※ [겜ㅊㅊ]is a corner that recommends games that gamers can enjoy according to a special theme every week.
Several days after the Black Room, another void in the universe occurred. This is because of the news about the end of service in the gray city. Gray City is a mystery adventure game provided for free through the official website upon release. It attracted attention by interestingly solving a genre that is rare in Korea as a group drama. However, after the news of the server shutdown on the 29th, existing users expressed a lot of regret. The previous work, Black Room, also became a game that could no longer be played after the service ended.
So this time, to alleviate this worry, I would like to present a collection of mystery adventures that focus on group dramas that give a similar feeling to the gray city. Excluded a number of times because they were too obvious.
1. Fata Morgana Mansion
The first game to be introduced is Pata Morgana Mansion. This is the most recommended work for those who like extensive and rich stories and a detailed examination of the emotional lines between characters. It features omnibus-style development and an immersive OST, and stories that took place in different times and spaces. Through this process, the player gradually learns about himself and the curse that has been tied in the mansion by a person who has lost his memory.
Pata Morgana’s Mansion is a game released in 2012, and it is a game that has attracted attention for its classic illustrations and its different emotions that are rare in visual novels. The fact that it leads to linear development and the fact that there are ‘too many’ texts are the main factors that divide likes and dislikes. However, in 2021, the current generation console port was released, and at the time of its release, it achieved 96 points in Metacritic and 8.6 points in user evaluation, and the game itself is an excellent work.
2. The Secret of the Dusk Hotel
Hotel Dusk’s Secret from 2007 is also one of the recommended games. It’s fun to observe others from a third person perspective, listen to their stories, find hidden secrets, and watch events come together through their stories. The unique art that enhances the atmosphere and the truth of the event intertwined with the unique humid atmosphere appealed to the charm, so you can see people looking for second-hand products even after 16 years.
However, Hotel Dusk’s Secret has only one downside. It’s hard to get hold of because it was only released on NDS, and used packs are also expensive. Still, it’s not completely gone, so I think how lucky I am to be able to enjoy the game. The sequel, Last Window: Midnight Promise, is also a highly acclaimed work, so we recommend you try it together.
3. A wolf among us
The next game is Wolf Among Us, a game set in modern New York where many fairy tale characters live. You can see Bigby Wolf, the huge wolf sheriff roaming the city, revealing the dirty stories hidden in the city one by one. In this process, you can see how the main characters in the fairy tales who escaped from the original fairy tales fall and change as they come to grips with the city and society.
Released in 2013, this game is rated M based on the ESRB, and since it is a game not available for young people, it clearly depicts the deep and dark side of New York. The next game, Wolf Among Us 2, is expected to be released within the year. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of story will be drawn this time.
4. Danganronpa series
The Danganronpa series are games with the common goal of finding the criminal behind a murder in an abandoned school. As it is a work with a special feel, the atmosphere may be a bit light compared to other mystery adventure games, but the elements of depicting emotional exchanges and conflicts in group theater are second to none. In addition, it is also characterized by the fact that you can build a good feeling apart from the unique characters and story.
Unlike other games in the Danganronpa series, the way you jump into reasoning is a little more direct and visually spectacular. The unique system that shows in the process of finding the criminal through the collected clues and refuting logical errors has confirmed the characteristics of the series. This game is recommended for those who want to jump directly into the story rather than waiting for the story to develop.
5. Heavy Rain
The last game we would recommend is Heavy Rain. In terms of gameplay, it is slightly different to Gray City, but the story and atmosphere are similar in that various people look at an event from their own eyes and the truth is woven about an event in the past. If you’re a person who enjoyed looking at events from their own perspectives and environments and piecing together clues in the process, Heavy Rain would also be a great alternative.
Set in Philadelphia, players become men in search of a serial killer, the Origami Killer, as they journey towards the truth with their own eyes. However, if there are any downsides, motion capture is a bit awkward and there are too many QTEs as it was released in 2010. However, I think the gradual approach to the middle of the event while slowly listening to the a story that flows and various branches convey good cheer to those who like stories and considerations.
