Rating
Her Story
Her Story is the new video game from Sam Barlow, creator of Silent Hill: Shattered Memories and Aisle. A crime fiction game with non-linear storytelling, Her Story revolves around a police database full of live action video footage. It stars Viva Seifert, actress and one half of the band Joe Gideon and the Shark.
Release Date
Developer
Publisher
Platforms
Similar Games
Don't see a recommendation that should be here? Add it!
Her Story Reviews
Professional reviews from gaming critics
It’s not a typical structure for a game, but the mechanics really do work in the context of the narrative. If you like the idea of an open-ended ’90s murder mystery with no guarantee you’ll find a solid answer to its mysteries, then I can’t recommend this highly enough. Her Story is a spectacular video game, and one of the most gripping personal narratives I’ve experienced in some time.
Despite it being born from originality, I hope other developers copy Her Story’s blueprint. Not the exact story, of course, but the idea that people who play games are smart, and can take on tough, intellectual work if you give them a story worth working for. With a strong script, great use of FMV, and a simple yet empowering core game mechanic, Her Story is the most unique game I’ve played in years.
Mystery is the appeal of crime stories, whether they are real or fictional. We hear different accounts, look for clues, and see the police follow leads – and we form our own conclusions along the way. The drive to shed light on a mystery makes us want to search for answers. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories designer Sam Barlow capitalizes on this in his first independent game, Her Story. Her Story is one of the most engrossing games I've played this year, and that's mainly because Barlow doesn't just hand players anything – he forces them to search for it.
A bold take on the long-forgotten FMV adventure genre, Her Story might be old-fashioned and light on what some might describe as traditional gameplay, but its sophisticated narrative and entertainingly novel take on detective work both allow it to soar far beyond the zenith of its seemingly outmoded remit.
The weak and the wounded.
Sophisticated, engaging, and utterly unique.
Her Story is unique, but that in and of itself is not worthy of praise. The allowance for differences in approach is what makes it special.
One of the most interesting uses of pre-recorded video for years, and one of the most convincing attempts to create an interactive crime thriller gaming has ever seen.
Experimental in many ways, Her Story is as captivating as any detective novel, so long as you have the patience or ability to care about the narrative.