“Whatever it takes.”

If Cyberpunk 2077 and Outlast had a baby but raised it to be sinister and sophisticated instead of destructive and dangerous you’d get the diabolical neurosurgeon that is Observer. The game revolves around a detective, played by the talented Rutger Hauer (may he rest in peace), in a dystopian Poland in the year 2084 who has the technological ability to break into people’s minds and view their memories. Unfortunately, not only has this caused the detective problems in his past, but they get a lot worse throughout the game.

While it only took me around five hours to complete the main storyline, there were moments when it felt longer due to the pacing and atmosphere that seemed to go on forever. The use of jumpscares was a little overdone, but I didn’t mind them. If you play the game continuously, they help add a sense of urgency to certain objectives. However, there isn’t much real danger within the game since ‘enemies’ are conquered through stealth or speed. This is more of a story game, meant to be remembered for its ending and the choices you make rather than the gameplay.

Observer does a great job of exploring both the philosophical and scientific aspects of memory and identity within a small environment with many moving parts. Much of the game makes you question the detective’s sanity, and keeping him sane is how you keep him alive. But at the same time, the player is presented with the question of what even is sanity, and whether reality is an objective truth or a subjective experience. This makes for an interesting playthrough and one that is memorable due to the worldbuilding, breathtaking visuals, perceived dangers over real ones, and beautiful soundtrack.

I can tell that works such as Blade Runner, Ghost in the Shell, and The Thing influenced the developers when it came to the style. There were also classic dystopian themes such as classism, propaganda, and corporatism presented alongside European art, language, and history (particularly the plague as the nanophage) that make for a unique science fiction environment. If you’re a fan of any of those things you’ll enjoy playing Observer.