Mind Diver

About

Mind Diver is a single player puzzle game. It was developed by Indoor Sunglasses and was released on June 22, 2022. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Restore a broken mind to solve a twisted case. Investigate a couple's most intimate moments and piece together the events of a fateful night. Pick what to investigate, deduce awful truths, and solve a dark mystery. But most of all, Mind Diver: find the lost love. Before it's too late.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 131 reviews

story52 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Engaging and emotional story that explores themes of grief, love, and memory, reminiscent of titles like 'Return of the Obra Dinn'.
Unique art style using photogrammetry that enhances the narrative experience and creates a surreal atmosphere.
Well-acted voice performances and a captivating soundtrack that complement the storytelling and keep players invested.

Puzzles are generally easy and may not provide enough challenge for players seeking complex problem-solving experiences.
The game is relatively short, lasting around 3-5 hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
Some players found the navigation and user interface clunky, which could detract from the overall experience.

story
115 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The game's story is widely praised for its emotional depth, focusing on themes of memories, love, and loss as players piece together a couple's relationship through interactive memory exploration. The narrative is engaging and well-acted, with a unique presentation that enhances the storytelling experience, although some players wished for more complexity or twists. Overall, it offers a heartfelt and immersive journey that resonates with players, making it a standout in the story-driven puzzle genre.
- “Awesome game with a deep story about memories, love, and loss.”
- “The story focuses on trying to piece together events of a particular night, but to do so you examine several points in a couple's relationship as well as what happened that night.”
- “It does a wonderful job of playing with the fragmented nature of memory while telling a tender story with just the right dash of intrigue.”
- “The story felt like it ended a bit abruptly, but maybe that's just me.”
- “The story was pretty well done, relatable characters, but the whole game felt a little rushed and I didn't love the way the puzzles worked out.”
- “My only complaint is that the companion character has a habit of summarizing plot points for you, which feels hand-holdy.”
graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
37%
10%
The game's graphics are widely praised for their unique art style, which combines photogrammetry and lidar techniques to create a surreal and engaging visual experience that complements its gripping narrative. Reviewers highlight the beautiful and coherent aesthetic, with memorable visuals that effectively convey the fragmented nature of the story. Overall, the graphics are considered a standout feature, enhancing the emotional depth and immersive quality of the gameplay.
- “The visuals are also striking and warped, really making everything feel surreal in a good way.”
- “The 3D scanned graphics have a lot of charm and are a clever way to construct a game environment.”
- “It's unique art style, awesome voice acting, and great storytelling all combine to make a truly unique experience.”
- “It's crazy that the thing that first drew me to this game - the weird polygonal visuals - is one of the things I remember least about it.”
- “The graphics... well they have done their own spin on the Obra Dinn and everything is rendered in the style of photogrammetry - like you took a 3D scan with your smartphone... (maybe they did).”
- “They’ve not just recreated PS1 graphics in the modern day; these are meticulously crafted 3D assets that really sell the experience of being inside someone’s bad memory of events.”
gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
The gameplay is praised for its innovative mechanics and strong narrative integration, offering a unique experience that emphasizes story alongside puzzles. While some players found the puzzles to be on the easier side, the intuitive design and compelling writing keep the gameplay engaging. Overall, it appeals to those who appreciate narrative-driven games, though puzzle enthusiasts might find it less challenging.
- “The gameplay is innovative, and you'll find yourself swimming in your mind.”
- “Fantastic writing and smart puzzle gameplay.”
- “Incredible voice acting, great gameplay, very strong story.”
- “It doesn't have the revolutionary triple-reveal mechanic, nor any kind of environmental storytelling or observation that was often crucial to the deductions.”
- “You will like this game if you enjoy stories, but if you're only here for the puzzles, you might become disappointed. It's not that they're easy; I regrettably spent more time than I'd like to admit on some of them, but rather it's a mechanic to uncover story bits.”
- “Instead, we get a narrative excuse for a game mechanic that doesn't need one, and a mystery that feels too coincidental to be believable.”
emotional
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotional depth, featuring a heartfelt narrative that explores themes of memory and relationships, complemented by strong voice acting and a captivating art style. Players experience a range of emotions, from joy to sadness, as they engage with the story and solve puzzles that enhance the emotional pacing. While some critiques mention the brevity of the game and occasional inconsistencies in voice acting, the overall emotional impact is considered profound and resonant.
- “Beautifully delivered, heartfelt voice acting, brilliant art style, with a soundtrack that will leave you with goosebumps, worth buying on its own.”
- “It explores themes of wanting to remember and forget the past, and it’s emotional and heartfelt.”
- “Art, voice acting, narrative, ambiance - everything just clicks to make such a strong emotional landscape.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
17%
18%
The music in the game has received high praise for its emotional depth and immersive quality, with many reviewers noting its ability to enhance the overall experience. While some found the soundtrack to be evocative and beautifully composed, others felt it was overshadowed by ambient sounds. Overall, the combination of strong music and effective sound design contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere.
- “Beautifully delivered, heartfelt voice acting, brilliant art style, with a soundtrack that will leave you with goosebumps, worth buying on its own.”
- “The music and sound design are very immersive and set the tone really well.”
- “I can't remember if there was any music now, or if it was all just ambient ocean sounds and diegetic music.”
- “I can't remember if there was any music now, or if it was all just ambient ocean sounds and diegetic music.”
- “The soundtrack is a little sad and evocative, fitting for the story.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive underwater setting, which enhances the engaging narrative and evokes a strong emotional response. Players appreciate the moody tone, excellent voice acting, and the effective integration of atmosphere with the story's poignant moments, contributing to a captivating experience.
- “The atmospheric tone of being underwater adds a cool vibe to the whole experience.”
- “The story is engaging, the atmosphere is cool, and it keeps you curious until the end.”
- “It's moody and atmospheric, and helps to drive home the poignant moments of the story.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the swimming sequences in the game to be initially engaging but ultimately tedious, as they disrupt the flow of gameplay and become a repetitive chore between puzzles.
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I found the grinding mechanics to be a major chore, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
- “After a while, the grinding becomes more of a slog than a fun challenge, leaving me frustrated.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy for the game has raised concerns among users, particularly due to the developers' extensive promotion on Reddit, with over half of their 52 posts referencing other popular titles like "Obra Dinn" and "Outer Wilds." This heavy reliance on advertising may suggest a focus on generating revenue rather than fostering a genuine community engagement.
- “The developers have made 52 advertising posts on Reddit, and of those, 25 reference 'Obra Dinn' or Lucas Pope in the title, which feels excessive and disingenuous.”
- “The monetization strategy seems overly aggressive, with constant prompts to spend money or watch ads, detracting from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see a game that could be great bogged down by a heavy focus on monetization, making it feel more like a cash grab than a genuine effort.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly on the Steam Deck, with vibrant visuals that enhance the experience, particularly on OLED screens. Players appreciate the strong character performances and engaging puzzles, contributing to an overall polished presentation.
- “Runs smoothly on the Steam Deck, and the color palette really pops on the OLED screen.”
- “The strong characters and their performances really anchor this, but I also liked the puzzles quite a bit.”