Lacuna – A Sci-Fi Noir Adventure
Genres: Mystery, Sci-Fi, Story Rich, Thriller, Adventure
Play modes: singleplayer
Release Date: 20-5-2021
Developer: DigiTales Interactive
Our verdict
8/10
- Difficulty: Medium
- Players: 1
- Playtime: 5–7 h
Lacuna is a dialogue-driven detective adventure from DigiTales Interactive, set in a pixel-art sci-fi noir solar system on the edge of war. You play CDI agent Neil Conrad, investigating a murder that spirals into a political conspiracy. It suits solo players who want a story-first detective game with real consequences rather than inventory puzzles.
Players rate it Very Positive, with about 93 percent of over a thousand reviews in favour. You search scenes for clues, question witnesses and cross-check evidence, then fill in an evidence sheet and submit your conclusion. The twist is that there are no takebacks: wrong answers and hard moral choices stick and steer you toward one of several endings. Reviewers praise the pixel art, the soundtrack, the writing and the pacing, and several want to replay for other paths.
The caveats are scope and challenge. Levels are linear, the mysteries are not very hard, and one negative review found it slow and mostly reading. Some also felt the full price was high for its length. Buy it if you like Disco Elysium-light noir or choice-heavy detective stories, ideally on sale; skip it if you want tough logic puzzles.
Pros
- Evidence sheets with no takebacks make wrong conclusions stick
- Moral choices branch the story toward multiple endings
- Striking pixel-art cityscapes and a strong noir soundtrack
Cons
- Linear levels with little freedom to explore
- Mysteries are fairly easy for seasoned detective fans
- Mostly reading; one reviewer found the pace slow
About
Another cigarette tumbles into the abyss.
The sun is slowly coming up, glistening in the sea of buildings below.
I look up at the stars one last time before they disappear.They don't provide any guidance. They don't give a f*ck.
I have to make this decision on my own, and very soon.Problem is, I don't know how. I've never been able to figure out why I do what I do. Not really.
No more time to think. I have to go.Here's the deal
You are Neil Conrad, CDI agent. Awoken by the news of a murder, you rush into a case that will soon turn your life and the whole solar system upside down. Ask questions, collect evidence, and put the pieces together until the ugly truth reveals itself... or not.
No takebacks
The story branches and ends based on your actions. There's no going back. Sure, you can rush your way to the end – if you don't mind paying the price. Play your cards right, and you might make it out alive.
How far will you go?
Some questions don't have a right answer. Will you sell out a friend to protect your family? Will you endanger a loved one in exchange for public safety? Will you keep the peace or reveal the horrible, world-shattering truth?
Hungry for Point & Click Adventure?
While the classics were great in their time, Lacuna does away with the baggage of many adventure game tropes:
Pointing & clicking Platformer movement controls (WASD / controller)
Selecting all dialog options one by one anyway Non-repeating conversations and choices
Inventory management and counter-intuitive puzzles Immersive, story-driven mysteries
Pixel hunting Optional outlines on anything interactable
Story grinds to a halt at every puzzle can always be driven forward
"x will remember this" Real choices and multiple endings
