9 /10 13

Immortality stands as one of 2022’s most acclaimed interactive experiences, earning widespread critical praise for its inventive approach to narrative gaming. This full-motion video mystery places players directly inside the lost films of actress Marissa Marcel, unraveling a decades-spanning story of art, ambition, and obsession through investigative gameplay. By combining film editing mechanics with non-linear storytelling, creator Sam Barlow has crafted a work that transcends traditional game boundaries. Reviewers consistently praise the extraordinary performances, particularly Manon Gage’s career-defining role as the enigmatic Marissa Marcel. This review explores why Immortality represents a new frontier for interactive storytelling and whom should experience this haunting cinematic journey.

How to Play Immortality

Immortality strips away traditional mechanics, replacing them with intuitive investigative interaction. Rather than controlling a character, you navigate archival footage using film editing principles, clicking on objects and people to jump between interconnected scenes. This match-cut system forms the core gameplay loop, rewarding observation and curiosity.

1. Controls – Use mouse clicks on highlighted elements (indicated by cursor changes to an eyeball symbol) to navigate between clips. Controller support is recommended for vibration feedback that indicates hidden footage locations.
2. Progression – Advance by discovering clips on the virtual moviola board. Each new click unlocks connections to other scenes containing matching visual or thematic elements, building your understanding of Marissa’s story across three decades.
3. Hidden Mechanics – Watch for subtle haptic vibrations and audio cues signaling secret clips. Rewind or fast-forward these moments to reveal alternate footage and unlock the game’s true narrative layers.
4. Tips – Start by clicking on recurring characters like Marissa or producer John Dun. Enable vibration feedback and wear headphones to catch all audio cues. Don’t rush—exploration rewards patience with emotional depth.

Who Should Play Immortality

Immortality appeals to players seeking narrative innovation over traditional gameplay. Its focus on investigation and film appreciation attracts adult audiences interested in experimental storytelling. The nonlinear structure suits experienced gamers comfortable with ambiguity, though the intuitive interface welcomes newcomers to interactive fiction.

• Film enthusiasts – Those who appreciate cinema will find layers of reference and visual storytelling that reward deep analysis and repeated playthroughs exploring different interpretations.
• Mystery lovers – Players drawn to puzzle-box narratives and unreliable narrators will be captivated by the complex web connecting Marissa’s three films and the emergence of a mysterious otherworldly presence.
• Acting appreciators – The performances throughout (Manon Gage, Charlotta Mohlin, Kal Penn) deliver theatrical caliber work that transcends typical game voice acting, making this essential viewing for performance-focused audiences.
• Skip if – Traditional gamers seeking combat, player agency through choices, or fast-paced action will find this static and slow. Those wanting clear narrative resolution may find the ambiguous ending frustrating.

Immortality Platform Performance

Immortality runs flawlessly across all supported platforms, with optimized implementations for each system. The FMV-based design requires substantial storage but delivers consistent visual quality whether on cutting-edge PC hardware or portable mobile devices.

Immortality System Requirements

PC requirements remain modest since Immortality prioritizes FMV presentation over demanding graphics rendering. Minimum specifications accommodate older hardware, while recommended specs unlock optimal storage and processing speeds for seamless clip loading.

Similar Games to Immortality

Immortality joins a growing genre of FMV-based narrative experiences that prioritize cinematic storytelling over mechanical complexity. These comparable titles share Immortality’s commitment to performance-driven narratives and experimental gameplay systems.

• Her Story – Sam Barlow’s foundational detective game uses video database mechanics to uncover conspiracy. Simpler than Immortality but introduces the investigative match-cut philosophy that defines Barlow’s style.
• Telling Lies – Another Barlow work offering parallel investigation of FaceTime conversations revealing infidelity and espionage. Shares Immortality’s nonlinear structure but scales back the cinematic production scope.
• Erica – Interactive movie on PlayStation starring Holly Earl in a psychological thriller. Uses branching choices rather than exploration-based investigation, offering more traditional player agency in narrative outcomes.
• Night Trap – Digital classic starring Dana Plato that pioneered FMV gaming. Decades old but foundational to understanding how Immortality modernizes the medium with sophisticated performance capture and thematic depth.

Immortality vs Competitors

Immortality dominates the interactive narrative space through critical reception, performance quality, and artistic ambition. While alternatives offer choice-driven narratives or different FMV mechanics, Immortality’s investigative gameplay and star-studded cast distinguish it as the critical standard-bearer.

Immortality Story and World

Immortality weaves together three lost films spanning 1968 to 1999, chronicling actress Marissa Marcel’s rise from ingénue to Hollywood enigma before her mysterious disappearance. Through director interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and the films themselves, players piece together a narrative about artistic obsession, exploitation, and something unknowable lurking behind the camera. The story subverts typical Hollywood narratives by centering female agency amid male-dominated filmmaking. As clips stack together, a supernatural element emerges—something immortal, patient, and utterly alien observing humanity’s creative ambitions. The nonlinear structure mirrors film editing itself, making players active participants in constructing meaning rather than passive observers.

Immortality Multiplayer and Online

Immortality remains a single-player focused experience with no competitive or cooperative multiplayer modes. Instead, the game emphasizes shared discovery through community interaction and collaborative clip hunting across online forums and social platforms.

• Single-Player Campaign – The entire narrative plays offline without requiring internet connectivity. Game progression saves locally across all platforms with cloud backup on consoles.
• Community Clip Hunting – While not official multiplayer, players actively share clip discoveries and hidden sequences across Reddit, Discord communities, and YouTube, creating a collaborative archive of the game’s secrets.
• Achievement Hunting – Leaderboards track completion times and 100-percent clip discovery across PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam networks, encouraging speed-running and exhaustive exploration.
• Cross-Play – Save files sync across PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and mobile (iOS/Android), allowing players to resume stories on any compatible device.

Immortality DLC and Expansions

Immortality launched as a complete experience without post-release DLC additions. Sam Barlow’s design philosophy emphasizes self-contained narratives that achieve thematic completion at launch rather than extending stories through seasonal content or paid expansions.

• Base Game Complete – All narrative content appears in the standard release; no additional story chapters or character storylines were added post-launch.
• Free Updates – Occasional patches addressed technical performance and control refinements, while macOS version released April 2023 as standard platform expansion.
• PlayStation Enhancements – PS5 port added DualSense haptic feedback and controller speaker integration to deepen immersion in hidden clip discovery mechanics.
• Netflix Versions – Mobile editions on iOS and Android through Netflix expanded accessibility rather than adding new content; feature identical narratives to PC/console releases.

Immortality Community and Support

Immortality maintains active player communities across multiple platforms and social channels where enthusiasts continue uncovering secrets years after release. Developer support remains available through official channels while community-driven guides document every clip location and narrative interpretation.

• Official Channels – Half Mermaid Productions maintains presence on social media for announcements and technical support; official website provides account and platform management links.
• Community Forums – Reddit’s r/ImmortalityGame hosts thousands of active discussions, mystery theories, and clip discovery guides. Discord communities offer real-time conversation and collaborative solving of narrative puzzles.
• Content Archives – YouTube creators maintain comprehensive walkthroughs mapping every clip and hidden sequence. Community wikis compile complete clip listings and achievement guides for completionists.
• Patch Support – Ongoing technical maintenance occurs through platform-specific updates. Bug reports received through Steam community discussions and console support channels.