Twin Mirror

About

"Twin Mirror is a single-player mystery action game with a gripping psychological thriller storyline.Play as Sam Higgs, an investigative journalist returning to his hometown, forced to confront his past while uncovering the town's dark secrets.Experience a rich narrative, exploring evocative locations and intriguing characters, using Sam's unique intellectual abilities to visualize memories and make deductions."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 477 reviews

story176 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

The game features a compelling story that keeps players engaged throughout the experience.
Visually stunning graphics and well-designed environments enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
The mind palace mechanic adds an interesting layer to the gameplay, allowing players to explore the protagonist's psyche.

The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 5-7 hours, which may not justify the full price.
Character development is lacking, making it difficult for players to form emotional connections with them.
Many choices feel inconsequential, leading to a sense of linearity and predictability in the story.

story
484 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
57%
7%
The story of "Twin Mirror" is generally described as engaging yet flawed, with many reviewers noting its predictability and rushed pacing. While some players appreciated the character development and emotional depth, others criticized the lack of meaningful choices and underdeveloped plotlines, leading to a sense of missed potential. Overall, it offers a compelling narrative experience for fans of story-driven games, but it may not meet the expectations set by other titles from the same developer.
- “The story is very intriguing and character-focused, with a darker tone.”
- “This game storytelling impressed me; I could connect with Sam, the main character, on so many levels.”
- “The atmosphere, the choices, and the way the story unfolds are all worth experiencing.”
- “The story is not even average though.”
- “The story feels a bit rushed and I didn't get to know the characters as much as I would have liked to, but overall I did still enjoy my time with the game and look forward to trying out more of their future projects.”
- “The plot is rather slow-paced and it lacks those factors that stimulate your brain, that tingly sensation that a murder mystery should give you.”
gameplay
129 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
64%
11%
The gameplay in "Twin Mirror" is primarily focused on exploration, interaction, and decision-making, featuring a unique "mind palace" mechanic that allows players to reconstruct memories and clues. While some players appreciate the engaging detective elements and polished visuals, many criticize the gameplay for being linear, repetitive, and lacking depth, with clunky controls and underutilized mechanics. Overall, the game offers a solid but unremarkable experience, appealing mainly to fans of narrative-driven titles.
- “A lot of narrative-heavy games can feel like you just walk around, make choices during cutscenes, and look at objects, so I enjoyed that there were lots of more active gameplay elements in this game.”
- “This game has a unique 'mind palace' mechanic, where Sam processes memories and explores alternate possibilities to piece together clues.”
- “While the game may not boast revolutionary mechanics or groundbreaking innovations, it succeeds in providing a solid foundation for an engaging playthrough.”
- “The gameplay is incredibly lame, the game progresses slowly, the characters are uninteresting, the rooms are always very limited and yet you're running around in circles the whole time and the plot is the uninteresting classic from every police film/series you've seen 100 times already.”
- “The gameplay consists mostly of exploring small areas, finding clues, but it feels very linear and the choices don't affect how the story plays out until the end.”
- “Overall, I'd rate this game a 3/10 due to the bugs, weak story, boring gameplay, and because it is an overall lazy effort from an otherwise good developer.”
graphics
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
44%
7%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals, detailed art style, and atmospheric settings that enhance the narrative experience. However, some players note that certain animations appear stiff and dated, and there are criticisms regarding the reuse of graphic assets and a lack of innovation compared to previous titles. Overall, while the graphics are generally well-received, there are calls for improvements in character animations and optimization.
- “The art style for the mind palace concept is stunning, with the constant fragmenting and reflective styles of things.”
- “Visually, Twin Mirror uses a detailed art style and atmospheric settings to heighten the sense of mystery; the game is suited for fans of narrative adventures who enjoy branching storylines with moral consequences.”
- “The graphics are stunning, the voice acting was on point, and the story was very compelling.”
- “Graphic assets reused constantly like wall paintings, story points reused from a different game.”
