We Love It's Guide to…
As Elise, investigate a time-displaced French coastal village, solving puzzles and planning each day before nightfall.
Released 09 Sep 2022
Change Weather, Open Paths
Listen While You Explore
Beat the Nightfall Clock
Broken Pieces is a psychological thriller taking place in a french coastal village somehow outside the flow of time. Solve the mysteries by putting the pieces of the story back together by figuring out the enigma behind this mystical place.
Developed by Elseware Experience, Benoit Dereau, Mael Vignaux · Published by indie.io
Elise finds herself alone in Saint-Exil, a French coastal village outside the normal flow of time after an unexplained paranormal event. She investigates the abandoned town and the strange forces surrounding it.
Explore village locations, inspect the environment, and solve puzzles to move forward. Found cassette tapes reveal fragments of local history and Elise’s story, and can be played while you explore.
Use weather-changing abilities to alter the environment and open routes, while planning trips around a day cycle that makes returning home before nightfall important. Manage limited inventory, gather supplies, and face enemies with a gun. Camera options include over-the-shoulder and fixed angles.
Players who enjoyed Broken Pieces often highlight the isolated coastal setting, atmospheric exploration, and the gradual discovery of the village’s mystery. Puzzles and the cassette player—used to hear music and story recordings while exploring—also stand out. Reviews are mixed on the combat and controls, and some players found the story unclear or unresolved.
Mainly created by a team of 5 people, Broken Pieces is the first game to come out of the French game development studio Elseware Experience.
When Elise and her fiancé decided to leave urban life and settle near the French coast, she could not imagine that she would end up completely alone.
Now, surrounded by strange phenomena in a dark, post-Cold War climate, Elise will have to investigate and unravel the mysteries surrounding the region of Saint-Exil, its ritualistic cult, and its lighthouse overlooking the coast.
Broken Pieces is an action-packed investigative and adventure video game set in France. The game puts you in the shoes of Elise, a woman in her thirties who finds herself in the village of Saint-Exil in an imaginary region reminiscent of Brittany. Following an unexplained paranormal phenomenon, Elise is stuck, completely alone and out of time. Your investigation begins here…
Playtime : 9 to 12h.
DLSS supported.
Explore the area of Saint-Exil and its surroundings in the 1990s.
Choose between either a standard TPS camera as well-known in modern TPS or a completely revised version of the camera system that accompanied legendary game franchises of the 90s, aimed at providing greater flexibility and player agency.
Switch between 2 camera angles in any situation or drop into a first-person view to have a closer look around.
Interact with the environment to learn more about what has happened to you in Saint-Exil.
Your investigation will be rhythmically punctuated by cinematic sequences, with motion entirely captured from handheld cameras.
Enjoy a thriller atmosphere in your adventure to the fullest extent.
Keep an eye on the time with your watch; it is imperative that you get home before nightfall.
Manage your inventory capacity and ensure that you carry about what you need to make progress.
A variety of additional interactive elements, such as a vintage arcade machine, is available in your main and secondary quests.
Change the weather of Saint-Exil to forge new paths or solve the puzzles blocking your way.
You will discover tapes from which you can draw clues to help you in your investigation.
Use the tape player to fast-forward or rewind the tapes and home in on the information you seek.
Listen to your tapes while exploring the village of Saint-Exil and enjoy a seamless experience of discovery.
Discover the music composed by Pierre for Élise that will accompany you in your adventure.
Face challenging enemies with a unique combat system using fixed camera angles.
Dodge your enemies or hold them at a distance using your powers to better defeat them.
Restore your health by grabbing a drink in the fridge, catching a nap on a bench or spending a night in the safety of your bed.
Craft high-quality ammo and upgrade your gun to increase your fighting abilities.
| Platforms | Windows |
|---|---|
| Achievements | 14 |
| Age ratings |
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| Controller support | Xbox |
| Controller required | No |
| Website | Official website |
