Life is Strange - Episode 1

I finally played through this game after having only watched other people play through it before and, honestly, it still remains one of those games that I'm emotionally invested in. The ending still hits just as hard.

It has a beautifully artistic and painterly style, a touching story, and an amazing soundtrack that I keep coming back to.

Even though I am late to the party, this game is amazing. The story had my emotions in shambles, and I love how the power dynamic is similar to real world problems. Only parts I didn't like are the very long cut scenes of just music. While I assume its to create atmosphere, they went on a little too long for my liking. Also, the fact I couldn't save where I wanted was slightly a pain. Play this game, you won't regret it!

❤ Audience ❤

☑ Beginner
☑ Casual Gamer
☑ Normal Gamer
☐ Expert

☼ Graphics ☼

☐ Bad
☐ Alright
☐ Good
☑ Beautiful
☐ Fantastic

♬ Music ♬

☐ Bad
☐ Alright
☐ Good
☑ Beautiful
☐ Fantastic

☠ Difficulty ☠

☑ Easy
☐ Average
☐ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☐ Hard
☐ Unfair

§ Bugs §

☐ Bugs destroy the game
☐ Lots of bugs
☐ Few Bugs
☐ You can use them for speedrun
☑ Nothing encountered

☯ Story ☯

☐ There is none
☐ Bad
☐ Alright
☐ Good
☑ Fantastic

⚔ Gameplay ⚔

☐ Frustrating
☐ Sleepy
☐ Boring
☑ Fun
☐ Challenging

۞ Game time / Length ۞

☐ Really short (0 - 3 hours)
☐ Short (4 - 7 hours)
☑ Few hours (8 - 20 hours)
☐ Long (21-50 hours)
☐ Very Long (51-100 hours)
☐ Extremely Long (101+ hours)

$ Price / Quality $

☐ Full price
☑ Wait for Sale
☐ Don't buy
☐ Refund it if you can

I was recommended this game from a friend, and it genuinely is such a great game I love it. I enjoy playing choice based games and this game is perfect.

if you like pnw vibes you should play it, if you dont like pnw vibes then you should play it.

I would definitely recommend this game! The story is great, the game mechanics are very well designed and the game visuals are pretty good as well!

This is probably one of the most sincere games I've ever played. Next to The Last Of Us, this I think is one of the best games ever made. The music, the environments, the voice acting, the story, everything. 20/10 game. Please do yourself a favor and play it. It's so good that I actually decided to leave a review. I've literally never done this before and am usually to lazy to anyways. That should go to show how good this is. Unfortunately if you're reading this review to decide if you want to play it, that means you didn't grow up with it when it came out back in 2015, and that's half the charm for all us few LIS folks, is the extreme nostalgia from playing it growing up. But you can start making memories now. And always remember,... Bae > Bay. You'll know what I mean when you finish the game

the scenary and storyline

Honestly, I have to come back and replay this game as I never quite finished it the first time around, but that wasn't the fault of the game by any means. As much as I played I was hooked. The art style was great and the store was very intriguing. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys mysteries and episodic adventure games.

Iconic game, I wish I could forget and replay this from the beginning. It's a bit like melodramatic in some regards, but the story hits so right and it feels your choices really do affect things in the game. A 10/10 for me in terms of storytelling, emotional depth and sleuthing/detective work.

Save for my mental stability, Sacrifice for good tragedy storytelling.
Thanks for the story. Seeing consequences is one of my favorite things in video games.

Simply one of the best story adventures I've ever Played. Left me several times speechless. Great Soundtrack.

Very emotional, but quality game. Highly recommend, if you can make the journey.

A slightly different choice can change everything, like I missed out my chance to go on a journey in the spring break this week and decided to play LIFE IS STRANGE. It has truly changed my life and it's not over yet.
It is a story about love, friendship, memory, choices and what you have to sacrifice if you want to determine to reach a goal. We do have chances to change what we refuse to get. But the game is always grilling 'do you really like the consequence? Is there a choice perfectly meet all your needs? Are you actually fixing things or just tangling the threads?'
Also, I am so amazed, shocked and overwhelmed when the story is on its climax. Game designers have genius ideas on how to 'torture' me and pull me down into fear and desperation. If anyone else experience this game by living it but not just playing it, you have my feeling. The only consolation is that the grand final choice is so easy and confirmed for me. I am so glad there's a happy ending for me, after all the panic and nightmare.
I have so many regrets and lingering thoughts. I want to go on new game+ asap but I'm still trapped and doubt myself do I have the strength to experience the story all over again, knowing that bad and suck things will inevitably happen. Maybe a new game+ is like a rewinding in reality. Can I bear to relive the sufferings to get what I missed in the first time? I am already paying the cost.

really loved the story behind it and made me to love this game that much that i want to get a tatt from it :D

A thought-provoking narrative that blends supernatural elements with raw emotional depth, exploring the complexities of choice, fate, and identity.

