Erica

Though Erica’s illusion of choice may sully the experience on repeat playthroughs, the game still stands as the best FMV game available on consoles. Its high-end TV show production values and acting allow it to stand out in a genre muddied by low-budget attempts by game developers turned amateur filmmakers. Erica is a risky but successful title in an unusual year for PS4 exclusives, making it a short, cheap, and sweet title that any fan of experimental games should try out.

ERICA stands as an intriguing example of connecting players with a game through touch controls. It succeeds primarily as a technical feat and less so as a deeply-engrossing video game. If the storyline were given more time to grow then maybe it would have blossomed into something special. As is, it’s akin to a murder mystery popcorn flick. There’s fun to be had solving the mystery, but not quite enough to create a memorable experience.

Erica has a strong, fleshed-out narrative full of twists and turns that each bring their own unique piece to the story. Its cryptic tone is carried through the audio, visuals, and writing; it never lets you relax. Sometimes weird controls jolt you out, but there is an abundance of enticing threads to follow, and it's a treat to be able to mold your own adventure out of it. Using a combination of crisp cinematography and FMV-specific game mechanics, Erica never fails to hook you into its haunting, mysterious world.