Something as common as a dream can be interpreted hundreds of ways, and it's impossible to say that any one way is incorrect. To strip down our subconscious into files of data to be analyzed and explored is fantasy of memory as near fact, and it's the future of The Signifier, a game that interrogates these lofty ideas to varying levels of success.

From developer Playmestudio and publisher Raw Fury, The Signifier is a game unique in both concept and execution. As a first-person puzzler that relies heavily on thinking over action, the player's only interactions are simple clicks and drags of the mouse. This is often used to solve intricate puzzles, but just as often can be used to simply learn information. The Signifier has a conscious slowness to its movement, with each item picked up for examination accompanied by laborious narration, though walking speeds can be changed to some extent.

Related: Relicta Review - A Fun & Frustrating Magnetic Puzzle Game

The Signifier follows Frederick Russell, an AI and psychology expert, creator of the brain scanner Dreamwalker. Players are tasked with using the device to discover the cause behind the recent death of a high-profile figure. Russell's investigation begins with the typical examination of real-world evidence: searching the victim's apartment for clues. However, it quickly takes a turn for the surreal, when Frederick begins to explore his objective, and later, subjective memories.

The Signifier Memory Screenshot

It's hard not to draw immediate comparisons to the work of Christopher Nolan,with beats reminiscent of InceptionThere are layers to dreaming in both The Signifier and Inception, though the former takes a much less "blockbuster" approach to the mysteries of the human mind. The puzzles the player encounters range from manipulating objects to find their correct place in a memory to possessing different people in a memory to decode a new area. Each step forward is a challenge that provides an interesting look into difficult psychological concepts.

To that point, The Signifier is far from approachable. The dissonant sounds and visuals that make up the majority of the levels are headache-inducing even to the most practiced of players. Puzzles themselves require a deep level of thought and understanding that many may not be willing to commit, which will certainly raise the barrier of entry for this game more than its initial presentation might indicate. Those who can put in the time, however, will be rewarded with a story that raises questions of AI, consciousness, and privacy.

There's more than just the game's barrier of entry keeping The Signifier from being the title it dreams of being. Though the graphics are polished, other aspects of the game are lacking the same level of attention. The voice-over acting in particular feels more befitting of a nature documentary than a mystery game. Frederick provides context for nearly everything the player clicks, and his monotonous tones greatly slow the pace of the game. Additionally, both the movement and overall level design feel awkward and claustrophobic, which can lead to frustrating moments even if they were intended to be so.

The Signifier Inception Screenshot

From the onset, The Signifier presents itself as something wholly different. Both the game and its central character have the lofty goal of interpreting dreams and memories in a visually interesting way. There are puzzles that utilize this concept well, and encounters that showcase just how daunting the creation of an AI dream-machine would be, but they are few and far between. The overall pacing and the moment-to-moment gameplay require far too much commitment for the average player. There's a great version of The Signifier out there, imagined deep in someone's dreams - but we'll just have to settle for the real thing.

Next: Ring of Pain Review: Fear Of The Dark

The Signifier is out now on Steam for $19.99. Screen Rant was provided with a digital copy for the purpose of this review.