CURTAIN for Mac

Experience a short, sad story in first-person

CURTAIN is a free-to-play simulation that puts you in the shoes of Ally, a queer woman in a relationship with her bandmate, Kaci. This first-person experience from dreamfeel lets you go through an episode in their lives. You interact with objects around you and see Kaci react and respond to everything you do. 

Its effective use of a vivid episode in a vague, larger story makes CURTAIN a sadder opposite for Drive Me To The Moon. The game also opts for pixelated, unclear graphics that gives a dreamlike feel.

An emotionally-challenging tale

The premise of the game is to let players experience a seemingly normal day that turns bad. While the motivations behind the characters were never revealed in CURTAIN, their small actions and verbal cues give off a feeling of tension and suffocation. Its subtle exploration of mature relationship themes should require a disclaimer for people who had the same experiences since certain scenes or lines can trigger them.

Visually speaking, its use of wildly colorful yet intentionally vague graphics makes it appear like you’re reliving Ally’s life in a dream. Players will realize that it’s not a bug or a video problem since the dialogue, subtitled at the bottom, is displayed clearly. The game lets you interact with various objects around the house and with every move you make, expect a comment or response from your partner.

The music in this game aligns with the story and the graphics. You hear a sad, droning theme all throughout the game, which helps set the mood. Lastly, there are story elements that are not fully explored and the game ends rather abruptly. The game can be finished in less than 30 minutes, after which the game automatically closes itself.

Pushing the boundaries of video games

CURTAIN definitely belongs to those indie video games that push the medium as an art form. Everything about it — graphics, music, and mechanics — all work together to create a harrowing experience from something that’s as normal as going home after a gig. The developers behind this game accurately capture nuances that make it suspenseful and ultimately scary. For people with traumatic experiences, you might want to approach this entry with caution.