- “On the downside, I’d say the graphics could use some improvement; they’re not bad, but something feels lacking.”
- “Aside from the writing, the graphics are also a downgrade from 'Tell Me Why', which baffles me because they came out in the same year. While 'Tell Me Why' looks gorgeous, 'Twin Mirror' looks boring and even low-poly at times with some objects.”
music
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
42%
10%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth, while others find it forgettable and lacking in memorable tracks. Many players appreciate the quality of the soundtrack and sound design, noting that it complements the game's visuals and storytelling, though some feel it doesn't reach the heights of previous titles from the developer. Overall, while the music is generally considered good, it may not leave a lasting impression for all players.
- “The music and the atmosphere of this game is pretty nice; I really enjoy the dead-end little town vibe.”
- “The music does an excellent job of supporting the atmosphere, creating drama where appropriate, but never pushing into the foreground.”
- “Music and sound effects: Twin Mirror offers a fine assortment of good music and tunes which definitely impacts the immersion and replayability of the game, as the game comes with multiple endings.”
- “The story, the characters, the music, etc. are much more important, but in this game, we have nothing really memorable.”
- “-music: 3/10”
- “While the music isn't as good as in their previous games, it's still pretty good.”
atmosphere
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
29%
13%
The atmosphere in "Twin Mirror" is generally praised for its detailed art style, strong music, and immersive sound design, effectively enhancing the game's narrative and emotional depth. While many players appreciate the intriguing settings and well-crafted environments that evoke a small-town vibe, some find the overall atmosphere to be drab and uninviting, detracting from their enjoyment. Overall, the game successfully creates a compelling atmosphere that resonates with fans of narrative-driven adventures, though opinions on its effectiveness vary.
- “Visually, Twin Mirror uses a detailed art style and atmospheric settings to heighten the sense of mystery. The game is suited for fans of narrative adventures who enjoy branching storylines with moral consequences.”
- “The dialogues are well-written and the voice acting supports the atmosphere.”
- “The music does an excellent job of supporting the atmosphere, creating drama where appropriate, but never pushing into the foreground.”
- “The atmosphere is alright and some parts of the game are engaging, but it's not worth paying for at all, and as I reached the end, I just wanted it to be over.”
- “Additionally, the game's often drab atmosphere creates an uninviting world that many players simply won't enjoy immersing themselves in.”
- “Graphics are fine but don't have ones that will get your attention, unlike in 'Tell Me Why' or 'Life is Strange', but it does have the same atmosphere.”
emotional
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players praising powerful scenes and genuine moments, while others criticize the writing and character depth, leading to a lack of emotional connection. Notable highlights include a particularly impactful scene that resonates deeply, but overall, many feel the game falls short compared to other titles in delivering a consistently engaging emotional experience. While there are strong moments, the balance between emotional depth and narrative execution remains a point of contention among reviewers.
- “The scene where you have to definitively choose between a logical way of thinking and separating yourself from your 'mind place' partner's emotional side was one of the most incredibly powerful and beautiful scenes I have ever seen in media.”
- “Twin Mirror triumphs in both story and presentation, making it a beautiful emotional game, offering players freedom to choose their own path and lead to different conversations and multiple endings.”
- “The creators of Life is Strange managed to take what made that game great: emotional storytelling, strong characterization, a murder investigation, the image of rural America, and meaningful choices.”
- “Boring story, poorly written characters.”
- “Boring story, so just for that, I wouldn't say it's worth any money; go for it if you got it for free or in some leftover bundle.”
- “Too short with a mediocre, occasionally boring story.”
optimization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
Overall, "Twin Mirror" is reported to have good optimization on various systems, with users experiencing stable frame rates and smooth performance, particularly on higher-end hardware. However, some players noted significant performance drops on less optimized setups, indicating that the game may not be well-suited for all configurations. Additionally, there are criticisms regarding the dated graphics and subpar voice acting, suggesting that while the game runs well technically, it could benefit from further refinement in other areas.
- “This game is listed as 'verified' and here is my Steam Deck performance feedback after spending over 29 hours and getting 100% of the achievements.”