Life is Strange is a narrative-driven adventure game that deftly balances emotional storytelling with innovative gameplay mechanics. At the heart of Life is Strange is Max Caulfield, a high school student who discovers that she has the ability to rewind time. This power, serves as a key mechanism in the game's exploration of choice and consequences. The time-rewinding mechanic, which allows Max to undo decisions and explore multiple outcomes, creates a fascinating dynamic where the player feels the weight of their choices.

What sets Life is Strange apart is its exceptional writing and character development. The relationship between Max and her childhood friend Chloe Price is the emotional core of the story. Their chemistry feels authentic, as their complex personalities and contrasting worldviews bring depth to their interactions. The dialogue is natural and rich with nuance, making the characters feel like real people. Chloe, in particular, is a standout character—her rebellious nature masks a deep-seated pain, and her journey throughout the game is heart-wrenching.

The game is set in Arcadia Bay, a small coastal town rather peaceful, except for the mysterious disappearance of a college student and a sense of impending doom surrounding the town. The world feels lived-in, with attention to detail in everything from the locations you visit to the minor characters you interact with. The town itself becomes a character in its own right, with its beautiful yet haunting landscapes reflecting the larger themes of the story.

The plot of Life is Strange is a mixture of the mundane and the extraordinary. While the central mystery revolves around the disappearance of a student, Rachel Amber, it is ultimately a story about loss, guilt, and the consequences of our actions. The game asks tough questions about the choices we make and the people we hurt, even when we have the power to reverse time. The narrative is both intimate and expansive, touching on personal growth, friendship, love, and the inevitability of change.

The soundtrack is another highlight, with songs by indie artists that perfectly complement the game's tone. Some of the tracks perfectly encapsulate the bittersweet atmosphere of the game, and they serve as emotional backdrops to some of the most pivotal moments in the story.

Life is Strange does not shy away from tackling difficult themes, such as mental health, abuse, and the impact of trauma. The game handles these topics with sensitivity and depth, making it not just an entertaining experience, but a thought-provoking one as well.

However, the game is not without its flaws. Some players may find the pacing slow, especially in the early episodes, where character development takes precedence over plot advancement. The dialogue, while generally well-written, can occasionally veer into melodrama, especially in moments of heightened emotion. While the time-rewinding mechanic is innovative and interesting, the overall gameplay is fairly simple, consisting mostly of exploration, puzzle-solving, and conversation. Additionally, the final choices and conclusion, though poignant, can feel divisive—some players may feel that the ending doesn’t fully pay off the emotional build-up throughout the game.

In conclusion, Life is Strange is a rare gem in the world of video games, offering a deeply personal narrative that resonates long after the credits roll. Its combination of heartfelt storytelling, memorable characters, and innovative gameplay makes it a standout title that is not just a game but an experience. It’s a reminder that video games can be a medium for complex, emotional storytelling, and Life is Strange does that with grace and authenticity.

Overall Score: 9.5/10

I played the game almost 10 years ago for the first time and it still is in my eyes an important milestone of narrative, immersive video games. Not many games managed to even come close in my opinion. The story is superbly written, the characters have a lot of depth and so the game manages to take you on this wild, emotional rollercoaster. And of course, the soundtrack is also amazing. Even after the credits rolled, the game stayed with me and inspired me to start a photo cosplay fan project, it was initially a small idea that ended up being quite big and elaborate, feel free to check "LiS - Not This Time". Here, too, it became clear again and again how much the game appealed to and moved many players. I have rarely met such a passionate and dedicated fan community. It was a wild ride and a wonderful experience to be part of it. I still could write so much more about the game, even after 10 years, i guess that tells a lot.

I played this game back in 2017, and loved it back then.

I tried to get back into it, but apparently I have really good memory cause I had to put it down, but the game itself is still solid and aged pretty well into 2025

My first experience with the Life is Strange series and in a one word it was GREAAAT ...
The story and characterization, along with the decision-making, made this one of my best gaming experiences.

