID infected and unidentified roamers. The area is mostly made of deserts and deep ravines with a silicafied soil due to frequent exposure to high concentrations of collapse radiation. Most plants can't survive the soil erosion and frequent collapse storms, but in low terrain areas Epiphyllum flowers with some regional variations can create large clusters able to lower radiation around them outside of flowering period, but sharply increasing radiation concentration during flowering. Damaged beacons, overturned convoys and helicopter wrecks litter the area for reasons unknown. The original buildings are still standing but badly damaged and with signs of post-contamination usage. Contamination level ranges from 150 to 10,000 FBA (弗必安).

Yellow Zone (黄区)

The frontier zone next to the Red Zone, soon to be purified by the European Collapse Radiation Contaminated Region Recovery and Revitalization Joint Development Agreement. Dolls can move in this area freely but humans still need protective equipment. ELID infected are not an infrequent sight, but bounty hunters, members of the Варяг (Varangian) gang and common residents also inhabit the area. The area has desertified, making dry deserts and deadwood forests a common sight, but areas with enough groundwater have turned into marshes, forming oases in low terrain and water-rich areas. Areas with abnormal climates or close to collapse radiation sources experience collapse storms, silicafying the soil and becoming blooming ground for Epiphyllum flowers. Beacons near green zones are well preserved and those near red zones are damaged. The original buildings are mostly in serviceable condition and lots of abandoned resources can be found in cities and towns so there are signs of the area being inhabited, but residents need to draw from below 100 meters deep to find drinkable groundwater.

Contamination level ranges from 1 to 150 FBA (弗必安) and there are a number of Purification Towers called “Beacons”. Beacons near the Green Zone are in good condition, but those the Red Zone are damaged.

Purification Zone (净化区)

The frontier zone between Yellow and Green Zone, in process of being purified by the European Collapse Radiation Contaminated Region Recovery and Revitalization Joint Development Agreement, currently the core of the New Western Campaign. The Purification Zone's net radiation density is between Yellow and Green Zone on average but there are local variations. Vegetation and terrain are still similar to a Yellow Zone, low-hanging bushes are common but trees are more rare due to a lack of water. Neo-Soviet Union troops occupy areas for extended periods of time, destroying buildings that were too damaged with explosives and monitoring the passage of bounty hunters, PMCs and other paramilitaries. Since the livable buildings are occupied by the army, there are no permanent residents in the area.

Green Zone (绿区)

The most recently extended livable areas, without any dangerous levels of collapse radiation. Primary Green Zones have not been selected as targets for reconstruction efforts by the government and have returned to a natural state with the amount of vegetation depending on water supply. Non-Primary Green Zones are still seeing purification processes but are already livable and vegetation has started to flourish again. These areas are the end results of the European Collapse Radiation Contaminated Region Recovery and Revitalization Joint Development Agreement, and the plain terrains with few geological depressions make for easy infrastructure construction. Most Green Zone residents are workers in the factories of White Zone cities, bounty hunters, PMCs and black market merchants implanted with an ID chip tracking their biological and social data. The demography is often controlled by corresponding White Zone cities. Non-Primary Green Zones are largely made up of factories, farms, and regionally-distributed satellite cities with dense and chaotic urban structure, with twisting narrow alleys. During the day, these satellite cities are mostly empty but at night, after the residents return home form work, the city limits blaze with light. Contamination level is under 1 FBA (弗必安).

White Zone (白区)

The safest zone possible, cities surrounded by Green Zones and the best examples of purification by the European Collapse Radiation Contaminated Region Recovery and Revitalization Joint Development Agreement. Before World War Three, they were economic, governmental or military zones of activity and have since been cleansed of all sources of collapse radiation contamination and damage caused by radiation has been repaired. Full suites of Collapse Radiation warning systems, pollution prevention, and safeguarding countermeasures have been installed. Urban areas are clearly defined to allow these systems to work at their fullest, temperature and humidity are carefully regulated for the comfort of inhabitants and every inch of space on, under and above ground is being used at its fullest to make up for the limited land available, making for fully vertical cities. Recreational facilities are generally found on the roofs of buildings but there are few areas dedicated to vegetation, though some can be found on the edges of the cities. City traffic relies on dual-purpose elevated roads for cars and light railways. Most light rail stations are found inside buildings, with station names signposted outside the buildings. Car elevators are standard issue for all major buildings. White Zones are inhabited by normal residents and hired PMCs. Each White Zone City has a different population level and class structure, creating a variety of governance systems and cultural organizations. Contamination level is maintained at 0 FBA (弗必安) at all time.

