Her Story

Her Story is a single-player detective game about searching through a database to uncover interview tapes. When search terms are typed in, clips are shown where the suspect’s words match those terms. Playing the role of a detective looking through a police database, the player must carefully analyze interrogation footage to determine what words will uncover new clips when searched. Though the main mechanic is simple, players will have to use their detective skills to infer what happened. Her Story is unique due to its use of live action clips, all performed by Viva Seifert, to tell its narrative.

At the beginning of the game, the player is presented with a 90s computer screen. The police database is pulled up with the word “murder” already typed into the search bar. This will pull up a few videos for the player to watch and gather clues from. The interrogation script tells the player what words are important to search and which may yield new videos. When a video has not been viewed, it will have a yellow eye symbol in the corner.

Her Story requires the player to remember or write down clues, previously typed words, and non-linear pieces of the story. Overall, the gameplay is as intuitive as searching on a web browser. On the computer, there are a couple of files that hold gameplay instructions and, of course, the database application where the videos are stored. The more interrogation clips the player uncovers, the closer they get to discovering the narrative. In theory, any video can be accessed at any time; progress is only gated by the knowledge of relevant words, which is acquired through the gradual understanding of the case.

The narrative of Her Story is told entirely through the interrogation clips. Though there are other characters mentioned, all of the live action scenes are performed by Viva Seifert. Though the story doesn’t change according to player actions, it is revealed in a different order each time. Different search terms yield different results and lead players down distinct paths littered with clues. With a tone that reflects true crime documentaries, the narrative has many twists and turns. Her Story touches on unsettling topics that some players may wish to avoid. These topics include descriptions of sex, violence, and murder. Nothing is shown explicitly, but these darker themes are mentioned frequently.

Her Story has received critical acclaim for its narrative and design. Though the search mechanic is simple, the interactive story is complex. With its use of live action performance and the unique experience that each playthrough provides, Her Story certainly creates its own genre of detective game.

This description was written by Cay Macres.