Dissolved: Chapter One

About

Dissolved: Chapter One throws real-life chaos into a kaleidoscope of retro game genres. You control a girl who escapes her struggles by warping them into over-the-top arcade scenarios. One moment you’re dodging space gopniks by batting their bullets like a bizarre rhythm game. The next you’re flinging cop corpses like discus in a twisted sport title. Each level uses minimalist controls, often just one or two buttons, but the mechanics shift wildly between puzzle solving, beat ’em ups, and point-and-click antics. The story unfolds through these fragmented gameplay episodes, blending schoolyard social politics with surreal action as her psyche unravels. The game’s audacity lies in its refusal to take anything seriously. It mocks genre tropes while leaning into their addictive mechanics, pairing absurd humor with unsettling themes. A secondary antagonist lurks in visions, hinting at deeper mental health struggles without overexplaining. While its disjointed structure and steep difficulty may frustrate, the PC and Switch release has drawn praise for its originality, with 78% of Steam players calling it “weird but worth it.” Expect a polarizing ride that’s equal parts chaotic and clever.

Storyline

You play as a girl whose weird psychosis is to turn every ordeal in her life into a video game. Every time she encounters a painful challenge, rather than facing it she'll prefer taking refuge in her imaginary world. It doesn't make things easier for Padla, the superheroine her sick mind is personifying. It's now up to Padla to walk your cat on a road which suddenly became a deadly step by step runner. You'll also let her deal with classroom relationships, in a stealth game to make you the most popular girl without being spotted by the teacher. Padla has a dark alter ego who sometimes appears in her visions. Her origin and intentions remain mysterious, but she will undoubtedly play a role in your descent into madness...