A Poignant Journey Through German History
Home is where the heart is, or so the saying goes.
When we think of our houses, flats, or even the mansions we might aspire to live in, we almost always view them as a place of personal comfort; a sanctuary that belongs solely to us; an escape from the chaotic outside world.
However, unless you are lucky enough to move into a brand-new build, the reality is that other people have lived within those walls before you. Depending on the age of the house, it could have been home to hundreds of different people over the decades. They all left their mark, each with their own stories, arguments, moments of intense love, and tragic happenings.
The Berlin Apartment is a game entirely focused on one such space – a residence that is currently being renovated but has been the home to many people over the years. This game swaps between times and stories to tell a handful of these poignant tales.
Renovations and Revelation
This is a first-person narrative adventure that frames its tales by starting in the year 2020. Here, you view the world through the eyes of a little girl called Dilara. She is reluctantly tagging along with her father, Malik, whose job it is to renovate the titular apartment in Berlin. He is getting his daughter to help him with the work, and this manual labour serves as the catalyst for the narrative.
As Dilara examines the place, pulls down layers of old wallpaper, and finds hidden secrets, these actions unlock four different stories from the apartment’s long and varied history.
Four Eras, One Window
The first story focuses on the year 1989, a pivotal time in the city’s history. When you look out of the apartment window, you are greeted by the sight of the Berlin Wall and the checkpoints that were still standing, dividing the East from the West. The apartment is located on the East side and is occupied by a would-be botanist in his mid-20s. He lives in the apartment alone – well, mostly alone. His only company is a speaking fish, which highlights the surreal isolation he feels. He spends his time looking out of the window at the life on the other side of the concrete wall. The narrative kicks into gear when he receives a paper aeroplane carrying a message from the other side, an event that provokes a response and a sense of possible excitement in his otherwise quiet life.
The second story takes us further back, to Christmas 1945, immediately following the end of the Second World War. This segment is told through the innocent eyes of a child trying to decorate the house for the festive season. It is a deeply poignant tale that illustrates the state of Germany after the war and what it was going through during that period. The atmosphere is heavy, not just with the aftermath of the conflict, but with the unspoken absence of the father. This void in the family dynamic makes the story even more impactful and emotional to play through.
The third story travels even further back to 1933. This chapter features an elderly protagonist who is looking to leave the apartment. The view from the other side of the window has changed grimly; instead of the wall or a post-war street, you see Nazi flags hanging everywhere. This speaks volumes about the political climate without needing a word of dialogue, serving once again as a very effective piece of environmental storytelling.
Finally, the fourth story is set in the swinging era of 1967. This narrative focuses on a female novelist who is desperately trying to finish her latest book while dealing with increasing demands from her publisher. This particular chapter takes us out of the literal confines of the apartment and transports us into the imagination of the novelist herself. As a result, it has a very different feel and tone compared to the other three historical stories, but I enjoyed this difference as it offered a fresh perspective on the location.
Cinematic Pacing
These stories provide a wonderful, intimate glimpse into the lives of four very different protagonists, all while using significant, world-altering events in German history as a backdrop. The stories are, at times, beautifully told and possess a resonance that will stay with me long after the game has finished. I also loved the holding narrative of Malik and Dilara in the 2020s, which ground the flashbacks effectively.
The gameplay is admittedly basic, but that’s not to say it isn’t important or that it lacks value. You should think of titles like What Remains of Edith Finch in terms of how it is put together. Sometimes your interaction is as simple as placing Christmas decorations in the right spots to progress the scene. At one point, you are tasked with cooking a meal, going through the motions of preparation. In the same story, you are physically making and folding paper aeroplanes, getting them ready to fly.
For a game where the narrative is the undisputed lead, these interactions make the gameplay interesting and fun to perform without distracting from the plot. However, I think some people might find the pacing a bit too slow for them, and the complete lack of a traditional challenge might lose a few gamers, particularly those who prefer more action.
Watercolor Worlds
Visually, The Berlin Apartment looks amazing. It presents a colourful, almost water-coloured world that is delightful to look at, yet it does not shy away from highlighting the darker moments in history. The characters themselves are beautifully drawn and designed, fitting perfectly into this artistic style. I particularly liked how the camera moves in all these stories; it feels cinematic, and the visual storytelling in each of the episodes tries something new and different to suit the specific era being depicted.
The voice work for all the stories is of a very high standard, conveying the emotion well. It is, however, a little strange at times to hear different accents from the cast, even though they are all supposedly from the same place. The soundtrack that accompanies the stories is sublime, managing to be subtle and emotive in the same breath.
A Poignant and Beautiful Historical Anthology
The Berlin Apartment accomplishes a lot within its five-hour running time. It successfully takes you across four different decades, centred around an apartment that has stood at the cornerstone of German history. Berlin is undoubtedly the star of the show, and through the window frames, you realise just how much change and horror the city has gone through.
But ultimately, this is a story about people. The Berlin Apartment comes with amazing characters that talk of family, love, fantasy, and war. It’s a game that I loved, and although there are some pacing problems in some of the stories, it’s a game that will make you want to visit Berlin.
Important Links
If These Walls Could Talk… The Berlin Apartment Launches on Xbox, PS5 & PC – https://www.thexboxhub.com/if-these-walls-could-talk-the-berlin-apartment-launches-on-xbox-ps5-pc/
The Berlin Apartment teases a Century of Stories – https://www.thexboxhub.com/the-berlin-apartment-teases-a-century-of-stories/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/the-berlin-apartment/9N6KLRW18FV0/0010
