Lisa: The First

About

Lisa: The First is an indie adventure game built with RPG Maker 2003, following a protagonist navigating a fractured, symbolic world shaped by emotional turmoil. Players collect VHS tapes of fragmented memories while exploring abstract zones that shift between mundane and nightmarish settings. The gameplay focuses on wandering, interacting with surreal objects, and piecing together a story through sparse dialogue and environmental clues. The game’s raw, low-budget aesthetic amplifies its unsettling tone, with simple graphics contrasting heavy themes of abuse and mental health. It predates the 2014 sequel Lisa: The Painful but exists as a standalone experience, omitting certain characters and expanding on others. A small but dedicated audience notes its brevity, most sessions last under three hours, and its willingness to tackle difficult subject matter without embellishment. Released in 2012, it remains a quiet, niche entry in the indie scene.

Storyline

The start of this game takes place sometime after the introduction of LISA: THE PAINFUL. The player controls the main character, Lisa Armstrong. The story follows her descent into madness, which stems from the physical and sexual abuse inflicted on her by Marty Armstrong. The goal is to obtain VHS tapes of Lisa's memories while exploring the game's various zones. Brad Armstrong does not appear in this game and doesn't appear to have a room in this version of Marty's house.