Before Your Eyes

Before Your Eyes is a first-person narrative adventure game that uses the player’s webcam to track their blinks, which serve as the primary mechanic to progress through the story. The game follows the life of a man named Benjamin Brynn, who, after dying, is guided by a ferryman through his memories to determine his fate in the afterlife. The story explores themes of life, death, and the significance of moments, with the unique blink-based gameplay creating an immersive and emotionally resonant experience.

Before Your Eyes: A Masterclass in Emotional Storytelling and Innovative Gameplay

Introduction

Before Your Eyes is a rare gem in the landscape of video games—a title that transcends traditional boundaries of interaction and narrative to deliver an experience that is as emotionally profound as it is technically innovative. Developed by GoodbyeWorld Games and published by Skybound Games, this first-person narrative adventure game employs a groundbreaking mechanic: using the player’s real-life blinks, detected via webcam, to progress through the story. This seemingly simple interaction becomes a powerful metaphor for the passage of time, the fragility of memory, and the inevitability of mortality.

At its core, Before Your Eyes is a meditation on life, death, and the stories we tell ourselves to make sense of our existence. It follows Benjamin “Benny” Brynn, a recently deceased soul navigating the afterlife under the guidance of a mysterious Ferryman. As Benny recounts his life—from childhood to his untimely death—the player’s blinks dictate the pacing of these memories, creating a deeply personal and immersive experience. The game’s narrative is a poignant exploration of regret, love, and the human desire for legacy, all wrapped in a story that is as heartbreaking as it is hopeful.

What sets Before Your Eyes apart is its seamless integration of gameplay and storytelling. The blinking mechanic is not merely a gimmick but a fundamental part of the narrative structure, reinforcing the game’s themes of transience and the fleeting nature of life. This review will delve into the game’s development history, narrative depth, gameplay mechanics, artistic design, critical reception, and lasting legacy, arguing that Before Your Eyes is not just a remarkable achievement in interactive storytelling but a landmark title that redefines what video games can achieve as an emotional and artistic medium.

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Development History & Context

Origins and Inspiration

The seeds of Before Your Eyes were planted in 2014 at the University of Southern California’s Interactive Media & Games Division. Will Hellwarth, then a student assistant, conceived the idea of using a webcam to track a player’s blinks as a form of interaction. This concept was inspired by the ubiquity of webcams in modern computers and the potential to use them in a meaningful, rather than purely functional, way. Hellwarth’s vision was to create a game where the act of blinking—something involuntary and often unnoticed—could become a powerful narrative device, symbolizing the passage of time and the fleeting nature of life.

The initial prototype, Close Your, was developed over two months and presented at IndieCade in 2014, where it won the Developer’s Choice Award. The following year, it was showcased at the Independent Games Festival at GDC, earning the Best Student Game award. These early accolades validated the team’s vision and provided the momentum to expand the project into a full-fledged game.

Kickstarter and Early Challenges

In 2016, GoodbyeWorld Games launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the development of Close Your, raising $35,992 from 1,515 backers. However, the road to completion was far from smooth. The team faced significant challenges, including sporadic development periods and technical hurdles in refining the blink detection system. The game’s scope expanded beyond the original prototype, requiring a more robust narrative structure and polished mechanics.

The project received a crucial boost in 2018 when GoodbyeWorld Games partnered with RYOT, a Verizon Media studio, which provided the resources needed for full-time development. This partnership allowed the team to refine the game’s mechanics, expand its narrative, and improve its visual and auditory design. By 2020, Skybound Games came on board as the publisher, handling quality assurance, localization, and marketing.

The Evolution of the Blinking Mechanic

One of the most significant challenges during development was perfecting the blink detection system. The team experimented with various algorithms and calibration methods to ensure the mechanic worked reliably across different lighting conditions, facial structures, and hardware setups. Richard Beare, the lead engineer, played a pivotal role in refining the system, making it accessible to a broad audience while maintaining its emotional impact.

The blinking mechanic evolved from a simple time-advancement tool into a multifaceted interaction system. Early iterations of the game advanced time with every blink, which made storytelling difficult, as players could inadvertently skip crucial moments. To address this, the team introduced the “blink counter,” a metronome-like indicator that signals when a blink will advance the narrative. This innovation allowed for more controlled pacing and enabled the team to design scenes where blinks could be used for purposes other than time progression, such as revealing hidden details or engaging in mini-games.

The Influence of Narrative-Driven Games

Before Your Eyes was developed during a renaissance of narrative-driven indie games, with titles like Thirty Flights of Loving, The Stanley Parable, What Remains of Edith Finch, and Florence setting new standards for storytelling in the medium. These games demonstrated the potential for interactive narratives to explore complex themes and evoke deep emotional responses. GoodbyeWorld Games drew inspiration from these titles, as well as from literature and film, to craft a story that resonated on a personal level.

The game’s narrative structure was also influenced by Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, particularly its use of memory and flashbacks to explore the protagonist’s regrets and aspirations. This literary inspiration is evident in Before Your Eyes, where Benny’s life is recounted through fragmented memories, each revealing layers of his personality, relationships, and ultimately, his mortality.

The Role of Accessibility

From the outset, accessibility was a core consideration for the development team. The blinking mechanic was designed to be intuitive and inclusive, allowing players who might struggle with traditional controllers to engage with the game. The team also recognized the potential for the mechanic to foster empathy, as players with disabilities or limited mobility could experience the game on equal footing with others.

