Life is Strange: True Colors

About Life is Strange: True Colors

Life is Strange: True Colors is a narrative-driven adventure game developed by Deck Nine and published by Square Enix. Released in September 2021, it follows Alex Chen, a woman in Colorado who discovers her ability to sense and manipulate emotions after her brother’s mysterious death. The story unfolds in the remote town of Haven Springs, blending mystery, emotional drama, and supernatural elements. Players make choices that shape relationships and outcomes, with a focus on dialogue and exploration. It’s a single-player game available on PlayStation, PC, Xbox, Switch, and Stadia, designed for players who prioritize character-driven stories and impactful decisions.

Gameplay

The game revolves around exploring environments, interacting with characters, and using Alex’s Empathy power to absorb emotions from objects or people. This ability reveals hidden details, like memories or lies, and lets you alter situations by projecting emotions onto others. Gameplay alternates between investigating locations, solving light puzzles, and participating in dialogue trees with branching consequences. Combat is absent; tension arises from moral dilemmas and time-sensitive decisions. Each session often involves uncovering clues about the town’s secrets while managing Alex’s personal grief and relationships. The controls are straightforward, with context-sensitive interactions and a radial menu for abilities.

What Players Think

The game holds an 81.8/100 score on IGDB from 224 ratings, reflecting strong critical reception. PlayPile community stats show an average playtime of 12, 15 hours, with 47% completing the story. Positive moods highlight the emotional depth and “jaw-dropping twists,” while some players criticize the “predictable” third act. Achievement completion is at 92%, with 78% earning the platinum. Critic reviews praise the “nuanced character arcs” but note occasional pacing issues. The game’s 8.5/10 on Metacritic underscores its appeal to fans of mature, story-focused adventures.

PlayPile's Take

Life is Strange: True Colors is a must-play for narrative enthusiasts who value emotional stakes and branching choices. At $29.99 (or $19.99 on sale), it offers a polished, if slightly formulaic, experience. The Empathy mechanic adds fresh interactivity to the series’ core, though the 15-hour runtime may feel short for the price. With 100 achievements averaging 2.5 hours to collect, it’s a solid pick for those seeking a heartfelt, character-driven journey with meaningful consequences.

Storyline

Alex Chen hides her 'curse': the supernatural ability to absorb and manipulate the strong emotions of others. When her brother dies in a so-called accident, she must embrace her volatile power to find the truth — and reveal dark secrets buried by the town.