- “I also, even on my 3060m-based laptop (with an R5 5600H, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, Windows 11), did not have any performance issues here, easily maintaining a stable locked 45fps on my side.”
- “Didn't have any stutters, performance issues, or anything here at 1080p at 45fps - and yes, this was maxed out in its settings; this was butter smooth.”
- “Finally, there's the performance impact of a game not designed/optimized for SUW - we're talking a drop to 10fps average from a 160fps average at 'standard' resolutions.”
- “Performance is terrible.”
- “Also, to end this short review off, one will note when playing Twin Mirror that the graphics look dated and could use better overall optimization.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
63%
19%
Overall, "Twin Mirror" has mixed reviews regarding its replayability. While some players appreciate the different endings and the potential for varied choices, many feel that the game is too short and lacks substantial replay value due to its streamlined narrative and limited decision-making impact. Ultimately, the replayability is seen as dependent on individual player preferences, particularly for those who enjoy perfectionist achievements.
- “Important: the game's replayability is excellent, as players can make different choices on subsequent playthroughs, resulting in different outcomes (some don't even reveal the real bad guy).”
- “I love what this game did, and all in just 2 short sittings making it replayable, for sure.”
- “Quality game but criminally short, feel like it has some good replay value though.”
- “However, the game lacks replayability options.”
- “Choices matter and story-rich games are a lot of what I play and love, but this one just doesn't make the cut for me and doesn't have any replay value in my eyes.”
- “Despite having the potential to make more significant choices and diverging paths along the way, as a way to promote replayability, the game ultimately opts for a mostly streamlined main story that, no matter the choices, will end up in the same situations at the end of the day.”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while the main character receives some attention and the narrative is well-paced, the overall depth of character development is lacking, particularly for NPCs. Many players appreciate the story and voice acting, but the short length of the game limits the opportunity for more extensive character exploration. Overall, the focus on the main character's journey is evident, but it leaves much to be desired in terms of broader character growth.
- “It's a decent story-based experience with nicely paced narrative beats and good character design.”
- “Released on Steam, the game offers a single-player experience that focuses on story, character development, and decision-making.”
- “The story, character development, voice acting, and anything pertaining to that stuff is definitely on point and really good.”
- “Twin Mirror involves your typical cast of characters, but unlike some other games, there's really very little NPC character development.”
- “Exactly no character development at all, besides the main character, is shown.”
- “Unfortunately, because it's so short, we don't get that much character development.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
63%
Players express frustration with the grinding mechanics in the game, describing them as tedious and time-consuming, often detracting from the overall enjoyment of the story. While some eventually find engagement in the narrative, the repetitive tasks required for progress are seen as a significant drawback.
- “I just want a good story I can enjoy and no game mechanics that make getting through that story tedious.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's a tedious task; you basically try different things until you get it right.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
83%
The stability of the game is mixed, with some players reporting frustrating audio glitches and buggy UI, particularly towards the end. However, others have experienced no significant issues, especially on platforms like the Steam Deck, suggesting that while there are visual and functional glitches, they are often manageable and do not detract significantly from the overall experience.
- “No glitches, bugs, or crashes shall deter you.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any interruptions.”
- “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it never crashes.”
- “Towards the final act, there were some annoying and frustrating audio glitches such as random crackling that happened for about 15-20 minutes.”
- “Meh, low end be human, predictable, nothing unique in the story, buggy UI when accessing hot spots.”
- “Yes, there are visual glitches and some button malfunctions, but it is easily fixable.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is minimal, with only a few light moments, such as a Pac-Man mini-game in the early chapters. While it lacks a strong comedic presence, players who appreciate a slower-paced mystery narrative may still find it enjoyable.
- “If you want a 6-hour mystery game with a good narrative, some good humor, and don't mind taking things slowly, this is absolutely worth a play.”