The point-and-click adventure game I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream has been out for 31 years. The title expands the 1967 short story of the same name into a multi-route psychological horror adventure, where different player choices lead to different outcomes.
Released in October 1995, the game is set in a future where humanity is nearly extinct. AM, a sentient AI that hates humans, has kept five survivors alive for centuries, continuously tormenting them. Players must confront the fears and dark pasts of Gorrister, Ellen, Nimdok, Ted, and Benny individually, collecting items and unlocking new routes in an attempt to break free from AM's control.
The game features multiple routes and endings, with only one "true" ending matching the short story's conclusion; the rest depend on player choices. Retrospective articles suggest this design is a key reason the work remains appealing after 31 years, allowing the game to supplement visual and character details that the original story could not present through its interactive format.
Original author Harlan Ellison not only approved the adaptation but also served as co-designer, providing his voice for AM and other content in his only voice acting role. He helped establish the game's difficult-to-win structure and tone of despair, later agreeing to include a more hopeful ending. However, some fans of the original work feel these more optimistic outcomes dilute the short story's themes.
At the time of the article's publication, I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream was on sale on Steam for $1.49, an 85% discount.