The Berlin Apartment

The Berlin Apartment is a story-driven game that delivers exactly what it promises: the stories of the residents of a Berlin apartment, told across four episodes set in different periods of the city's history. The overarching narrative and connecting thread is the renovation of the apartment by a handyman and his daughter during the COVID era. The episodes are told in a straightforward manner, without major twists, and are interspersed with short gameplay sections that add a bit of variety. However, these gameplay moments are very brief and simple, offering little in the way of challenge. The game takes between three and four hours to complete, though completionists could probably stretch that to around five hours by exploring every corner of the apartment. In the end, your enjoyment will largely depend on whether you connect with the individual stories and whether their emotional moments resonate with you. It should be noted that the stories are very much rooted in German culture, so players from outside Germany may not experience the same emotional impact or catch many of the subtle references to everyday life in Berlin across its different historical eras. Since the story resonated with me—and I even felt like I learned a thing or two along the way—I can recommend the game. It's a great choice for a rainy afternoon if you're looking to spend a few hours immersed in Berlin's history.