Her Story is an innovative interactive narrative game that immerses players in a complex web of storytelling through a unique video clip interface. At its core, the game consists of 271 short video clips sourced from police interviews conducted in 1994, showcasing a woman’s responses to various questions about a crime. Players engage with the story in a non-linear fashion, piecing together the narrative as they explore these clips—each revealing vital, albeit fragmented, information regarding the overarching mystery.

The gameplay begins with players accessing a vintage computer interface that resembles an old database system. From here, they start their journey by entering broad search terms, such as “murder,” which generate a list of clips containing the queried keywords. As players watch these clips, they must remain vigilant, listening closely for unique words, names, or phrases that may signal significant clues or lead to further inquiry.

Since players only have access to the woman’s responses—without knowledge of the questions being posed by the interrogators—they must carefully interpret her answers. This lack of context means that players are positioned as detectives, employing their critical thinking skills to draw connections between disparate clips and assemble a coherent narrative. The clips are presented out of chronological order, further challenging players as they strive to construct a timeline of events and understand character motivations.

The search mechanic enriches the experience, allowing each player to carve out a personalized journey through the story based on their unique search strategies. Different terms can yield varied results, leading players down alternate paths and potentially offering insights they might not encounter in another playthrough. This mechanic enhances replayability and encourages exploration as players experiment with keywords to fully uncover the intricate plot.

Ultimately, Her Story presents a fascinating puzzle-like narrative that captivates players through its innovative storytelling approach. By navigating through video fragments, players not only gather pieces of information but also engage with an emotionally resonant story that invites them to reflect on themes of memory, truth, and the subjectivity of experience. The effectiveness of this game lies in its ability to create an immersive and personal narrative experience, compelling players to become active participants in solving the mystery.