Kathy Rain: Director's Cut

A must not only for every lover of the genre, but of detective fiction in general. The dense atmosphere and inexplicable mysteries are even more pervasive in the new version, and so even replaying this adventure game is a clear choice. [Issue#317]

Kathy Rain, the original creation of Clifftop Games, isn't just a "very good indie point-and-click that captures the magic of the classics." This IS a classic. From the great puzzles, and how you are "guided" towards solving them, feeling like an investigator while at it, to the deeply engrossing story, strong atmosphere, and even stronger main character, it's easy to see that this is one of the best of its kind - and now it's even better. Kathy Rain: Director's Cut improves it in all sorts of ways, making it the clear choice between the two versions, even for those who have already played the first instalment.

Kathy Rain is one of the best modern point and click adventure games. It has a memorable lead character, a twisted plot that hooks the player, and cool detective mechanics. We hope to see Kathy Rain 2 soon.

Kathy Rain: DIrector’s Cut is definitely the edition of the game anyone new to the title should play. It polishes up the original, keeps the original characterization, expands some of the plot, and adds some quality of life improvements that go a long way for this short adventure. If you’ve been craving an adventure game that stokes some old nostalgia of the 90’s and VHS tapes, then look no further.

Kathy Rain: Director's Cut makes the original obsolete and still delivers a mesmerizing adventure game, although the new stuff might not be enough for fans who played it before.

Kathy Rain may not be an exceptional point-and-click adventure game, but it’s far from mediocre. The five or so hours of playtime provide you with a compelling story, interesting characters, and some very nice pixel art. I enjoyed my first playthrough back in 2016, and I enjoyed my playthrough of the Director’s Cut today. Though there isn’t a massive amount of new content, the additional gameplay polish, voice acting, widescreen backgrounds, and puzzles make this the definitive version to play. If you’re looking for a shorter-form adventure game (and as I’ve said in the past, not every game needs to be a 30-hour epic), then Kathy Rain: Director’s Cut is a solid choice!

Overall, the story is well told, and the puzzles do a great job of stumping you just enough to make you pay that extra bit of attention to a clue or dialogue you may have missed. [Highly Recommended]