State of Mind

State of Mind won’t appeal to everyone, but when it plays to its strengths, it’s fantastic. The game delivers a strong story, striking visuals, a fascinating world, and memorable characters. Where it stumbles is in its puzzles. Daedalic Entertainment is best known for its 2D point and click adventures, and State of Mind is one of their first attempts at a fully 3D, third-person title. While most of the puzzles aren’t bad or even particularly difficult some feel tedious rather than engaging. Thankfully, they’re few and far between, so they don’t weigh down the overall experience too much. The story, however, is the game’s true strength. You piece together your past while searching for your family, and it’s both compelling and unsettling. Richard Nolan, the protagonist, is one of the most unlikable leads I’ve ever played. I’ve role played characters who slit throats for coin and still found more to like about them than Richard. He’s childish, selfish, and treats others poorly, rarely showing humility unless the player forces it through dialogue choices. If that dislike was intentional, then the developers succeeded brilliantly he’s a fascinatingly flawed character.
The supporting cast is much more engaging. Lydia, in particular, stood out to me thanks to a disturbing VR cam girl sequence that remains one of the creepiest moments I’ve experienced in a game. Across the board, the characters are well written, the dialogue is sharp, and the choices feel meaningful, giving the player a sense of control over the story’s direction. Visually, State of Mind strikes a unique balance between celshading and realism. Characters and clothing lean toward a stylized look, while the environments embrace detail and atmosphere. The result is a striking aesthetic, whether it’s a lived in apartment or the rain soaked sidewalks of Queens, New York. The world feels alive, and the voice acting adds weight to the narrative.

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.

All happy virtual realities are alike; each unhappy reality is unhappy in its own way.

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%

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.

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!

State of Mind is an ambitious narrative-driven adventure that dares to tackle some of the most pressing existential questions of our age: identity, consciousness, transhumanism and the blurred boundaries between reality and simulation. Developed by Daedalic Entertainment, it offers a slow-burning, cerebral experience that rewards patience and introspection over action and spectacle.

Set in a sleek yet melancholic vision of Berlin in 2048, the game introduces Richard Nolan, a jaded journalist recovering from a traumatic accident, only to find his life unraveling in increasingly surreal ways. The story soon branches into a dual-reality narrative, involving another character in a utopian virtual world, raising unsettling questions about memory, agency and what it truly means to be human.

Visually, State of Mind is striking. Its low-poly art style may initially seem minimalist, but it quickly proves to be a deliberate aesthetic choice that reinforces the themes of fragmentation and distorted perception. The environments are richly detailed and the lighting design evokes a persistent sense of disquiet.

Gameplay-wise, it functions more as an interactive graphic novel than a traditional game. Puzzles are sparse and simple, often serving the narrative more than challenging the player. Some may find the pacing sluggish, but others will appreciate the thoughtful tempo, allowing complex ideas to breathe.

Voice acting is strong across the board, though occasional stiffness in dialogue writing can slightly undercut emotional impact. Still, the overarching narrative is powerful, culminating in a finale that, while somewhat predictable, is thematically satisfying.

State of Mind doesn’t reinvent the narrative genre, but it contributes meaningfully to it. For players who value story, atmosphere and philosophical depth over gameplay complexity, it offers a compelling meditation on the digital age and the fragile constructs of selfhood.