![]()
The Museum of Broken Memories is a beautifully woven interactive narrative that may even be considered a work of art.
It is a point-and-click game, yes; and yet it is so much more than that. It is available as a free download for Windows only.
The game consists of five (5) starkly different levels, or vignettes, that explore feelings of inadequacy, hopelessness, anguish, loss, and the like. The images and words expressed may seem familiar to anyone that has found themselves slowly sinking into a world of depression or self-doubt. But in the end it is a soulful journey that must be experienced to appreciate the unique form of narrative that the author, Jonas Kyratzes, has constructed.
When told his creation was more art than game, Jonas responded:
"I'd just like to slightly disagree with your use of the terms game and art. The way I see it, they are not opposites at all. Games are interactive art. Art implies only a work's nature, not its quality or seriousness. Games are still a very new art form, but so once were movies. Within that great realm of possibility that is interactive art, there is space for all kinds of stories and experiences. This is a more sombre one, true—but I wouldn't say it's not a game."
Like any work of art, personal interpretation plays an important role here, as there are many images and words to browse through and interact with, and an array of emotions that will be evoked. The storyline is sometimes clear and sometimes vague, and there is much symbolism present and references to other works to support a wide range of perspectives. It's both short and fairly easy; the joy in this one is the feeling of awe upon the game's denouement.
My only complaints are that it requires a download and anyone without a PC is out of luck. For what it's worth, though, the modest wait for the game to download is far shorter than actual gameplay time, and at 100% free the price is definitely right.
Mere words cannot describe the sheer complexity of this experience. Try it out.
Windows:
Download the free game
Mac OS X:
Not available. Use Boot Camp or Parallels.
Comment Preview
Leave a comment
Favorite Games [edit]
Recommended
Casual Game Downloads
Worth the trip
Recent (Flux) Visitors
Support JIG
Monthly Archives
All games mentioned and images appearing on JayIsGames are Copyright their respective owner(s).
All other content is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Game Walkthroughs
IRC server: irc.jayisgames.com
IRC channel: #casualgameplay













Comments (may contain spoilers)
Once I found the map
Posted by: Franci | October 5, 2006 8:26 AM
Wow. Just...wow. That's all I can say after playing this. It's a lot of experience, to a point where it would not leave you untouched. It can be really frustrating but it's beautiful. I think it is a game, an art, an experience and maybe even beyond that.
Posted by: val | October 5, 2006 12:27 PM
i definitely have trouble playing this. it is disturbing.
Posted by: Scramble125
|
October 5, 2006 12:37 PM
This is disturbing . though beautiful so complex so intense but still calming. its the most enlightening game EVER. i felt depressed and playing this game calmed me ! love it and you all got to try it
Posted by: dark_pixie | October 5, 2006 2:05 PM
wow. I just got out of the map with the water. This game is intense
Posted by: goomy | October 5, 2006 5:02 PM
This is crazy that dark room scared me the most.
Posted by: Sacrath | October 5, 2006 6:00 PM
Anyone else having trouble running this game? I get "Failed to allocate back-buffer. Your graphics card might not have enough memory. Try to reduce the screen resolution or color depth and run again" This does not work, and I've never had a problem before? Any ideas?
Posted by: Brett | October 5, 2006 6:02 PM
Ok, I finished now. It's the best game I've played that has been posted in this site. So distressing, specially because of the music, I guess. Very nice :)
Posted by: goomy | October 5, 2006 6:09 PM
Brett-
That's pretty bizzare, as the game should only take up a small amount of memory, and there isn't really any rendering going on to speak of. Try re-installing it maybe? I really have no idea, but try contacting Jonas;
http://www.jonas-kyratzes.net/contact.php
It's nice to hear everyone else is enjoying the game.
Posted by: DerekW | October 5, 2006 7:14 PM
I just started this game & began in room 5, I think. Intense so far, good music, great minimal graphics, yet nothing remains static for too long.
Posted by: Corona | October 5, 2006 7:32 PM
Wow this game was freakin amazing. I experienced all 5 terrors. When you're done
The door room: I really like the idea of this. The shadows that chase you...the shadows that haunt your nightmare...the shadows...
The ruin room: This one was amazing, the five memories. Forgetting yet remembering, and when you remember, you hate yourself for forgetting.
The fever room: I loved this room. The hanged man, the water, the paintings. When you go farther the water gets higher.
The note room: I loved this one. He wanted to make a differnt game, but really wanted to make the broken dreams. But the idea of this level was beautiful
The dark room: He loved Anna...as he went farther for her she could still see nothing. But when he saw the light, Anna wasn't there.
The empty room: The conclusion was great. There was no way out though.
Posted by: Wise dude | October 6, 2006 1:10 AM
I think the first room scared me most. I was a little odd out by the last room cause it was just...darkness. I love the ruin one. I find it beautiful. The fever room was just frustrating. :D
Posted by: val | October 6, 2006 11:54 AM
This is the first time I've ever replied to anything on this site, but after playing this I absolutely had to say thank you for bringing something so beautiful to my attention. I was absolutely floored by the way it was pieced together, utilizing all of those quotes by blake and huxley and even the things the author himself wrote. Absolutely wonderful. Thanks so much for posting.
Posted by: wendy | October 13, 2006 2:43 AM
im totally stuck inside the notes! i keep getting sent back to the note map can someone help me? thanks!
Posted by: Naomi | October 31, 2006 6:57 PM
Damn, it's not available for Mac. D:
Posted by: Ayu | November 7, 2006 7:42 PM
I'm stuck in the paper map too. HELP!!!
Posted by: tankgirl23 | November 16, 2006 1:44 AM
nm. to anyone else stuck in the map... just keep trying. it eventually lets you go where you couldn't before.