I'm only saying that I recommend this game because it's kind of a classic, and I do thing you should play if you're interested in it. That being said, the dialogue is unbelievably cringe-y. It was back then and it certainly is now. I genuinely can't decipher if they were doing it ironically or if whoever wrote the dialogue actually things teenager talk that way (the latter, imo). I found it really hard to connect to Chloe, which is a pretty big problem considering the game is mostly about her and Max's relationship. To be honest, it felt like the game was dragging on. I do like the story, I just wish the dialogue didn't make me want to crawl out of my skin.

Life is Strange is wonderful. It's beautiful world, fun time-reversal, and honest look at adolescence makes it a game worth remembering. A diamond in the rough.

one of best choice game ever i play since detroit become human. its change my life forever. 100/10

This game's main strengths are that it captures this hard to define feelings when remembering your youth and the desire to go back to a time where everything was exciting but also sometimes over emotional while also be still partially free of the many responsibilities of a full adult.
If you accept this is a very story telling focused game with less share of gaming, this is such a great experience. The soundtrack and sound design in general, do an amazing job to put the right tone.
Thanks to the great character design, story and dialogues this has been the game that hit me emotionally the most.

A beautiful - and I mean, beautiful, but sad game. I keep coming back to it.

No jokes, no puns - this truly is my comfort game.

I remember watching playthroughs of this game when it was still kinda fresh and really enjoying LiS, but it's nice coming back 10 years later and experiencing the game for myself at my own pace. Love the vibe and atmosphere of the game, love the music, I liked the performances generally, and I think the story is still pretty solid after all these years.

Though admittedly it can have kinda clunky line delivery at times, some of the logic isn't totally consistent (mainly when it comes to Max's time travel abilities) and I could tell the final episode was rushed, though it turned out alright all things considered. You can tell they had more planned with the story, especially based on some of the choices, such as with one of the major choices in Episode 4 with Nathan. The dialogue can be a bit cringy sometimes, yes, but I actually didn't really mind it. It was honestly kind of endearing, in a way. Endearing and refreshing. Refreshing in the sense that this game commits to sincerity, instead of now where writers think being self aware and ironic and self deprecating makes for good writing.

Chloe and Max, and their interactions and chemistry with each other, were the highlights of this whole game. Seeing them rekindle their friendship and their journey together, being amateur detectives and just fucking around while they also try and figure out Max's visions. Their relationship is the most thoroughly quality aspect of the story, in my opinion. Though I could understand that some people might not take a liking to Chloe due to her attitude and whatnot. She's an acquired taste, I suppose, and she certainly does (or at least suggests doing) some questionable or downright morally dubious actions. Still, I really liked her character in spite of those things. She's definitely the most layered character in the game.

Anyway, it was nice going through this game on my own, on the 10th anniversary of all times. It's just a nice game to just sit back and unwind to, to be honest. If you haven't played this game yet, I'd recommend trying it out.

master piece it was really good but when eposode 4 5 6 happend it was just so good filling me with mixed emotions

As many others have said, this game is lightning in a bottle.
Can't even say more, it's just an amazing game. It takes you for a ride and in the end you will question your morality. I saved Chloe and sacrificed Acradia Bay. I chose one over the many, because the one meant something to me while the many didn't.
The game taught me to be more selfish and I don't regret it one bit.

LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS GAME!!! the character's, (especially max) how the soundtracks fits every scene perfectly, the flashbacks, the plot-twists, the choices, the deep lore and issues portrayed behind it, etc. It captured the vibe of a small town painfully beautiful, and I want to make it my mission now to visit oregon someday in the future. pricefield forever <3

I love this game so much. I originally watched it through playthroughs as a kid and loved it. It is such a deeply nostalgic piece of art to me that helped me get through so much growing up and I have nothing but fond memories of it. Having finally played it for myself feels amazing. The dialogue and choices are wonderful and each and every one of the characters are so loveable (except you know who :eyes: lol). Most of the soundtracks make me ugly cry because they're so lovely and emotionally charged. I just love this game - everything about it.

Probably one of the best stories ever told in a game, I only wish the sequel didn't mess up the most important decision of the game.

I watched a playthrough of this game when I was WAY too young to be indulging in such content but this game has always stuck in the back of my mind constantly. I decided to revisit it for myself and I am really glad that the place this game has in my heart wasn't out of pure nostalgia, it's just a fantastic game.

This one hits like a truck...

I originally played it 7 years ago and only went through chapter 1-2 then decided to pick it back up in 2025. I was totally out of the story so I had to restart over but oh lord it was such a wise decision. It started out a little slow and but the ramp up was absolutely insane. One of the most beautiful experiences I've ever had in videogames.

