Iris.Fall
Genres: Puzzle, Horror, Atmospheric, Adventure
Release Date: 7-12-2018
Developer: NEXT Studios
Our verdict
7.5/10
- Difficulty: Medium
- Players: 1
- Playtime: 3–5 h
Iris.Fall is a short black-and-white puzzle adventure about light and shadow. Iris follows a black cat into a rundown theatre and can turn into her own shadow to walk along shadows cast on walls, mixing 3D rooms with 2D paths. It suits solo players who like moody, artful puzzle games more than horror.
Steam reviews are very positive (316 of 369), but only one review text was available here, so player reception rests mostly on those numbers and a small set of tags that lean Adventure, Puzzle and Casual. That reviewer praises the pen-and-ink look, the quiet soundtrack, the wide variety of puzzles and the shadow transformation.
The limits are objective: it is short, around four hours, and the story is told without much dialogue, which can feel vague. With so little review text it is hard to say how fair the hardest puzzles are. At full price it is a lot for a short game, so it is a good pick on sale for fans of atmospheric puzzlers.
Pros
- Turn into Iris's shadow to cross paths cast on the walls
- Black-and-white art mixing 2D and 3D
- Wide variety of puzzles for its length
Cons
- Short, at around four hours
- Very little player feedback available to judge puzzle fairness
- Quiet, abstract story with little dialogue
About
Solve clever puzzles and uncover an intriguing story full of mystery and wonder. With “light and shadow” as a core concept, Iris.Fall takes players on a monochrome adventure unlike any other.Story background:
After awakening from a dream, Iris follows a black cat into a dilapidated theater, traveling back and forth through a strange labyrinth of light and shadow. As the story unfolds, Iris begins to realise that everything in this theater seems to have some kind of hidden connection to herself.Key Features
• Unique monochrome art style
The game’s visuals use a pure black-and-white cartoon style, relying on the transition between light and shadow to create a distinct experience, both exquisite and visually impactful.
• Fusing gameplay and the “light & shadow” system
The concept of “light and shadow” runs throughout the design of the game’s art, story, and puzzles. By switching between light and shadow, players can pass through the two realities, experiencing the unique interlacing of black and white, light and shadow, 2D and 3D.
• Immersive story experience
Become fully immersed in the plot through the stylized and suspenseful atmosphere of the setting and story. Progress in the game feels more like the player’s spiritual exploration.
