Three and Out – ‘Return of the Obra Dinn’

Return of the Obra Dinn is one of the most unique games I have ever experienced. Taking on the role of a claims adjuster of all things, I was tasked with exploring an abandoned freighter that washed up in port, determining how each of its many crew members and passengers disappeared. No time is wasted in the game’s beginning – I began in a little dinghy next to the ship, climbed up onto the deck, and inspected my first corpse. Thus forms the crux of the gameplay: peering into the memories of each body I find, living their last moments and being able to fully explore the surroundings during their deaths. This simple gameplay loop is incredibly satisfying, slowly piecing together the mystery surrounding the boat and its inhabitants.

My findings in Return of the Obra Dinn were all recorded in a log book. To begin with, I was given a sketch of all of the crew members and their names, but not which name corresponded to which image. Everything had to be figured out with context clues, since very rarely will a man say his own name or the name of his killer while on his deathbed. Perhaps he’s seen in the background of an earlier memory laying in his numbered bunk, or he hangs out in a particular section of the ship designated for his position. As someone not very familiar with nautical terminology, I was pleased to find a glossary in the back of the book, helping me understand what the duties are of the “seamen” and “topmen,” thus narrowing down the list of suspects. I did find it a tad frustrating to go back to previous memories. I feel a fast travel system utilizing the log book may have been beneficial, but this fact doesn’t detract from the game as a whole. If I was ever stuck, I was allowed to (somewhat) figure things out through trial and error. For every three fates I resolved, they were permanently inked into the log, letting me know I got them correct. And if ever I felt that I could not solve any more, I was free to leave and end the game with my current results. Of course, I was determined to push through, and eventually figured out the fate of everyone aboard the Obra Dinn.

I would be remiss if I didn’t talk about the art style. Utilizing monochromatic dithering, Return of the Obra Dinn creates an incredibly unique atmosphere that I have never seen in another game. Despite being in only two colors, the game was simple to navigate and created easily identifiable characters. The Formosan guests stand out as clearly foreign, as do the group of Chinese topmen. The style really started to stand out once I reached the “Doom” chapter, showcasing an incredible scene as if it was taken out of an old horror film. A few memories were a bit difficult to figure out exactly what was going on, though Return of the Obra Dinn takes this into account and allows multiple solutions to its puzzles, so it is never an issue in the long run.

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