Nineteen

About

Nineteen is a text-based game built around a looping, nonlinear structure. You click through fragmented scenes that revisit themes of depression and suicidal ideation without resolving them. The lack of a clear endpoint mirrors the experience it portrays, circulating through personal struggles without escape. The game's raw honesty stands out. Created in ten hours by Elizabeth Sampat, it draws from her own mental health journey and the suicide of Aaron Swartz. Discussions of suicide attempts, ER visits, and faith-based coping methods make it uncomfortable but impactful. Though some question its classification as a game, it's often described as a digital diary. Player reactions are split but passionate, with many calling it a brave if unsettling work.