Psychroma is a psychological horror side-scroller set in a haunted cyberpunk house. Collect cards and explore the memories stored on them to piece together your past. But the deeper you go, the more you expose yourself to the brightest heat, the warmest color...
You play as Haze, a digital medium with the ability to experience nonlinear time, as you navigate the haunted cybernetic house known as The Commons. The gameplay primarily revolves around piecing together the fragmented memories of the house's past and present residents to uncover the events that led to the current harrowing situation.
Using a cybernetic memory card system, you can jump between different time periods and perspectives, gaining new insights and accessing new areas of the house as you uncover more of the story. This nonlinear approach encourages you to thoughtfully explore and make connections between the various memory fragments.
The game also allows you to engage in unique mechanics, such as "cyber possession." This grants you the ability to temporarily take control of Haze's body using the digital ghosts of the past, allowing you to solve puzzles from different perspectives. You can also communicate with the dead using a haunted children's toy, further uncovering the secrets of The Commons.
While the narrative is the primary focus, the game incorporates exploration elements. You must investigate the derelict cybernetic house, interacting with the environment and finding key items to progress the story. The sense of atmosphere and the haunting nature of the setting are essential to the overall gameplay experience.
The gameplay is relatively light on traditional puzzles, focusing more on the narrative and environmental interaction. You are tasked with finding and using items in the appropriate locations, but the challenge lies in piecing together the fragmented story and navigating the nonlinear progression.