The Signifier

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2020
The Signifier: Director's Cut

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Summary

The Signifier is a story-driven tech-noir mystery adventure. Explore the real world and enter the unconscious realms of the victim’s mind. Use technology to find clues to solve puzzles, unravel layers of dialogue, and find the truth.

Storyline

When the vice-president of the largest tech company in the world is found dead in her apartment, you are asked to investigate her last memories to find what really happened...
You are Frederick Russell, an expert in AI and psychology, and the main researcher behind an experimental deep brain scanner called the Dreamwalker. Its controversial technology allows the exploration of the recorded senses and unconscious realms of the mind.
In a world on the verge of an AI revolution, you will navigate through the deep and surrealistic world of human psychology and learn from its darkness.
You will defy the abstract language of the unconscious where everything can be interpreted.
The Signifier is a first-person tech-noir mystery adventure with a multi-layer narrative that spirals into a complex web of real world intrigue and surreal suspense...

Can you find truth... in a subjective world?


The Signifier Activation Instructions

The Signifier Reviews & Ratings

90
Review by majakk [user]
July 1, 2021

The Signifier is perhaps one of the first truly innovative games in the adventure / crime / thriller / cultism / sci-fi / (mild) horror genreThe Signifier is perhaps one of the first truly innovative games in the adventure / crime / thriller / cultism / sci-fi / (mild) horror genre with a completely unique experience and story. What it does exceptionally well is using AI in a way that makes it believable both in terms of AI-generated content and narrative. Want to dig through someone's thoughts and dreams? As a contracted private investigator? Yes, this is exactly how I would imagine an AI to interpret complex brain signals in order to make visuals and the absurdities that would follow. Horrors, fear and voyeurism combined with a narrative that spurs empathic feelings makes a great base for understanding other people in general. The game lets you explore this through different dimensions - each voicing different perspectives - you the player, targets objective and finally the targets subjective. All in all it is a solid 8hour adventure and right now a complete steal at Steam.The negatives:* Sometimes it was difficult to progress and know what to do with the keys aka "raw data"* A few immersion killing invisible walls ​This game is a small-studio produced marvel and deserves way more appreciation than what it has received so far. All I want now is a sequel.

60
Review by bancandrei [user]
January 10, 2021

Difficult to rate since it starts off great, solid 10, but then it becomes less and less beautiful and interesting. The central mystery is notDifficult to rate since it starts off great, solid 10, but then it becomes less and less beautiful and interesting. The central mystery is not really resolved and the memories it chooses to showcase have little bearing on the SF story. The ending is also quite abrupt and unsatisfying, framing the whole experience like an unnecessary prequel to SOMA.

90
Review by Noisy Pixel
November 3, 2020

The Signifier is visually creative and quite a remarkable experience that ropes you into its mystery and keeps you guessing long past its rushed ending. It uses visual creativity that comes with the very concept of memory and dream exploration and creates some unique puzzles. While at times it came off as disorienting, those moments were in the minority and still kept me wanting more, flaws and all. Consider checking out this game the next time you’re looking for a mystery.

80
Review by The Digital Fix
October 22, 2020

The Signifier is an intriguing and enjoyable narrative-driven game that benefits from proper pacing and discovery mixed with a very interesting setting and environments.

70
Review by Softpedia
October 22, 2020

The Signifier has all the conceptual elements required to deliver a great experience. The world intrigues and engages, the personal relationships have potential, the brain scanning idea opens up a lot of gameplay possibilities. The game never quite reaches that potential but it’s still great to see such solid foundations for an indie title. Gamers who love immersion and emotional experiences should dive deep into the memories and dreams The Signifier offers, even if the gameplay is a little limited and the ending fails to live up to the initial excitement. And I truly hope that a sequel or a spin-off is in development to take advantage of all the solid groundwork that the developers created.

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Game Information
Release Date October 15, 2020
Publisher Raw Fury, Playmestudio
Game Modes Single player
Player Perspectives First person
Genres Puzzle, Adventure, Indie
Themes Science fiction, Horror, Thriller, Mystery
Platforms PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac