Freud's Bones

Freud's Bones: The Game

Release Date: May 25, 2022

Adventure, point-and-click, 2D, life sim, indie games, experimental/artistic, interwar period, singleplayer

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A unique adventure game with life simulation elements, in which we can get to know Sigmund Freud - the originator of psychoanalysis. In Freud's Bones we play the inner voice of the title character and we take control over his actions and conduct disputes with him.

Plot
Mechanics
Technical aspects

Freud's Bones is an original point-and-click adventure game, enriched with life simulation elements. The game was developed by an independent developer - Axel Fox - and its production was possible, among others, thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter.

Plot

Freud's Bones takes us on a journey to Vienna in 1925. The game allows us to get to know Sigmund Freud himself, the creator of psychoanalysis. During the game we play his inner voice and we not only take control over his actions, but we also engage in disputes with him. As his guardian angel or personal demon, we shape his personality and lead him to become the greatest psychoanalyst in history or force him to fulfil his innermost desires. Whichever role we choose, over time we learn more and more about Freud himself, his methods of understanding and treating people, and his theories on culture and social phenomena.

Mechanics

In Freud's Bones we observe the action from top-down view. The large part of the game takes place in the protagonist's office. It is here, during the day, that Freud sees patients, reads and answers letters, and manages his finances. At night, on the other hand, he has time to look inside himself, face his fears and dialogue with his inner voice - us. The protagonist can also sneak out of here and into the famous Café Landtmann, which gives him the opportunity to spend time with Vienna's upper class and have interesting conversations with their representatives.

Prior to each patient's visit, we are given his or her initial file, which allows us to prepare ourselves to face the problems that individual patients encounter. Once we start talking to the person (each of them is represented by a figure sitting on a planet symbolising their mind), we choose the topic of discussion (we can ask the patient not only about the symptoms of their problem, but also about their relationship with their family, among other things), the preferred pace of conversation and the tone in which we will ask our question. We then listen to what the person has to say and this information will help us to better choose the direction in which to move the conversation forward. As we progress, we complete the person's medical records and try to interpret them in the right way. This is not easy, but we are helped by Freud's original texts, as well as the Encyclopedia Britannica implemented in the game, where we find useful information on psychoanalysis, neurology, pharmacology and anatomy.

Our attitude towards the people who come to us shapes not only the direction and results of their treatment, but also the relationship with each of them, as well as influencing the personality of the character itself. It is only up to us to follow a more 'technical' and bookish approach, or to allow ourselves to trust our own intuition and take more daring steps. As we progress, Freud gains experience and advances to the next level, gaining access to more and more advanced psychoanalytical tools.

Of course, the protagonist does not do all this for free. During the game we often have to lean on his finances, dividing money between running the office and the protagonist's preferences.