Item: Lacuna - Sci-Fi Noir Adventure
Rating: 91
Author: Dinsun

Our Expert Score

91/100

Lacuna is a masterclass in modern adventure gaming. It ditches the archaic 'item combination' puzzles that often plague the genre, opting instead for a logic-based investigation system that feels grounded and high-stakes. The pixel art is hauntingly beautiful, depicting a rainy, neon-soaked cyberpunk world that feels lived-in and deeply melancholic.

The choices you make are genuinely harrowing because the game doesn't allow for manual save-scumming—you have to live with the consequences of your deductions. This adds a level of tension I rarely feel in detective games. The writing is sharp, cynical, and avoids the usual tropes, making Neil Conrad one of the most compelling protagonists in recent years. It’s an essential experience for fans of sci-fi noir and deep, branching narratives.

Dinsun reviewed on: Mon Jul 01 2024

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

1598888564

$5.99 18+★3.1 28 reviews

Author : Assemble Entertainment

Pubish Date : Fri May 12 2023

Last Update Date : Mon Aug 07 2023

Support Languages : English, Dutch, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese

Genres :

Version 1.0.15Mon Aug 07 2023

- fixed blocker
- minor bugfixes
Another cigarette tumbles into the abyss. The sun is slowly coming up, glistening in the sea of buildings below.
I look up at the stars one last time before they disappear. They don't provide any guidance. They don't give a...
I have to make this decision on my own, and very soon. Problem is, I don't know how. I've never been able to figure out why I do what I do. Not really.
No more time to think. I have to go.
Here's the deal
You are Neil Conrad, CDI agent. Awoken by the news of a murder, you rush into a case that will soon turn your life and the whole solar system upside down. Ask questions, collect evidence, and put the pieces together until the ugly truth reveals itself... or not.
No takebacks
The story branches and ends based on your actions. There's no going back. Sure, you can rush your way to the end – if you don't mind paying the price. Play your cards right, and you might make it out alive.
How far will you go?
Some questions don't have a right answer. Will you sell out a friend to protect your family? Will you endanger a loved one in exchange for public safety? Will you keep the peace or reveal the horrible, world-shattering truth?
Hungry for Point & Click Adventure?
While the classics were great in their time, Lacuna does away with the baggage of many adventure game tropes:
- Non-repeating conversations and choices
- Immersive, story-driven mysteries
- Optional outlines on anything interactable
- Story can always be driven forward
- Real choices and multiple endings
Requires iOS 12.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Another cigarette tumbles into the abyss. The sun is slowly coming up, glistening in the sea of buildings below.
I look up at the stars one last time before they disappear. They don't provide any guidance. They don't give a...
I have to make this decision on my own, and very soon. Problem is, I don't know how. I've never been able to figure out why I do what I do. Not really.
No more time to think. I have to go.
Here's the deal
You are Neil Conrad, CDI agent. Awoken by the news of a murder, you rush into a case that will soon turn your life and the whole solar system upside down. Ask questions, collect evidence, and put the pieces together until the ugly truth reveals itself... or not.
No takebacks
The story branches and ends based on your actions. There's no going back. Sure, you can rush your way to the end – if you don't mind paying the price. Play your cards right, and you might make it out alive.
How far will you go?
Some questions don't have a right answer. Will you sell out a friend to protect your family? Will you endanger a loved one in exchange for public safety? Will you keep the peace or reveal the horrible, world-shattering truth?
Hungry for Point & Click Adventure?
While the classics were great in their time, Lacuna does away with the baggage of many adventure game tropes:
- Non-repeating conversations and choices
- Immersive, story-driven mysteries
- Optional outlines on anything interactable
- Story can always be driven forward
- Real choices and multiple endings

Ratings & Reviews

3.1 out of 5 with 28 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 18+

Lacuna is a 2D sci-fi noir adventure that puts you in the shoes of CDI agent Neil Conrad. Investigating a high-profile murder, you must navigate a sprawling cyberpunk city, gather evidence, and piece together the truth behind a conspiracy that could ignite a war. Unlike traditional point-and-click adventures, Lacuna features movement controls, branching dialogue, and a 'case file' system where your deductions determine the outcome of the story. There are no do-overs; every decision is final.

Features

Branching narrative with multiple endings

Unique logic-based investigation mechanics

Atmospheric cyberpunk pixel art

Dialogue-heavy, mature storytelling

Permanent choices and no save-scumming

Tips

Efficient Investigation

Use the 'Outline' mode to quickly identify interactable objects in the environment. When questioning suspects, pay close attention to inconsistencies in their statements compared to the documents in your 'Cell' device. Your final report is what matters—don't rush it.

Gameplays

The Sheets System

Throughout your investigation, you'll fill out 'Sheets'—digital reports where you select the culprits and motives based on your findings. Submitting these reports moves the plot forward permanently, often locking out other paths.