Factions

Union of Rossartrism Nations Coalition

The URNC governs over half of the world but its reach is weaker in contaminated zones, which is the reason for its investment in purification projects.

Private Military Contractors

These organizations originally emerged to provide cost-effective solutions to security concerns, but the market has now shrunk. They provide security and escort services and are now centrally managed by the Union of Rossartrism Nations Coalition's Paramilitary Forces Supervision Bureau (非军事力量管理局).

Griffin & Kryuger

Once a powerful Private Military Contractor staffed with many Tactical Dolls. After the Union of Rossartrism Nations Coalition was established, the world situation stabilized and G&K's influence was seen as a danger, so it was restructured and stripped of its power.

BRIEF

An organization promoting the rights and the development of bounty hunting (赏金猎人权益拓展及推进协会). They manage the activities of bounty hunters in the contaminated zones, providing resources to support their profit. They are not a regulatory authority but rather seek a mutually profitable partnership with independent bounty hunters.

Varjagers

In late 2067, the Union of Rossartrism Nations Coalition first sighted a new bandit group in the contaminated regions calling themselves the Varjagers (瓦良格帮). Recognizable by their uniform and well-armed, including assault mechs starting 2070, they specialize in cruel looting raids but no governmental action has been taken against them since they don't target purified regions. They are prime targets for bounty hunters.

Their name is derived from the Varangians, a medieval Viking group.

Sangvis Ferri

After the fall of the arms manufacturer, all of its patents fell into public domain and its physical assets were redistributed. Starting 2067, an increasing number of Sangvis Ferri robots and Dolls have started to appear in purified regions, produced in former SF plants reactivated by third-party manufacturers. In 2070, in the Green Zone city of Odesa, a case of a pet Dinergate gone haywire drew attention to a black market dedicated to modified and unsafe SF machines.

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Underground Brokers

Black market resellers traveling between the safe and contaminated areas, secretly buying and selling their merchandise. Their business has been dwindling due to the rise of bounty hunting.

Girard Group

The Girard Group (吉拉尔集团) is a powerful industrial company based in the Odesa region (奥德卅州), dealing in the production of machinery, infrastructure and R&D. They have developed strong ties to the region and contributed significantly to its purification project.

Their logo is similar to the logo of Svarog Heavy Industries' Cyclopes Sector in Magrasea.

ELID

With the progress in human treatment against ELID, the main danger posed by the disease has now shifted to the wildlife of the contaminated regions. The term "ELID Infected" has now been replaced by "ELID Silence Dread" or "living skeletons/hollows" (生骸) due to the changes occurring in contaminated animals. Despite how dangerous these animals are, some like the Obsidian Hare are captured and sold as pets, leading to casualties in owners.

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Gallery

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  Prerelease app icons.

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  Early trailer stills.

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  Nonfinal Groza artwork on Sunborn's 2020 lineup.

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  Closed Beta promotional artworks.

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  Non-final Commander models in third beta.

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  2023 New Year Promo Illustration.

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  Gravitation Test key art.

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  All-platforms open beta artwork.

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  Release countdown artworks.

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  Mobile Armored Base “Amos”.

Links

Chinese

• Official website
• Taptap page
• Taptap announcement
• Official Weibo account
• Official Bilibili account

Korean

• Twitter account
• YouTube channel
• Naver community

Medias

• Old lore translation
• Second PV
• Full OBT trailer (JP) (music by MeLo, 大九_LN and Polyblue for Vanguard Sound)
• Full OBT trailer (CN) (music by MeLo, 大九_LN and Kinoko蘑菇 for Vanguard Sound)

References

Games Released: Girl of the Bakehouse · Codename: Bakery Girl · Girls' Frontline · Project Neural Cloud · Girls' Frontline 2: Exilium · Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery Canceled: Girls' Frontline: Glitch Land Anime Girls' Frontline (anime) · Healing Chapter & Madness Chapter Books Guns&Girls · The Art of Girls' Frontline Vol.1 · The Art of Girls' Frontline Vol.2 · Confidential Files · Girls' Frontline: Doll's Song · Others Music Withered · Girls' Frontline Original Soundtrack · Project Neural Cloud Original Soundtrack · Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery Soundtrack · Girls' Frontline ECHOES · Girls' Frontline Concerts Companies Sunborn/Mica Team · Vanguard Sound Misc. April Fools · Minigames · Shadow Confrontation