Loretta is a noir, pixel-style psychological title set in 1940s America. While players don’t assume the role of a detective, they instead step into the shoes and psyche of the titular housewife — whose husband’s gambling habits have led the couple to relocate from New York to a rural farmhouse.

Finding out that her unfaithful spouse has filed for an insurance policy with cash value, Loretta sees it as an escape ticket from a loveless marriage. As she succumbs to the abyss of madness, the woman is left to put matters into her own hands.

The road to agency

Nicknamed “Lora,” Loretta Lou Harris is a 38-year-old housewife and jobless ornithologist living in the inherited farmhouse of her husband Walter Harris, who is also a writer. The game starts with private investigator Frank Chambers paying Loretta a visit, mainly to inquire about her husband’s disappearance and whereabouts. The beginning of this thrilling tale gives players a taste of the gameplay — essentially a fusion of point-and-click and choice-based elements. 

While the choice system is an appealing gameplay element, the dialogue options — in general — do not change the storyline, as the only narrative-altering choices are those that make you decide to end a person’s life. Hence, obtaining all endings becomes a forced process of relieving the same scenes on every playthrough. Having more branching dialogue choices would further enrich not only the plot, but also Loretta’s character.

Puzzles also appear at certain points in the game and are a nod to Loretta’s past and tumultuous psyche. However, they are a hit or miss. Some players hate the puzzles for being a cakewalk, while others find them abstract or irrelevant to the game. What makes up for these lowlights is the title’s well-crafted sound design that adds a layer of suspense and discomfort to an already heart-pounding game.

Hell hath no fury

From the setting to the premise, Loretta is a homage to noir film and literary pieces penned by authors like Vladimir Nabokov and Stephen King. Despite the linear choice system and tedious completion of endings, the fact that the titular character can gain her agency and become a harbinger of death is enough to instill a mix of shock, awe, and satisfaction among players.