Before I Forget
- April 29, 2021
- 3-Fold Games
Although very short, Before I Forget’s emotional highs and lows are enough to make any player care for Sunita, and feel the plight of those who suffer like her.
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Get on Xbox Games Store"Before I Forget" is a poignant narrative-driven game that explores the mind of Sunita, a woman dealing with early onset dementia. Players uncover the story of Sunita's life and memories by interacting with objects and spaces in her home. With no combat or puzzles, the game focuses on the emotional impact of memory loss, as players experience firsthand the struggle and heartbreak of a fading mind.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Linux
Xbox
Reviews
- Before I Forget delivers a beautifully crafted and emotionally impactful narrative that sensitively explores the experience of dementia.
- The game's art style, music, and voice acting create a hauntingly immersive atmosphere that enhances the storytelling.
- Despite its short playtime, the game effectively conveys deep emotional connections and leaves a lasting impression on players.
- The gameplay is quite simple and linear, which may leave some players wanting more interactivity and challenge.
- The story is predictable and can feel melodramatic at times, potentially detracting from the overall experience.
- Some players found the pacing slow and the character movement cumbersome, which can disrupt immersion.
- story149 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Before I Forget" is a poignant exploration of a woman with dementia, skillfully revealing her emotional connections and memories through interactive storytelling. While the narrative is touching and beautifully crafted, many reviewers noted its predictability and brevity, with some wishing for deeper gameplay integration. Overall, the game is praised for its heartfelt portrayal of loss and memory, making it a compelling experience for fans of narrative-driven games.
“Before I Forget tells a beautiful story with fantastic voice acting, sound design, music, visuals, and that nebulous 'feel.' It takes cues from other walking sims in its atmosphere but presents something entirely new, unique, and moving.”
“Through its immersive storytelling, it sheds light on the human experience of Alzheimer's disease, serving as a powerful reminder to cherish our memories and the connections we hold dear.”
“Playing as Sunita and slowly remembering her life story all while having to navigate her home as a person with dementia was an interesting glance into what some people with dementia may experience in their daily lives.”
“Having said that, the game suffers from poor voice acting and a predictable story.”
“The story is extremely predictable and boring.”
“There is nothing to solve here, just go to the next place and click on an object to get a voice line and a picture that moves the story forward.”
- emotional57 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
"Before I Forget" is a deeply emotional walking simulator that explores the poignant themes of dementia, love, and memory through the story of a woman named Sunita. Players are taken on a touching journey that evokes genuine empathy and reflection, often leading to tears as they navigate her fragmented memories. Despite its brief runtime of around 45 minutes, the game delivers a powerful and heartfelt experience that resonates with anyone familiar with the impact of Alzheimer's disease.
“Before I Forget is a captivating and thought-provoking indie game that takes players on an emotional journey through the mind of a woman named Sunita, who is dealing with early-onset Alzheimer's disease.”
“Dementia not only affects the person but everyone around them too; this game conveyed those tragic fragmented memories perfectly. It's amazing how thought-provoking and emotionally pulling a game can be in just under one hour.”
“Although very short, Before I Forget’s emotional highs and lows are enough to make any player care for Sunita and feel the plight of those who suffer like her.”
- music52 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in "Before I Forget" is widely praised for its haunting beauty and ability to enhance the game's introspective exploration of themes like dementia and memory loss. Reviewers highlight the minimalist art style and original soundtrack as key elements that create a melancholic atmosphere, although some critique the execution of piano music as lacking authenticity. Overall, the sound design, including voice acting and ambient music, contributes significantly to the emotional depth and narrative experience of the game.
“The minimalist art style, accompanied by a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, sets the tone for an introspective exploration of a fragile mind.”
“Before I Forget tells a beautiful story with fantastic voice acting, sound design, music, visuals, and that nebulous 'feel.' It takes cues from other walking sims in its atmosphere but presents something entirely new, unique, and moving.”
“I've also found it disturbing that the husband of the lady was a famous piano player, and the piano music execution in the game is a bit amateurish. No offense to the composer; I'm not discussing his artistic capabilities, I'm just saying that one of the most famous piano players in the world wouldn't play like that.”
“If you have a classical musician in a soap opera, he won't play actual classical music; he would play some sort of easy listening music resembling classical music instead.”
“The haunting soundtrack heightens the melancholic atmosphere, capturing the confusion and melancholy associated with memory loss.”
