This Is a True Story
Interactive story is light on gameplay but heavy on message.
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This Is a True Story
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that This Is a True Story is an interactive story app available for download exclusively to Netflix subscribers on Android and iOS mobile devices. The app follows the story of an African woman's day-long trek through the harsh African environment to collect drinking water for her home. There are some light puzzle elements throughout the story. Failure at these does not force the game to end, but simply restarts that section of the game for players to try over until they succeed. Parents should be aware that this is a very short story and, while it's technically a free download, it does require that players have an active Netflix profile in order to download and play.
What’s It About?
THIS IS A TRUE STORY is a hand-painted interactive tale that gives players a glimpse at the harsh conditions some African villagers face on a daily basis. In this story, players take on the role of a woman undertaking a day-long journey under the unforgiving African sun just to gather a supply of adequate water for herself and her friends. Players listen to the dreams and desires of the people -- with information based on actual interviews and events -- and hear about the effects that poor drinking water has had on their society. The game also shows the hazards the villagers regularly face and strive to overcome, including wild animals, poachers, and even the environment itself. It's a story of courage, determination, strength, and hope, of seeing both the good and the bad of the world that surrounds us.
Is It Any Good?
Sometimes a game is meant to entertain, while other times it's meant to carry a message. This Is a True Story falls squarely into the latter category. In fact, it's a stretch to even call it a game. Sure, it's got a couple of very basic puzzle elements tossed in to keep you busy for part of the time it takes to complete from start to finish, which is less than an hour. But that just makes it more of an interactive story than anything else. That's not to say there's not a lot to take in. The visuals are beautiful, like a painting brought to life. The narration is engaging as you listen to the character's inner thoughts, still filled with hope even after the suffering she and those around her have endured. And the overall message, spotlighting the importance of the availability of clean water in underdeveloped societies, is presented in a powerful but not desperate manner. But while the story might be rich with perspective and insight, as a game, it simply comes up dry.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about interactive storytelling. How can adding game elements to a story help the audience get more engaged with its message? Do these breaks in the flow of the story help or hurt the overall experience?
How can video games be used to help put a spotlight on real-world issues? What are some ways that games might be used to solve some of these issues?
App Details
- Devices: iPhone, iPad, Android
- Subjects: Math: addition, division, multiplication, subtraction, Social Studies: cultural understanding, global awareness
- Skills: Thinking & Reasoning: solving puzzles
- Pricing structure: Free
- Release date: March 22, 2022
- Category: Puzzle Games
- Topics: Adventures, Great Girl Role Models, Science and Nature, Wild Animals
- Version: 1.0.2
- Minimum software requirements: Requires iOS 15.0 or higher; Android 8.0 and up
- Last updated: December 2, 2022
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