FMV games have gotten a bad rap for their poor acting and video production. While it’s true that many FMV games suffer from low budgets, many out there offer great drama and fantastic storytelling.
FMV may not be the most popular video game genre, but a loyal fan base has kept the genre alive. Studios like Half-Mermaid and Wales Interactive continue to deliver high-quality FMV titles for serious fans of the genre. These are 10 of the best FMV games.
1. Immortality: An FMV Masterpiece
Sam Barlow has had a long career in the game industry, but his smash hit Her Story caused people to notice his fantastic storytelling. His third game, Immortality, is a masterclass in script writing and one of our favorite games of 2022.
Our review called Immortality a masterpiece, and our feelings haven’t changed. The acting is superb, the period set pieces are phenomenal, and the script will keep your brain turning hours after the credits roll. If there is one FMV game you should play, it’s Immortality.
2. Not For Broadcast: Propaganda Simulator
Not for Broadcast puts you in the shoes of a Live TV news producer during a tumultuous time for an unnamed European country. Your decisions during the broadcast will directly affect the country’s future.
Not for Broadcast does a great job of blending the line between satire and slapstick. The segments sometimes act more like an episode of South Park than a re-telling of 1984, but it works perfectly for the game’s vibe.
3. Her Story: The Best One-Sided Conversation We’ve Ever Had
Her Story takes the simple concept of police interrogation and turns it on its head. The entire game takes place on a fictional FBI server. Your task is to comb through clips of five different interviews of one woman with the police. The clips are discovered out of order, and the player is left to discern the events that led to the police investigation.
Her Story is Sam Barlow’s first game as an independent game maker. He came up with the idea after watching hours of the chilling police interviews with Jodi Arias. He took this captivating concept and built an entire game mechanic around the story of one woman. Her Story will only take about two hours to complete, but you’ll spend a lot more time piecing together her story after the credits roll.
4. The Bunker: A Claustrophic Psychological Horror Experience
The Bunker follows John, a 30-year-old man who has grown up entirely in a fall-out shelter after a nuclear bomb has ravaged England. With no knowledge of the outside world, John’s life has been one of shelter and imagination.
The Bunker is successful in its brilliant set pieces and terrific acting. The entire game was filmed in a real decommissioned bomb shelter and featured actors from Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings Franchise. This game is a must-play if you are a fan of claustrophobic horror films.
5. Phantasmagoria: A Classic Point & Click FMV
Phantasmagoria was released in 1995 at the peak of cheesy FMV games. Phantasmagoria stands out because it is one of the few truly great FMV games to release during this time.
Sierra developed the game, and is only playable on PC. The story and acting are great for a ’90s game, but the subject matter can be disturbing for sensitive audiences. Nevertheless, Phantasmagoria is an excellent game for those who love 90’s horror films.
6. The Infectious Madness Of Dr. Dekker: Solving The Psychiatrists Murder
Dr. Dekker, a successful psychiatrist, has been murdered. The main suspects are all of his patients. You play as Dr. Dekker’s replacement and are tasked with discovering which patient murdered the late doctor.
With a solid premise and a cast of remarkable characters, The Infectious Madness of Dr. Decker is a fantastic FMV with ample replayability. The ending will change based on your questions, meaning it could take a few tries to find the real killer.
7. Erica: A Supernatural Mystery
Erica is a rare PlayStation-exclusive FMV Game. The game centers on Erica, a young woman whose mother was killed as a child. As an adult, she travels back to the hospital where her mother worked and uncovers the nefarious dealings of the institution.
Erica is a short game at only around 2 hours and feels just like a movie. This run-time makes it perfect for a couch-play through with a friend. The acting and script add a high level of polish not often seen in the genre. It’s also available for free for PS Plus Premium subscribers.
8. Telling Lies: Tell Me Sweet Little Lies
Telling Lies is Sam Barlow’s follow-up to Her Story, and it expands on it in almost every way. You playback the video calls of four different people and must piece together who is telling the truth and who is lying.
The studio got some big-name actors for this project, and the video call format works perfectly for the FMV genre. Telling Lies may not be the most revered title from Sam and his team, but it is still leagues above many other FMV titles.
9. Who Pressed Mute On Uncle Marcus: A Deadly Game Of Trivia
Someone poisoned Uncle Marcus. It’s up to you to figure out who poisoned him by asking the right questions during the family’s Zoom trivia night.
The premise of Who Pressed Mute on Uncle Marcus is simple, but the comedy gives this game a spot on our list. The actors do a great job with the script, even if the mystery is not all that compelling.
10. Night Trap: A Controversial Interactive B-Horror Movie
Night Trap is better remembered for its controversy than the game itself. It was first released for the Sega CD in 1992 and featured prominently in the 1993 Senate hearing on violence in video games. If they only knew just how violent video games would get.
Night Trap isn’t a perfect FMV game, but it gets the big things right. The acting is sufficiently cheesy enough to feel like a B-Horror Movie. The interactivity is subtle and engaging. And the multitude of endings provides excellent replayability. Night Trap is a great way to re-live the camp and panic of the early 90s.
