Unmemory
A murder mystery like no other
$5.99 From Plug In Digital, unmemory.info
Made for iPhone, iPad, iPod touch Needs iOS 13.0 or later
Unmemory marries a crime thriller with a mystery game, and it’s a match made in heaven. As you scroll, the story unfolds, revealing a dark plot of murder and revenge. It begins with your character trapped in a room, bloodied and bandaged, with no idea where they are or how they got there. In the bathtub is the body of a young woman. You must find out what happened to her and why.
It is, as its name suggests, a game that revolves around memory and the protagonist’s struggles to remember. Puzzles are placed throughout the text; some are small and trivial, others are
true headscratchers, and many rely on your ability to recall details you previously encountered (notetaking is essential). Some things — pain, voices, smells — help the protagonist remember. Paragraphs full of missing words gradually fill in as you sit through a painful tattoo, for example, progressing the story and providing more clues for the next puzzles.
You sit somewhere between an active participant and an observer, solving riddles but always knowing that the plot has already been written. In the context of a murder mystery, it’s an intriguing concept, propelling you along its complex, winding trajectory.
The only drawback is that scrolling feels quite slow and laggy. As a lot of scrolling is involved, that can be a problem. But overall Unmemory is a treat for puzzle fans and fiction buffs alike.
THE BOTTOM LINE. An ingenious game in both its idea and execution, Unmemory is a real gem. ALEX BLAKE