The Lion's Song

The Lion's Song (2016) is a narrative adventure set in pre-war Vienna, about a talented young musician with great expectations placed upon her. Play involves traversing the city, talking to locals and deciding how best to make your way in the world. It stands out for the intricate interleaving of characters and how choices impact not only the current chapter but the story as a whole.

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The game is set in Vienna at the turn of the 20^th century. You explore the city to find musical inspiration while navigating the limited social norms of the day. It's a story that unfolds from the perspective of four different people in each of the four overlapping episodes.

As you progress the choices you make impact not only the current episode but the other characters; Wilma the gifted young violinist, Franz the struggling artist and Emma the hopeful mathematician. The final chapter brings the different stories and characters together for one of the possible endings.

The result is a game that offers not only an interweaving story but a chance to reflect on social mobility, gender discrimination and the challenge of finding our place in the world. It's a streamlined game that doesn't complicate things with too many puzzles or challenges, while also responding to your choices in ways that feel fair and make sense - even when the consequences are unintended.

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Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked The Lion's Song 5 months ago. It was re-examined by Ellen Robertson and updated 4 weeks ago.