Full-motion video games, also known asFMVs, were popularized in the 1990s with games likePhantasmagoriaandNight Trap.Instead of using renderings or computer-generated visuals, FMVs featured pre-recorded videos for cutscenes and character animations. This allowed developers of the time to create the most immersive experience they could, especially onPC, given the limitations of the era.
Once computers and consoles became more powerful and hardware became better able to process and create computer graphics, FMVs became less popular and eventually fell into obscurity. There were a handful of noteworthy FMVs in the 2000s and early 2010s, like the genre-bendingHer Storyand remakes of classics like the cyberpunk detectiveTex Murphyfranchise. However, in recent years,FMVs have experienced a comeback, and there are now many excellent games that rely on videoto tell a story using a blend of movies and video games.
10Late Shift (2017)
A High-Stakes Thriller With Seven Possible Endings
Late Shiftfeels like an interactive movie, akin to the Netflix hit interactive filmBandersnatch. The movie-like feel may be due to the fact that the game waspenned by one of the writers of the 2009 Guy RitchieSherlock Holmesfilm, Michael R. Jones, along with game director Tobias Weber. The crime thriller throws players into the midst of a London heist in the role of Matt, a student who wants no part in the robbery but is forced to go along with it.
The Isle Tide Hotel Review: Adequate FMV
The Isle Tide Hotel is an interactive FMV mystery game that presents some interesting ideas with a talented cast, but it could use more depth.
Decisions matter inLate Shift,with certain small details potentially affecting something later in the game. In a unique twist, the game doesn’t pause the action to allow players to make a decision. Instead, the footage continues to run,forcing players to think on the fly without breaking the immersion. There are seven different endings inLate Shift,and player decisions can send them careening toward any of them.
9Five Hearts Under One Roof (2024)
A Dating Game From The Perspective Of The Protagonist
While FMVs have had their ups and downs in the past two decades, romance games and dating sims have remained popular throughout. It was only a matter of time, then, that the two types of games merged, andFive Hearts Under One Roofis an example of how this looks. The game is told from the literal point of view of Yuman, whounexpectedly finds himself running a boarding house with five female guests.
More and more first-person dating sims are using video footage instead of artwork or animations. This particular game ispraised by fans for its sweet storytelling and developed characters. Each of the five love interests brings a unique personality to the table, and the FMV aspect makes these fictional girls feel even more alive and realistic.
8The Shapeshifting Detective (2018)
Solve Crimes As A Detective With A Uniquely Useful Ability
In thisfantasy-noir detective tale, players must uncover the mystery of Dorota Shaw’s death. To do so, they’ll need to use the grizzled detective’s special skill: the ability to change his form into other characters. Shapeshifting turns out to be quite a useful skill to have when investigating a mystery, andusing the form of certain characters unlocks hidden conversationsthat the detective wouldn’t otherwise be privy to.
The entire game plays out via recorded FMV scenes shot in HD, so players can feel like they’re playing a role in a movie.There are over 1600 scenes that can potentially occur, depending on how the detective uses his shapeshifting and observational skills. What’s more, there’s no way to cheat and look up the answer online thanks to a unique mechanic — the murderer is randomly selected when the game begins, creating a supremely replayable experience.
7The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story (2022)
A Mystery Of Life And Death Through Generations
When novelist Haruka Kagami comes to the home of the Shijima family, she expects to investigate only one case — that of the mysterious skeleton found at the base of a tree on the family’s estate. Instead, she finds herselfsucked into a series of murders spanning a century and multiple generations. Behind it all is the rumored fruit of youth allegedly possessed by the Shijimas, and the mysterious “Scarlet Camellia,” who is slowly taking out members of the family one by one over the course of a hundred years.
The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story Review - FMV Detective Simulator
Good acting and interesting mechanics make The Centennial Case: A Shijima Story worth playing for anyone who enjoys picking apart a clever mystery.
The Centennial Case, developed byindustry giant Square Enix, features aunique system of phases that has players investigate, reason, and resolve each mysteryby literally putting clues together. The epic tale is elevated by the cast of actors, who masterfully play the roles of different characters in the various periods when each case takes place.
6Death Come True (2020)
Death Is Only The Beginning
While most other games have players avoiding death,Death Come Trueturns death scenes into collectible items. There are16 different ways to die, each one causing the story loop to restart and giving players a chance to try again and make new choices. The FMV has a compelling and gripping story written by the creator ofDanganronpa, Kazutaka Kodaka, that delves into some interesting themes using a small cast of characters and a claustrophobic setting.
