Driven by a rare neurological affliction plaguing his family, Joshua has to recover his memories by exploring parallel realities through déjà vu. Facing the innermost depths of his past – moments both joyous and painful – seems to be the only way to get his life and family back together.
The core gameplay revolves around navigating through Joshua's fragmented memories, interacting with objects that trigger cinematic sequences and flashbacks. This non-linear, labyrinthine structure encourages players to actively engage with the environment, piecing together the story at their own pace. Reviewers praised this approach, as it rewards attentiveness to the game's environmental storytelling.
Interspersed throughout the exploration are various puzzles that players must solve to progress. These typically involve manipulating objects, analyzing clues, and making connections between different memories and time periods. Reviewers described the puzzles as challenging yet fair, requiring critical thinking and logical reasoning. While a few were more obscure, the overall puzzle design successfully complemented the game's narrative and themes.
The game's narrative offers a branching structure, allowing players to make choices that influence the outcome of the story. By exploring Joshua's memories and uncovering various plot threads, players can experience alternative conclusions. Reviewers highlighted the thought-provoking nature of these endings, which force players to grapple with the game's central themes and moral dilemmas.
The game's minimalist, yet striking visual style, coupled with a well-crafted ambient soundtrack, create a sense of immersion and unease that aligns with the psychological thriller elements. Reviewers praised the attention to detail in the game's environments, which often serve as gateways to Joshua's memories and provide additional narrative depth.
Despite the complex narrative structure, the game's mechanics are described as smooth and intuitive, allowing players to navigate the environments with ease. The frequent autosave feature ensures that progress is not lost, even when backtracking or revisiting previous memories. Reviewers also noted the game's high level of accessibility, with no reported issues related to potential barriers for players with various needs.