- graphics38 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics in this game are characterized by a minimalist and stylized art style that effectively conveys themes of memory and introspection, enhancing the emotional experience of the narrative. Players appreciate the beautiful visuals and how they creatively unfold alongside the story, with many noting the effective use of color and design to symbolize the protagonist's struggles. Overall, the graphics, while simple, are well-executed and complement the haunting soundtrack, contributing to a unique and moving gameplay experience.
“The minimalist art style, accompanied by a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, sets the tone for an introspective exploration of a fragile mind.”
“The visuals are used incredibly effectively to allow the user to experience something unlike any other game I've played, especially in sections towards the end of the story.”
“Before I Forget tells a beautiful story with fantastic voice acting, sound design, music, visuals, and that nebulous 'feel.' It takes cues from other walking sims in its atmosphere but presents something entirely new, unique, and moving.”
“Graphics don't matter in this game.”
“The visuals are well done and creatively implemented (only appearing once the memory is re-established).”
“Graphics get the job done and the music is excellent.”
- gameplay30 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Before I Forget" is characterized by its simplicity and focus on storytelling, utilizing point-and-click mechanics to engage players in the protagonist's experience with Alzheimer's disease. While the game is brief, lasting about an hour, it effectively maintains emotional impact through exploration and interaction, despite some critiques regarding its limited interactivity and unconventional control methods. Overall, it is praised as a poignant walking simulator that prioritizes narrative over complex gameplay.
“You move through the environment using point-and-click mechanics, allowing you to interact with various objects to trigger memories or gain insight into Sunita's past.”
“This is peak walking sim, good writing, satisfying gameplay (interacting with things colors in some of the house, which is kind of an awesome idea) and while I didn't cry, I felt something.”
“Unfortunately, while you feel for the main character, the gameplay leaves a fair amount to be desired.”
“Gameplay is very slow, and the game implements very unorthodox ways to control the player by placing illogical obstacles in the world and by changing mouse sensitivity and movement speed constantly.”
“While 'Before I Forget' primarily focuses on storytelling and exploration, the gameplay mechanics are deliberately simple to ensure that players remain engrossed in the narrative.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "Before I Forget" is characterized by a haunting soundtrack and evocative visuals that effectively convey themes of memory loss and melancholy. Players appreciate the game's ability to shift its atmosphere through flashbacks, enhancing the emotional depth of the narrative. Overall, the combination of sound design, graphics, and storytelling creates a unique and immersive experience that resonates with players.
“Before I Forget tells a beautiful story with fantastic voice acting, sound design, music, visuals, and that nebulous 'feel.' It takes cues from other walking sims in its atmosphere but presents something entirely new, unique, and moving.”
“The haunting soundtrack heightens the melancholic atmosphere, capturing the confusion and melancholy associated with memory loss.”
“I love the graphics and the concept of the atmosphere changing after you achieve flashbacks; it's great symbolism for what Sunita is going through.”
“Before I Forget tells a beautiful story with fantastic voice acting, sound design, music, visuals, and that nebulous 'feel.' It takes cues from other walking sims in its atmosphere, but presents something entirely new, unique, and moving.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users consistently highlight the game's "infinitely replayable" nature, indicating that it offers a compelling experience that encourages multiple playthroughs. This aspect significantly enhances its long-term appeal and engagement.
“The game is infinitely replayable, offering new experiences with each playthrough.”
“I love how the game is infinitely replayable; there's always something new to discover.”
“With its infinitely replayable nature, I find myself coming back to this game time and time again.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally solid, with only very occasional and brief performance slowdowns reported. However, players note that the experience is limited in scope and relatively short.
“The game suffers from very occasional and brief performance slowdowns, which detracts from the overall experience.”
“The limited scope of the game feels underwhelming, and the short experience leaves much to be desired.”
“Optimization issues make it hard to fully enjoy the game, as the performance dips can be quite jarring.”
Critic Reviews
Review – Before I Forget
Although very short, Before I Forget’s emotional highs and lows are enough to make any player care for Sunita, and feel the plight of those who suffer like her.
90%Before I Forget Review
Before I Forget is a strong, concise story tracing a woman suffering from dementia as she slowly uncovers pieces of herself as well as the story framed within this mental health journey. It doesn't waste players' time with a run-time that doesn't overstay its welcome, helped by a protagonist that doesn't divulge too much information when she speaks.
80%Before I Forget Review
As onlookers, none of us can ever really know what it’s like to suffer from dementia.
80%
