State of Mind
Berlin, 2048 – The world is on the brink. Lack of resources, illnesses caused by polluted air and water, crime on the rise, war. Governments and companies promise remedies through technological progress. Drones and humanoid robots replace humans in the public sector, everything is interconnected, surveillance has become omnipresent. Richard Nolan is one of the few journalists openly criticizing this development. When he wakes up in hospital after an explosion and finds that his wife and son have mysteriously vanished, Richard realizes: he and his family have become more than just bystanders in a storm of rivaling ideas pertaining humankind’s salvation between dystopian reality and digital utopia. Instead, they find themselves right at the center of it.
Game Discussion
Steam User 7
In the cyberpunk adventure game State of Mind, you live in two realities.
The game's plot takes you to Berlin in the year 2048, where the poor survive in the dirty streets, the elite feast on caviar on the upper floors, and heartless androids live, work, and maintain order everywhere. You will have two roles in this game.
While in the dark streets you will solve your own and global problems in the shoes of journalist and technology critic Richard Nolan, in the virtual city of City 5 you will meet Adam Newman. Both protagonists are connected by a mystery that permeates both of their worlds.
The game looks at the issues of two different worlds and the lords living in them from many different perspectives. You will even occasionally jump into so-called mementos - playable memories of the past that will help you understand the present future in the game. In any case, it will be a narrative on a very personal level.
The relationship between two opposing worlds, and indeed both protagonists, is at the heart of the game. But State of Mind is not primarily a thriller about the technologies of the future, but about the people who have to live in it. 30%
Steam User 13
All happy virtual realities are alike; each unhappy reality is unhappy in its own way.
Steam User 5
I bought this game a few years ago—probably around the time I got really into interactive movie-style games after playing The Walking Dead and Detroit: Become Human.
Due to personal circumstances, I hadn’t been able to play it until now. Originally, I planned to play for about an hour a day and finish it in 10 days to 2 weeks. But I got so drawn into the story that I ended up finishing it over the weekend. (I’m the type who likes to explore everything thoroughly, so my total playtime was around 15 hours.)
It exceeded my expectations—the story was incredibly engaging. At first, I didn’t like the polygon-style graphics, but they ended up fitting the mood of the game perfectly.
There were a few downsides though. (I played it on Steam Deck.)
1. The character movement felt a bit clunky.
2. The game froze (soft-locked) about 4 or 5 times before I reached the ending. I had to quit and restart the game each time. Since there’s no manual save system, I had to replay some parts. Fortunately, the sections were fairly short, so I didn’t lose much progress.
3. Some of the puzzle-solving or interactive mini-game sections were awkward to control—possibly due to the Steam Deck's controller. There were no issues with regular gameplay, though.
4. The achievements felt a bit uninspired. For example, staying in a certain area for over 25 minutes, or rejecting every request from a particular character. As much as I enjoyed the game itself, I didn’t feel motivated to 100% the achievements.
As some of users have mentioned in the comments, this game is definitely underrated. I was surprised to see how few people have played it. I really hope more people give this game a chance.
Steam User 6
Not so much of a game but more of an interactive movie or a walking simulator with some (very) light exploration, stealth and puzzle aspects; it is heavily story and narrative driven, not necessarily a bad thing, just don't expect a game like Deus Ex. You are thrust into a futuristic and dystopian world in the lives of two characters and live through their ordeals. Choices don't matter much, just sit back and enjoy the show.
While this game came out several years ago, it is now more than ever relevant - especially with the recent advances of AI, it dives into several philosophical topics such as existentialism, transhumanism, eugenics, and free will. If you enjoy a good book or story, you will enjoy this masterpiece.
Steam User 6
Really great game! Awesome story! Don't let the style of graphics put you off like it almost did me. I didn't want it to end. Played really well in VR using UEVR. I ended up finishing the game on desktop/pancake though. Definitely recommend!
Steam User 4
Narrative-driven dystopian adventure game.
Really intriguing story and unique visual style but with some pacing issues, lack of engaging gameplay and a rushed final act.
Some characters feel shallow and underdeveloped.
Steam User 3
This is more like an interactive movie than a game. It is filled with long cutscenes and despite its seeming openness, little that you do actually influences anything. The story is good.