I had the privilege of meeting with the lovely Jes from Folklore Games at PAX West to get a sneak peek at their upcoming game, Spiral. This was one of the titles I was most anticipating, and I found myself returning to their booth multiple times throughout the weekend to share the powerful experience with friends.
Spiral tells the story of Bernard, and I got to experience just a small part of his journey, which moved me to tears. The game beautifully celebrates Bernard’s life, refusing to let his cognitive decline overshadow his story. I was curious to know what inspired them to make a game that focused on such a heavy topic. Jes emphasized the importance of raising awareness about the isolation often felt by those caring for loved ones with cognitive degeneration diseases. She explained that a family will grieve the loss of the person they once knew, and they feel alone in the experience because when everyone is grieving the loss it could be hard to talk to family for that reason. Spiral aims to bring Bernard back into the spotlight, reminding players of his humanity and the significance of life’s simple moments. Spiral is very personal to the team at Folklore Games as many of them have experienced the loss of someone they once knew. At the PAX West booth, visitors were encouraged to write their own personal stories in a notebook with the possibility that these memories could potentially be incorporated as an Easter egg in the released version of the game.
Prior to diving into the demo, I was warned that I would be experiencing the more intense segment of the game. With that in mind, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect but eagerly jumped into Bernard’s world. I had the option to play either as a younger or older version of Bernard. I chose Bernard in his current moment in life, but later watched my friend play as the younger version. It seemed to offer a similar experience but told a slightly different story based on what items he decided to pick up.
I began exploring Bernard’s home and listened to his memories he shared about his belongings. As I did so, his world started to shift around him, and it gradually became unclear if what I was learning was accurate. I made my way upstairs and noticed a letter I had picked up downstairs, but now Bernard recalled a different story about it. It seemed to appear that he was struggling to remember why the letter was important. At this moment, the world around me grew darker and the walls began to fade. I felt a deep empathy for Bernard, desperately wanting to hold on so dearly to those memories of his life, but there just wasn’t enough time.
I cannot describe the emotions I felt at the end of the demo. The dreamlike art style and soothing music fully immersed me in Bernard’s world. I found myself wanting to reach out and reassure him that everything was going to be okay and that he wasn’t alone. Sadly, I couldn’t do more than cherish the best pieces of his life for him as we watched his most precious memories slowly disappear.
Regardless of whether you believe everything Bernard tells you, his story is impactful because it celebrates his life, memories, and humanity. The game evokes feelings of empathy, sadness, and love for Bernard’s character. It made me reflect on the many relationships I’ve formed throughout my life, including those I cared for back when I was a Certified Nursing Assistant. Spiral is an emotional masterpiece that beautifully captures relationships’ complexities. Due to Spiral’s relatability and emotional narrative, they won one of our Best at PAX West 2024 awards this year. Get your tissues ready! Spiral is available on Steam on September 20th, 2024, one day before World Alzheimer’s Day.
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