Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Play

PC/Steam

Google Play

App Store

Screenwise Verdict

Her Story is a smart, innovative detective game that treats you like an adult in every sense. The non-linear structure and search-based gameplay were genuinely fresh in 2015, and the core mechanic—watching police interview clips and piecing together a fragmented narrative—still holds up as a clever puzzle.

But let's be clear: this is mature content. You're investigating a murder, and the interviews discuss sex, infidelity, bodies, and death with the frankness of actual police interrogations. It's not gratuitous, but it's definitely not for kids.

The real question is whether you're into this kind of cerebral, slow-burn detective work. If you loved Return of the Obra Dinn or Outer Wilds' investigation mechanics, this is worth your time. If you need action or visual spectacle, you'll find it tedious. It's a 2-4 hour experience that's aging gracefully in concept but showing its years in execution—the FMV quality and interface feel dated.

For parents: keep this one on your own Steam library. For adult gamers who like puzzles and don't mind a talky, mature crime story: it's a clever little gem that respects your brain.

Age Fit

This is squarely for adults (18+) who enjoy cerebral detective stories and can handle mature crime content. The gameplay is clever, but the subject matter—murder, sex, deception—makes it entirely inappropriate for teens or kids.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

45

A mature crime narrative exploring murder, complex family dynamics, sexual themes, and deception. While there's no on-screen violence or sex, the interviews discuss both frankly and in detail. The story centers on dark subject matter including death, infidelity, and psychological manipulation—not emotionally healthy content for younger audiences.

Imaginative

88

Genuinely innovative for 2015—a non-linear detective game built entirely around searching a database of live-action police interview clips. Players must piece together the narrative themselves by choosing search terms and connecting fragments. The format invites active problem-solving and pattern recognition in a way few games have attempted. Created by Sam Barlow (Silent Hill: Shattered Memories), it's a bold experiment in interactive storytelling.

Safe

52

No predatory monetization, ads, or social features (no IAP, no chat). However, content includes frank discussions of sex, murder, bodies, infidelity, and death—themes that could be disturbing for younger players. Common Sense Media flags 'moderate' levels across sex/nudity, violence/gore, profanity, and substance use discussions. It's a mature crime story that won't surprise adult players but isn't appropriate for kids stumbling into it.

Enriching

76

Requires genuine critical thinking, pattern recognition, and deductive reasoning. Players must synthesize information across dozens of video clips, manage ambiguity, and construct their own understanding of events—skills rarely practiced in most games. The non-linear structure respects player intelligence and rewards careful attention. However, the enrichment is intellectual puzzle-solving rather than emotional growth or ethical development.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely original gameplay—search a database of live-action clips to piece together a non-linear crime story
Respects your intelligence: no hand-holding, no quest markers, just you and a search bar figuring out what happened
Exercises real critical thinking and pattern recognition as you connect fragments across dozens of interviews
Compact experience (2-4 hours) that doesn't overstay its welcome
From Sam Barlow, creator of Silent Hill: Shattered Memories—knows how to tell an unsettling story

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What to Watch For

Adults only—frank discussions of sex, murder, infidelity, bodies, and psychological manipulation throughout
Common Sense Media flags moderate levels of sexual content, violence, profanity, and substance discussions
Niche appeal: if you're not into detective puzzles or FMV games, this will feel slow and talky
Nearly a decade old; the interface and video quality show their age

Conversation Starters

"What search terms did you try first? How did you decide what to look for next?"
"When did you start to piece together what was really happening?"
"How reliable do you think the interviewee is? What made you trust or doubt her story?"
"What would you do differently if you were the detective conducting these interviews?"

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