The List
“The List” is a mystery game where you search and watch video clips from a police database in an attempt to solve a cold murder case.
The mechanics are very similar to “Her Story”. You have access to a database of video clips showing the answers of a crime victim during several interrogation sessions in a police department. You can search this database by entering single words, and the database will show you the first 5 clips in which the person uttered that word. Finding new clips gives you new ideas for search terns, such as the names of people or places. As you find more and more clips, your understanding of the case grows, though you still have to do a lot of interpretation and deductive reasoning (partly because you don’t have access to the policeman’s questions). What’s nice and really helpful, is that each clip you have viewed will automatically be added to a timeline, where you can rewatch clips in their correct chronological order.
– Real player with 10.8 hrs in game
Read More: Best Nonlinear FMV Games.
The List is another addition to the FMV mystery search type, where the player has to piece together a set of clips to ultimately solve the mystery surrounding the main character. If you liked games like “Telling Lies” and “Her Story” this is for you.
The design of the game itself follows those games in which you have some limited case information, a database, a search function and a series of videos of a one sided interrogation to piece together. This was decently done, with a few hiccups in it’s search terms (There was a typo in one of the clips) or the general vagueness of terms, where words might have a tense that you must acknowledge otherwise no results can show. I felt that maybe the developer could have changed some of the terms for a few of the clips.
– Real player with 8.3 hrs in game
Curiosity
“Curiosity killed the cat …” - says the main character of this story and “come between the bark and the tree”, because he knows that “… satisfaction brought it back.” He knows a lot of idioms and doesn’t believe in omens. He don’t gift you adversity or failure, when he crosses your road, but just living its life.
Curiosity can bring you back … or not. Would you like to check it?
This story is full of funny and sad moments. In some places, it is able to bring a smile or tears.
Read More: Best Nonlinear Text-Based Games.
Nowhere New
TLDR: If you like indies, play this game. Its story and atmosphere are well worth a few hours of your time.
This is not a full size game. It was created by a small group of students on no budget, and it shows. However, for that size and scope, it is impressively complete. I greatly enjoyed the couple hours I spent playing.
Narrative:
The writing is very strong. The mystery is intriguing, the characters are likable and complex, and the story is well constructed. There are several emotionally impactful story beats; at various points I felt shock, anger, suspense, horror, compassion, etc. I enjoyed the prevailing theme of identity, trust, and how our experiences shape who we are. Also, LGBT rep is a plus!
– Real player with 3.2 hrs in game
Read More: Best Nonlinear Drama Games.
Even though the game has unappealing visuals, I thought that the writing was very strong and I liked most of the characters. However, I ultimately was disappointed with the experience because the ending felt very anticlimactic, a big exposition dump to what otherwise was a mysterious story that could have gone in many ways. We play as a character that crashlands on a mysterious world where inhabitants lose their memories as they share them with other people. The game presents memory share as a mechanic but it’s somewhat cosmetic, for the most part, the story is pretty linear and you can only trade a few memories for a couple of hints, although I cannot confirm that as I decided to keep them. I wouldn’t say that it has any puzzles, you just have to talk to the characters in the right order, it’s not too convoluted. If anyone cares you can complete the game in about 90 minutes.
– Real player with 2.3 hrs in game
Lucifer Within Us
Normally I operate a £1/hr to determine if a game is worth playing, and I’ll admit that I was worried about “Lucifer Within Us” when many were seeing short play times in the demo. However, I had enjoyed the demo so much that I gave it a chance knowing that it was very doubtful the game would be very long.
Having completely finished the game with all achievements, I feel the game was worth it.
The story is very well written and pulls you in with the voice acting adding that touch of atmosphere to convey the character emotions perfectly, particularly during confessions. My personal favourite was the second investigation where, despite having worked out what was going on, I was still shocked by the outcome and confession. The little touches with the voice acting delivery and graphic choices were key to creating that atmosphere. Well done!
– Real player with 5.5 hrs in game
I’ll start with the good things. This game has an interesting style and setting. The color pallet doesn’t hurt the eye and the graphics are passable if you don’t scroll too close. A strange mix of high-tech and theology would make an interesting setting for a bigger game. The mysteries themselves are pretty good and may take some time to solve on the first playthrough.
But the problem is, you will only play it once. Now, to the bad stuff.
1. The game doesn’t allow you to lose. You can’t accuse the wrong person, you can’t frustrate the suspects to the point of angry unresponsiveness. In fact, you are encouraged to do so, based on achievements. The absence of failure allows you to just play dumb and spam every possible combination of clues and statements until it clicks, making the whole detective part meaningless. Even when performing the exorcism, you are safe. Wrong daemon name? Well, just try another one!
– Real player with 5.4 hrs in game
KaraDedeler 1989
It’s meh. 90% of your time is spent not knowing what you’re looking for, but towards the end you start to figure out how it works. Don’t know how it ended bc the game just wiped my progress after I died 1 time near the end.
6/10
– Real player with 2.8 hrs in game
scary and well made, just short
– Real player with 2.0 hrs in game
Her Story
My rating: 8+/10
Based on: one thorough 100% investigation
TL;DR: An interactive police procedural movie with purposely outdated mechanics, brilliantly written and well-acted, a slow burn and a time sink that offers an engaging story to be discovered bit by bit, an immersive, nostalgic experience of the times gone by, truly worthy of the awards it’s received.