The game is told from thepoint of view of the main character, who wakes up in a strange hotel withno memory of how he got there and no idea what’s happening. The only thing they do know is that there’s a manhunt out for a serial killer who looks alarmingly similar to him. Stuck in the confines of the hotel, the main character sets out to meet the other residents of the hotel, figure out who he can trust, and prove his innocence — or die trying.
5428: Shibuya Scramble (2018)
A Tangled Story Of Fate And Odd Characters
An unlikely cast of characters isthrown together by fate when they all somehow get involved in a kidnapping. This Choose-Your-Own-Adventure-style game follows a detective, former delinquent, researcher for a big pharma manufacturer, and a part-time worker stuck in a cat mascot costume. The situations are just as absurd as the cast of characters, ultimately leading to some insane moments, tangled storytelling, as well as plenty of shenanigans and hilarity.
The game’s video segments were filmed in real-world locations, includingfamous spots around Tokyolike the well-known Shibuya Crossing. The game also uses aunique mechanic that lets players see how their choices tie together, since a seemingly innocuous decision made by one character can have a direct impact on another character.
4Not For Broadcast (2022)
A Deceptively Simple Game With A Powerful Message
Some things are not meant to be seen by the general public. InNot for Broadcast, it’s the player’s job to make sure that the people watching on their televisions at home are not exposed to potentially damaging or “troublesome” content. A new political party has come into power and the regular news editor is MIA, so it’s up to the janitor to take over the duties ofediting videos as they’re broadcast. Players will need tochoose whether they want to help or hinder the government by carefully controlling the contentbeing shown to citizens.
The setup for the FMV is incredibly simple, but the game becomes more and more complex as players have tomake quick decisions about what to censor and what to allow people to hear.The entire game takes place in the editing booth, but every action (or inaction) on the player’s part can have drastic consequences. There are over 42 hours of FMV scenes, a narrative imbued with dark humor, and musical numbers. The story is in the hands of the player, with their decisions leading to one of 14 different endings.
3Breakout 13 (2023)
A Fictional Retelling Of A True Story
The main character ofBreakout 13is a gamer who’s sent to a correctional facility to “cure” him of his addiction. Unsurprisingly, it’s not all sunshine and roses in this place whereelectrotherapy and other experimental methods are ruthlessly implemented on teenagers who like to play video games. Even more troubling is thatBreakout 13was inspired by the real-world Chinese doctor Yang Yongxin, who earned the name “Shock Madman Yang” thanks to his unconventional methods of “treating” internet addiction in young people.
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The game plays out like an interactive movie, but it alsoemploys elements of video games that aren’t often used in FMVs. As the main character explores the truth behind the institute, helps his friends, and seeks a way out, players will have to engage with the game by completing quick-time events, solving puzzles, employing surveillance tactics, and more. Every decision and action matters in this title, which boasts thousands of branching story moments and multiple endings. Players should be warned that due to the realistic setting and themes of psychological manipulation, this game can be triggering or tough to stomach for some.
2Simulacra (2018) & Simulacra 2 (2020)
Found Phone Horror And A Statement About Social Media
In the first “found footage” horror title,Simulacra, players find the phone of a woman named Anna. The phone contains a video of the young woman asking for help, which begins the route to uncovering the mystery of what happened to her.Players can realistically interact with the phone, messaging and calling Anna’s friends, browsing her photo gallery and emails, watching her videos, and even recovering deleted and lost files to piece together what happened to Anna before it’s too late.
There is a third Simulacra game, as well, but it wasn’t as popular or well-received as the other two.
The sequel follows up on the first game with a new case. This time, players are recruited by adetective who’s investigating the suspicious death of a social media influencer.Once again, players are granted access to the character’s phone, this time with a more modern interface, more apps, a larger cast of characters to investigate, and an even more compelling narrative. It may be too late for the victim this time, but at least she can rest in peace with her crime solved.
1Immortality (2022)
The Tale Of The Disappearing Movie Star
WhenHer Storycame out in 2015, it made a splash in the video game community. The narrative-driven game, created and directed by Sam Barlow, told its tale through “found footage”-style video interviews and clips. The game was highly successful and waspraised for its unconventional storytelling style and gameplay.
Immortalityis a more recent FMV game by Barlow, and it continues the creator’s tendency to play with the format of a video game and narrative experience. The story is about the film actress Marissa Marcel who starred in three movies that were never released. And then she disappeared.Players uncover Marissa’s story and what became of her through snippets of her moviesin another brilliant twist onFull-motion video game (FMV)video game narratives by Barlow.
