I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream Review

Nightdive Studios has remastered I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, the classic point-and-click adventure originally developed by Cyberdreams and Dreamers Guild. Based on Harlan Ellison’s acclaimed 1960s short story of the same name, the game follows five survivors trapped by AM, a malevolent supercomputer that has exterminated humanity.

Each character endures a psychological and emotional trial, confronting their darkest fears and past sins under AM’s relentless torment. Even death offers no escape, as AM resurrects them until they navigate the exact path it has devised.

What will come out of these subjects? It’s time to go back in time to Harlan Ellison’s I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream!

A Different Kind of Adventure

Harlan Ellison’s I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream remains a classic within the point-and-click adventure genre, alongside revered titles such as King’s Quest. While modern adaptations like Return to Monkey Island and Telltale Games’ The Wolf Among Us offer a more cinematic approach, there’s a charm in revisiting the traditional point-and-click adventures.

The game’s interface retains its classic 4:3 aspect ratio, while refining its pixelated visuals to complement a retro aesthetic that remains faithful to the original. The pixel art evokes a strong sense of nostalgia, comparable to the efforts seen in Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster, making it a fitting tribute.

For those who grew up with these titles in the early ’90s, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream is a nostalgic journey into gaming history, offering insight into the mechanics and storytelling that shaped the genre. The game serves as a testament to the importance of video game preservation, providing modern players with a glimpse of how adventure games were once designed.

However, it may not be every gamer’s cup of tea, as many of its aspects are products of their time. From the figure of speech to even the anachronistic technology that may seem quite ironic when developers from the early 90s describe the tech in the mid-2010s. It gave me a laugh how ROM CD drives and chips were the standard of technology that allowed a supercomputer to develop sentience.

The game’s voice acting remains solid, but while some performances can feel overly dramatic, they still offer a glimpse into the storytelling style of the time, though they may not match the impact of Ellison’s original 1960s prose.

Narratively, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream delivers an unsettling and thought-provoking experience, presenting players with morally complex choices—none of which lead to a desirable outcome, only a lesser evil. For longtime fans familiar with the source material, this bleakness is expected. However, for newcomers, it may be surprising.

Some Dated Issues

I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream is best played on PC or a system with precise mouse controls. The PS5 DualSense controller presents challenges, and while the directional pad offers slightly better accuracy for item selection, the analog sticks tend to be overly sensitive, often skipping past the intended target.

It would have been nice if the game had utilized the PS5’s trackpad, offering a more intuitive substitute for a mouse. Nonetheless, the button mapping for essential commands is well-executed, making navigation manageable despite the limitations.

Like many titles from the golden age of point-and-click adventures, this game presents trial-and-error mechanics, often requiring players to rely on logic and deduction to advance. When stuck, solutions may not be immediately apparent, leading to extended moments of frustration.

Character death adds another layer of frustration. As part of AM’s torment, players are resurrected after each failure, but at the cost of restarting the entire scenario. While this repetition reinforces the oppressive nature of the narrative, experiencing the same sequences multiple times can become tedious. However, subtle clues from previous attempts help inform new strategies, adding an element of dark humor to AM’s psychological manipulation.

While the game runs well overall, minor glitches occasionally disrupt immersion, though none are game-breaking. Fortunately, frequent save options mitigate any setbacks, making it essential for players to save progress often.

With a playtime of 6–8 hours, I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream offers opportunities for multiple playthroughs, allowing players to explore different decisions and their consequences. However, replaying scenarios can feel cumbersome due to the inherent nature of the gameplay structure.

Verdict: Wait For It…

Harlan Ellison’s I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream remains a significant piece of gaming history. It allows veteran players to revisit its haunting narrative while offering modern gamers a glimpse into the roots of classic point-and-click adventures. Though the game retains its distinct quirks—for better or worse—it continues to entertain fans of hard science fiction and retro adventure titles.

Nightdive Studios has established itself as a key player in game preservation. They have brought back beloved titles from the golden era of PC gaming, including adventure games and fast-paced boomer shooters that laid the groundwork for today’s industry. With its expertise in revitalizing classic experiences, we eagerly anticipate future remasters—especially those that bring more point-and-click adventures to both PC and console players.

*Harlan Ellison’s I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream was reviewed on a PS5 with a review code provided by the publisher.