Pros:
(+) a slow-paced, but enthralling open-ended story as told by Hannah Smith whose husband went missing, served up in a series of interviews with this unreliable narrator conducted by police detectives
– Real player with 19.6 hrs in game
Her Story is a little bit of an oddity. It’s a FMV game where the player has access to a police database and needs to find out what happened.
It’s actually rather good. The whole game is limited to an old-style interface where you’re able to type in words and search for records. I’ve seen a few games that try to emulate old OSes and they lack a feeling of being a working interface. Her Story feels like a proper old computer you’re viewing. Though I immediately turned off the glare filter, it has a great old charm to the aesthetics with it on..
– Real player with 9.7 hrs in game
Tesla Effect: A Tex Murphy Adventure
I have been a fan of Tex Murphy since Under a Killing Moon – nearly twenty years! That said, I will not do this game or the community a disservice by writing anything less than a fully honest review. The game succeeds far more often than it fails, but is far from perfect, so I will not score it 10 out of nostalgia, or 0 out of disappointment.
First, let me give this game a score out of ten. In my opinion, it falls somewhere around 7.5. I think this game will please Tex fans and newcomers alike, even if it isn’t perfect. If you like a good story or adventure games, then check this one out. If you like it, I highly recommend trying out Tex’s past adventures.
– Real player with 31.4 hrs in game
As a Tex Murphy fan, I was stoked after hearing about the newest installment, and boy was I eager to play! But after playing half-way through, I found myself questioning whether I should even bother finishing the game. It was only through sheer force of will and a weird, nostalgic obligation, that I managed to see it through to the end. sigh So where to begin?
Let’s first talk about the things it did well:
Revisiting Chandler Avenue and reuniting with the old cast was a treat for old Tex Murphy fans like myself. And honestly, I didn’t mind the mediocre graphics, as it felt reminiscent of the old Tex Murphy games. The FMV sequences were well-done for the most part, and I enjoyed exploring areas without running into loading screens or having to change discs. (I know I’m throwing a bone here, but it’s the little things that count, right?) Unfortunately, that’s where the good ends. Now on to my personal gripes:
– Real player with 15.8 hrs in game
Into The Valley
Pro.
interesting game
Even tho i did not expect too much from it, i was actually amazingly pleased.
I started played and it kept me hooked for a while
The take is quite uniqe as the setting and all
Cons
A little lagish sometimes given that i have a quite good pc
I hate the right click mouse control. if you could add like a mouse centered movement where i dont have to right click to move the image it would be awesome.
I actually recommend it. its not a bad game given that it came from a single man team development but there are many ways that you can actually improve this game. I recommend buying it as its a quite nice small game and it will keep u occupied for a while. i’m planning on finishing the story soon.
– Real player with 49.7 hrs in game
A unique environment with unfamiliar enemy types and some really tough combat!
– Real player with 9.1 hrs in game
Project: New Light City
Something’s Wrong in New Light City
There’s a murder-suicide crisis in New Light City and everyone is turning to Special Investigator Max Boston to uncover who - or what - is behind it. He is the best the city’s Enforcement Unit branch has to offer, but Max is wrestling with the aftermath of a heart-breaking tragedy that has him asking the eternal question, “Why?”
Cut to the Chase
Equipped with cutting-edge forensic technology, a talent for deduction, and his unique ability to convince even the most reluctant of suspects to talk, Max is about to embark on the biggest challenge of his career. From the top of the New Light City food chain, where the elite rule the city at their whim, to the infamous underground run by those who lurk in the shadows, the list of suspects is endless.
Keep a Clear Head
Sure, Max might know his way around the city better than anyone. He certainly knows how to get things done. But everyone has their demons and Max is no exception. The devastating tragedy which overwhelms his every waking moment has breathed life into a haunting darkness. A darkness that continues to grow more every day.
Choices Matter
In this epic, multiple-ending story, you’ll use innovative tools inspired by real-world forensic science to investigate crime scenes and explore other harrowing, dark places. Engage with witnesses and interrogate dozens of less-than-cooperative suspects as you follow every lead to determine who’s telling the truth and who’s got something to hide. Use intuition and quick reflexes to solve puzzles and challenging stealth sequences as you piece it all together and uncover the evils which scheme to undermine what was once known as the shining beacon of the world, New Light City.
Joe Kowalski Chronicles: Murder in a flat
Joe Kowalski Chronicles: Murder in a flat is a dark detective neo noir point and click adventure game. You take the role of a police detective Joe Kowalski who gets tricky case just as he was about to pass out on the bed. Woman was murdered in Joe’s neighborhood and he’s the closest detective sent to investigate. As you set on your journey lies, mystery, deceit and horror awaits in this atmospheric neo noir detective story.
Game has all standard point and click mechanics and additionally you can pull out a gun and use it to solve some puzzles, and in rare cases maybe even shoot people. Your main job is to find killer and solve mystery around dead woman.
This game is first episode, free to play prologue to four chapters that will follow afterwards where Joe will go on journey from police detective to private detective.
This chapter will be fully playable from start to end, mystery will be solvable and story will continue afterwards.