Posted by: tankgirl23 | November 16, 2006 1:47 AM
This was a hauntingly beautiful game. I have never been effected by game like that. Thank you for posting this
Posted by: Julia | November 30, 2006 10:25 PM
Wow. This was gorgeous. Just gorgeous!
Normally I don't download games - I'm really glad I did, in this instance. It was haunting, beautiful, scary, and chilling all to the very end.
Posted by: Metanaito
|
February 9, 2007 8:43 PM
I want to play this, but I dunno.
Does anything really jump out and give you heart attacks?
Posted by: Calli | February 23, 2007 5:42 PM
If you get a page talking about the site being hacked (and I qoute: 'by some moron with nothing better to do') then try this link:
Click Me!
Posted by: Grosie
|
March 16, 2007 11:39 AM
Thanks, Grosie! I've updated the links above to point to the game's new location on Jonas' site.
Posted by: jay
|
March 16, 2007 11:51 AM
on the paper map the comments in the corner remind me of when I hand in a writing paper to my teacher, great game anyways.
Posted by: Evan | June 22, 2007 10:17 PM
Once again, a beautiful piece.
This was truly a marvelous game and my personal favourite was the fourth room.
The music was calming and emotional at the same time.
Now that I've played this, I'll probably try the other ones also.
Posted by: Candyholic | July 29, 2007 9:04 AM
this game is so creepy! I hate the door room or whatever its called. The red place?? its so creepy, and I don't know how to get out. I don't get the room of notes. I had to press Esc so I could get out. The fever room is hard too. I can't make anything out, its all black and white. The dark room was confusing. And what are 'Them' and who and what are they? they sound pretty creepy to me.
Posted by: TaladorPhoenix | August 11, 2007 7:10 PM
While all you are talking about beating the game, some of us all struggling. Would someone mind telling me how to beat rooms 5, 6, and 7?
Posted by: TaladorPhoenix | August 11, 2007 7:26 PM
Never mind. Wow. I feel that I understood so little before I started the game. I finished and I feel a deep sense of humility. When I started, I thought that this was just a creepy point and click game. But what I learned from this game is that there is more to life than just worldly possesions, or what people think of you, or how cool you are. There is much more than that. I am a writer at heart and now that I have played this game, I feel inspiration leaking from my brain. This is probably the best game I have ever played, and I feel proud to have finished. I feel like I have a deep connection with the Museum of Broken Memories, and even though it is a prison, I feel as if it's set me free.
Posted by: TaladorPhoenix | August 11, 2007 8:26 PM
it wont let me download. apparently it's "Forbidden
You don't have permission to access /MuseumSetup.exe on this server." is there somewhere else i can download it from?
Posted by: vick | August 22, 2007 3:38 PM
For those of you stuck in the notes room:
Also, did anyone else notice how some of the rooms connect? In the fever room, you can see part of the door room. The creepy thing is that there is apparently blood in the room now. *shiver* And in the notes room there is that shop with the sign, yes, we're open. The same one from the ruins room. Looks like the whole town is like that. The only one that doesn't have a match is the dark room, but I'm trying to find connections with it and the hotel from the fever room. Haven't found any proof yet, though.
Posted by: TaladorPhoenix | September 15, 2007 6:47 PM
DAMN, that was good!
I liked it, I think, because it feels like what you experience in dreams-- or even more, nightmares. You have these odd 'fragments', as Mr. Kyratzes put it, that you can't piece together but every now and then something happens that brings you a flash of a horrible nightmare you once had...but as soon as you get it, you forget it. You just have this feeling of fear or shame.
Another good part of Mr. Kyratzes' work (I feel like I'm writing an essay here :P) was the pictures in the rooms. His photoshop (or whatever he used) skills are amazing. I truly respect someone who has that talent who can connect such paintings together and give enough plot detail so that the player is forced to piece it together in their heads. I'm sure no two peoples' plot summary of MOBM would be exactly the same.
And the notes room was a nice touch. Took a while to get my mind around though-- I've never played a PNC game like that before.
I'd give it a 10/10.
Posted by: Alice | October 30, 2007 10:55 PM
hi i dont know why i cant seem to GET OUT OF THE picture frames!!!
even the Welcome picture frame left me stuck already!
is there a bug in the game or something???
Posted by: wiwi | November 8, 2007 7:42 AM
Amazing game.
My favourite was the fever room. I was physically shaking by the time I finished it, on my second try. The first time it got to me - I was so I scared ended up clicking blindly everywhere in a panic and then gave up. It drove me crazy.
The dark room is too sublime for words. The rooms mapped themselves out in my mind.
The Museum felt like confronting all my childhood fears: the dark, being chased, being trapped, people without faces. A great experience.
Posted by: rave | December 13, 2007 7:08 PM
Oh my gosh! When I first played this game, it was at night and I had the volume up really loud. Man, that was freaky! The first room I went in was the
But I finished the game today. Awesome game! And I love the interactions! It's like you're actually there! Really impressive! I wish there were more games like this. The art is amazing too! The story line was pretty creative and I just love this game! LOVE IT! 100/10
Posted by: Twisted
|
December 21, 2007 1:11 PM
So I downloaded it, installed it, tried to play it. Nuttin.
It's like whenever I click on it, nothing happens. Anyone got any help for me?
Posted by: Linkmaster94 | February 22, 2008 6:15 PM
This game was, in a word, beautiful. Jonas' other works are also excellent.
Where can I find games that are similar in nature to these and are on par with them in terms of artistic quality and gameplay?
Posted by: Wolfgang DelaSangre
|
April 15, 2008 4:46 AM
i need help with dark room.
i just do not get it.
Posted by: Proof Lady | April 26, 2008 12:38 PM