Alzheimer’s Disease is something that affects so many people in the world. Either you know someone who has experienced it, you have a family member that has experienced it, or you have seen a close friend watch their family grapple with it. The idea of losing yourself to a disease that eats at you from the inside can be devastating. Before I Forget tackles the concept of Alzheimer’s/Dementia in a profound, emotional, and surprisingly authentic way.

You play as Sunita Appleby, a professor of Cosmology. You explore her home through her eyes, navigating and living a slice of her life as someone slowly succumbing to Alzheimer’s. Before I Forget plays like a typical walking simulator, you walk around and examine various objects. In the process, Sunita gives you dialogue or you hear side characters in flashback form detailing her previous life.

Additionally, you’ll read things like emails, hear voicemails from her caregiver Maria, and experience life from Sunita’s perspective. This includes everything from losing track of time, losing time in general, waking up in strange places, and even losing track of where her bathroom is.

I won’t go into too many details about the other characters or the story of the game, because this is an experience best seen for yourself. As you explore the house and look at objects, they go from blank slates to blooming with color. The visuals are very watercolor-esque, but there are vibrant visuals in other art styles as well.

Looking at pictures, newspaper clippings, magazines, and other things in Sunita’s home gives you a snapshot of her history. Some of the story elements are powerful, especially delivered in the way that Before I Forget presents them. There is something to be said for knowing Sunita’s fate before you start. Knowing that the game deals with Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and the loss of yourself makes Sunita’s story so much more than just a casual walk through her history.

The voice acting is fantastic, and it is very clear why Before I Forget was nominated for a BAFTA award. From the meaningful premise to the fact that you can feel like you know characters even though you never actually interact with them firsthand, it all feels very well crafted. Before I Forget also has a host of accessibility options, including adjustable text sizes and high-contrast subtitles.

Before I Forget isn’t a very long game. You can play through the entire thing in an hour, possibly a little bit longer if you really take your time. However, it is an experience that you will be thinking about long after the game is over. I honestly haven’t seen a more authentic portrayal of Alzheimer’s in a video game before.

If you are looking for a meaningful, profound, beautiful experience, then Before I Forget is a perfect option. The controls are simple, the visuals are great, and the voice acting is well done. You can’t go wrong with giving Before I Forget a try.

A Nintendo Switch review copy of Before I Forget was provided by 3-Fold Games for this review.

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Before I Forget

$7.99 USD

9.5

Score

9.5/10

Pros

• Beautiful Visuals
• Great Voice Acting
• Authentic Portrayal of Dementia
• Heartfelt Story

Cons

• Short Play-Time