Still Life (GOG)

A pair of linked serial-murder investigations drives this dark, story-first adventure through wintry modern Chicago and 1920s Prague. FBI agent Victoria McPherson follows a killer whose ritualistic crimes leave investigators with more questions than evidence, while an old case file pulls her into the unfinished work of her grandfather, private detective Gustav McPherson. The two timelines steadily echo one another, giving the mystery a satisfying generational scope rather than treating its murders as simple shock material. Still Life carries the somber, cinematic mood associated with classic European adventure games, with detailed locations, grim crime scenes, and a plot that is more interested in suspects and secrets than action.

Most of the play revolves around examining environments, questioning characters, collecting evidence, and combining inventory items to overcome practical obstacles. Control alternates between Victoria’s Chicago investigation and Gustav’s Prague case, so clues, locations, and perspectives gradually build toward the same larger answer. Puzzles are woven directly into detective work, asking players to search carefully, decode information, manipulate objects, and occasionally handle more traditional adventure-game challenges such as locks, machinery, and item combinations. There is no combat system or character leveling; progress comes from observation and persistence, and some of the older puzzle logic can be demanding enough to reward note-taking.

Its strongest feature is the dual-era structure, which makes every new revelation feel like part of a case that has haunted one family for decades. The fixed-camera presentation and richly modeled backgrounds show their age, but they still create an oppressive noir atmosphere, especially in Prague’s shadowy streets and Chicago’s cold interiors. Expect mature themes and disturbing murder imagery, though the focus remains on suspense rather than constant gore. Fans of Syberia, Broken Sword, and classic point-and-click mysteries will find a substantial, slow-burn investigation here, while newcomers should be ready for deliberately paced exploration and a few stubborn old-school puzzles.