Photographs is a recent project by EightyEight Games, released April 3rd, 2019. The game features a collection of short stories, each paired with theme-related puzzle games. These stories form five chapters: The Alchemist, The Athlete, The Jailer, The Journalist, and The Preventer. Each chapter focuses on a different protagonist along with their own individual short story. Players will use a camera to photograph the lives and story progression of each main character, as well as uncovering their stories by playing through the increasingly difficult puzzles.
Each chapter is narrated by its corresponding main character. The Alchemist is narrated by, well, an alchemist who is living in the woods with his daughter. He sells cures out of the comfort of his home. The puzzles paired with this chapter involve moving figures of the alchemist and his daughter through a field that becomes even more dangerous as you venture on.
The next four chapters follow a similar pattern. The Athlete is narrated by a young girl on a diving team, who is afraid of disappointing her teammates. The Jailer is told from the point of view of a native living in the West, and his interactions with the new settlers. The Journalist is told by a grandson who has inherited his grandfather’s paper business. And finally, The Preventer is told by a young girl accepted into a magic school. Each is also paired with a set of puzzles reflecting its corresponding theme.
Players can appreciate the art style, the score, and the intriguing storylines of these characters as they remember and reflect on the monumental moments in their lives through the use of photography. So what becomes of these characters? If you want to know how it ends, you can find Photographs on Steam as well as iOS devices. There may possibly be an Android version in the works for the future.