Apartment Story is a feature-length, single-player, third-person thriller set in a single apartment, created by Glasgow-based Blue Rider Interactive.
According to the game’s official website: You are Arthur, a person alive in 2023 trying to keep his head above water, when you receive an unexpected call at the door from your old roommate, Diane. She stays, you party, but soon you will meet Blondey and good times turn bad. Fast.
Will you participate in a dangerous and dramatic narrative? Or keep the front door closed, eating and procrastinating until you’ve shut the world out for good? Whatever you choose, the cold metal of a gun is hidden within the darkness of your apartment somewhere.
Lockdown Life
The game is a a brief two-hour (or so) experience, in which the mundane details of day-to-day life make up much of the activity. Meters keep you aware of Arthur’s basic needs – hunger, sleep, and hygiene. Players can do everything from tidying the apartment, get Arthur to shower, search the kitchen for something, anything to cook, while his mobile pings with messages, his bank balance ticks ever downwards and the dishes by the sink really need washed.
As other characters appear, during the real-time day/night cycle, the elements of everyday lockdown life fade in favour of a faster-paced thriller storyline. The gun is discovered, the threat escalates and the easygoing tedium of the early game disappears.
However, the player has a choice in this too. Ignore the messages, don’t answer the door and stay inside, smoking, watching TV, napping listening to music and doing chores. It’s simpler, safer, satisfying and curiously compelling – and keeps those life stats topped up.
Even if you do opt for the less confrontational playthrough, Arthur’s life can contain a little spice. The Apartment website states:
The player can choose to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol and smoke weed. If the player chooses to progress the story a non-explicit sex scene will happen. The player will be frequently naked and can masturbate but no explicit imagery is used. There is a gun and violence, including knife violence can occur.
Consider yourselves warned (or intrigued).
Blue Rider Studios
Blue Rider Interactive is a video game studio founded by Sean Wenham in 2023. Based in Glasgow, the studio is focused on creating dramatic third-person narrative experiences within realistic, modern-day settings.
Get Your Game On
Apartment Story is already picking up some critical acclaim. The Guardian says:
…when an indie debut manages to so effortlessly capture such a miserable mood – and for less than the price of a London pint – Apartment Story still feels like an easy recommendation.
You can find out more about Blue Rider Interactive (aka Sean) and follow his work on his website, Instagram and X.
Apartment Story is available on Steam for the PC, for a mere £6. Get your copy here:
- Apartment Story (PC – Steam)
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