Orphans episode three is the latest instalment in the interactive messenger mobile game from German developer Reality Games. It focuses on friends who go to an abandoned Orphanage to get footage for their social media channel. The player takes the role of someone outside of the group who’s contacted by the group after they find their number.
The German version of episode three is already out, along with episode four. For those who want to play the third episode in French, they’ll have to wait a few more weeks until it’s available. While this review won’t have spoilers for Orphans episode three, there will be spoilers for the previous episodes. If you haven’t played them yet, don’t read further.
Episode Three
The game opens where the previous episode finished. A possessed Jarek is banging down the door to attack his ex-girlfriend Sandy. Mika is trapped in a room with a possessed Tammy waiting for her outside. Meanwhile, Leon is missing, Amber’s still searching for her father and Anni’s on her way to save her sister. In short, nobody is safe. Well, except for our player who is comfortable in their house far away from the sinister goings-on.
The episode took me roughly under six hours to complete. This excludes the minigames which I can skip with the flat rate. It’s a testament to the writers the episode doesn’t feel like it’s dragging. Everything happens for a reason, even when you think it doesn’t. If there’s one thing I know from their previous games, Reality Games don’t introduce a detail if it’s not important later. Moreover, fans of the author chats will be happy to know you won’t be disappointed. This goes doubly for something very fun that happens during one of them.
If you thought the stakes were raised in the last episode, wait until you’re not even an hour into this episode. I said it about the previous episodes but it’s true for this one too. Episode three comes across as a finale, or at least the lead into a finale. Considering we still have another three episodes to go, that can only mean good things. Honestly, the next episode could wrap up but knowing it won’t, I can’t wait to see what they do to expand it.
Moreover, Orphans balances its exposition well. Even if you’re talking to one character for a while, it doesn’t grow tiring. When the action finally happens you’re ready for it and may even find yourself missing certain characters.
Of course, there are moments when I find myself disagreeing with what the character is saying or doing. However, this is a horror story. Characters don’t make good decisions. Furthermore, there is so much going on, it’s easy to let the little things pile up. So, while it’s frustrating from a player’s perspective, it makes sense to the narrative. It’s something that helps immerse us into the story and make us a three-dimensional character.
It’s safe to say this is yet another instalment of a Reality Games game I’ve enjoyed.