The main strenght of this game lies in its storytelling so going back to the beginning was a must-do!! I could slowly but surely get attached to the characters and the setting that is taking place... The pacing is just excellent and of course, the vibe, light, acting and music are absolutely gorgeous and so immersive as well. There are some puzzles here and there but they happened to be just fine. All the chapters feel so unique and different, they all have an important place in the story and everything just feel very intentional and beautiful. It's just a masterfully crafted from the begining to the end & and sits as a truly meaningful experience for the player.

My heart was in for a ride, and that ride was worth it. I will miss this game and its universe. I will miss Max and Chloe...

It's the type of game that really gelled with me when I was a teen, and adult me generally looks back on the experience fondly.

It’s so much more than I was expecting. Max is an awesome protagonist, and her life becomes increasingly strange at the point where you start to understand the weight of responsibilities. You realize that choices matter (obvious I know but you really do), and you also come to see that you have to grow up to face those adversities... or not, because it’s a game, and you get to shape your own version of the story. This is one of the best games I’ve ever played. Another point is the music! The team that worked on this they are masters.

Phenomenal game and story. It really immerses you in the world and the mind of the main character. I'll look into other Life is Strange games now that I've finished this first one.

I would personally recommend playing the Remastered version if possible, as some graphics and speech tracking is a bit dated. It's by no means a deal breaker though.

I remember all my friends playing this game before me, and hearing them talk about it was a completely different experience to actually playing it myself. It has been years now, and i still think of this game occationally. It is worth the experience.

This game changed something in me. I love the small details, the fact that Max can literally speak about everything that's shown in the map. I like that you actually have to think to get all the pictures done, the storyline is amazing and literally made me cry at the end. I would recommend it to everybody who loves cozy games, can't wait to play the other parts!

Life is Strange is and forever will be my first and truest love when it comes to games. I've tried really hard to figure out what else to say but I genuinely think that that one sentence perfectly conveys my feelings about this game. SO worth your money, time and attention!

I adore this game. I had only watched a playthrough like, 5 years ago, so I decided to play it through for real.
Despite knowing everything that happened and the final choices you had to make, legitimately nearly cried multiple times. There are some ways to get me feeling so hard about characters and this game checked multiple boxes.

Great soundtrack, Mountains will always kill me emotionally, especially considering the meaning of the song ultimately connecting to how Chloe and Rachel always wanted to run away together, but it was futile. The songs generally tie into the game like this if you look at their meanings, and I adore that about a game.

If you can get through the dated slang and the awkward 18-year-old of it all, it's a wonderful story.

I love this game so much, saw jacksepticeye play through it and its been my favorite ever since. Honestly I'm shocked its been 10 years

amazing game, hoped there were more alternate endings but its peak even after 10 years. 10/10

I am enjoying how immersive and intense the plotline is , aswell as the artstyle

I decided to check the game out because it's a ''classic'' and oh boy.
Graphics are okay, forgettable OST, ''choices matter'' ''this action will have consequences'' my ASS lmao u can literally pick random bs choices and it'd still not matter at the end cuz u'll only get 2 choices/endings anyways. Oh and don't even get me started on the inconsistent writing and how the game makes u kiss Chloe's insufferable ass so much and u can't do anything about it. Love Max though, this should have only been a game about her journey and HER alone and make Chloe a background character not some co-dependent, tag-team, two-time, ''partners in crime'' BS the game put u on.
I can see why people would like it though, do not take this review as a personal attack.

The Life of Strange franchise really went down hill after this first game. It was amazing in every single way. I am not saying the other games in the series are bad, but they don't hold a candle to this amazing game.

Perfect story, great music, must play!

One of the best video game stories of all time. A definite must for anyone who likes story games or interactive films. It's a real shame that the sequels can't match the brilliance of the first part.

Be warned this game puts a disclaimer that your choices affect the overall game but it's nothing more than the "hourglass model" where the overhead is wide but ends up funnelled with a Choose "A" or "B" scenario in the end. It's a well produced modern adventure game which tend to be called 'walking simulators', if you know what to expect from these you'll have no problem.

If you haven't, then you should know that "walking sims" or "modern adventure games" usually function as interactive movies. However a little bit of credit, they sprinkled in a few puzzles and one of them with the investigation board was something I wished L.A. Noir had.

This was the first game I've ever played and it was fantastic. Kept me on the edge of my seat. It was genuinely bittersweet when I reached the end of the last episode.

Finally completed this game after multiple times of stalling and honestly so well worth the money if you love choices matter games :-)

This is an amazing game kinda draws you into the story and I love the concept of your choices make the story change at any moment. So you really have to pay attention and try to make the correct choices.