The inclusion of a “streamer mode,” which displays the player’s webcam feed on-screen, further demonstrates the team’s commitment to accessibility and community engagement. This feature not only accommodates content creators but also enhances the game’s social impact by making it more shareable and relatable.

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Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Plot Summary

Before Your Eyes begins with Benny Brynn, a recently deceased soul, being plucked from a dark sea by the Ferryman, a canine-like figure who serves as his guide to the afterlife. Benny is mute, able only to communicate through blinks, which the Ferryman interprets as he recounts Benny’s life story. The Ferryman explains that Benny’s fate hinges on the judgment of the Gatekeeper, a mysterious figure who will determine whether Benny is worthy of entering her paradise. If deemed unworthy, Benny will be transformed into a “Liar Bird,” one of the seagulls that haunt the Ferryman’s boat.

Benny’s story unfolds through a series of memories, beginning with his childhood in a small seaside town. His parents, Richard and Elle, are central figures in his early life. Richard, a professor, is warm and supportive, while Elle, an accountant and aspiring composer, is more demanding, projecting her unfulfilled dreams onto Benny. The family adopts a stray cat named Ernie, who becomes a beloved companion.

As Benny grows, he discovers a talent for music, inspired by his mother’s compositions. His parents enroll him in piano lessons, and he quickly impresses with his natural ability. However, the pressure to succeed weighs heavily on him, particularly as Elle intensifies his training in preparation for an audition at a prestigious music school. On the eve of the audition, Benny’s neighbor and friend, Chloe, invites him to camp on the beach, presenting a choice: focus on his audition or embrace a moment of youthful freedom.

Regardless of Benny’s choice, the audition does not go as planned, and he is rejected. Soon after, he is diagnosed with a terminal illness, a revelation that reshapes the narrative. The memories Benny initially recounts—of becoming a successful artist, reconnecting with Chloe, and achieving fame—are revealed to be fantasies, fabrications to impress the Ferryman and, by extension, the Gatekeeper.

The truth is far more poignant. Benny’s illness confines him to his home, where he rediscovers his passion for art through writing. His condition worsens, and his family struggles to cope with the inevitability of his death. Benny’s relationship with Chloe is strained but ultimately reconciled, and Ernie returns after a period of absence, providing comfort in his final days. The game culminates in Benny’s death, with the Ferryman presenting his true story to the Gatekeeper. Rather than a grandiose tale of achievement, the Ferryman offers a simple, heartfelt summary: Benny lived a short but meaningful life, bringing hope and joy to those around him. The Gatekeeper, moved by this sincerity, allows Benny to pass into her paradise.

Themes

1. The Passage of Time and Mortality
   The blinking mechanic is a constant reminder of the passage of time, reinforcing the game’s central theme of mortality. Each blink advances Benny’s story, mirroring the way moments slip away in real life. The game forces players to confront the inevitability of time’s passage, as well as the regret that comes from moments missed or opportunities squandered.

2. The Nature of Memory and Truth
   Benny’s initial recounting of his life is a fabrication, a story he tells himself to cope with the harsh reality of his illness and early death. This narrative device explores the human tendency to rewrite memories, to craft stories that align with our desires rather than our realities. The game’s structure—where the Ferryman forces Benny to revisit repressed memories—highlights the tension between the stories we tell ourselves and the truths we must eventually face.

3. Legacy and the Meaning of a Life Well Lived
   Before Your Eyes challenges the notion that a life’s worth is measured by grand achievements or external validation. Benny’s fantasies of becoming a renowned artist are juxtaposed with the reality of his short, ordinary life. The game argues that true legacy lies in the connections we forge, the love we share, and the hope we inspire in others. Benny’s life, though brief, is meaningful because of the impact he had on his family and friends.

4. Regret and Acceptance
   The game’s narrative is steeped in regret, particularly in the choices Benny makes (or fails to make) and the moments he cannot reclaim. However, it also offers a path to acceptance. Through the Ferryman’s guidance, Benny comes to terms with his mortality, recognizing that his life, though imperfect, was still valuable. This journey mirrors the player’s own experience, as they too must accept the consequences of their blinks—whether intentional or involuntary.

5. The Role of Art and Creativity
   Art serves as a recurring motif in Before Your Eyes, representing both Benny’s aspirations and his means of coping with illness. His mother’s compositions, his own piano playing, and his later writing all reflect the human need to create as a form of expression and catharsis. The game suggests that art is not merely a product but a process, a way to make sense of the world and one’s place in it.

Character Analysis

• Benjamin “Benny” Brynn
  Benny is the protagonist, but he is also an unreliable narrator. His initial recounting of his life is a fantasy, a story he constructs to avoid the pain of his reality. This duality makes him a complex and relatable character, as his struggles with identity, illness, and mortality reflect universal human experiences. His journey is one of self-discovery and acceptance, as he learns to embrace the truth of his life rather than the story he wishes it had been.

• The Ferryman
  The Ferryman serves as both a guide and an antagonist, pushing Benny to confront the truths he has buried. His role is reminiscent of mythological figures like Charon or Anubis, who escort souls to the afterlife and judge their worth. However, the Ferryman is also a sympathetic figure, ultimately advocating for Benny’s redemption by presenting his true story to the Gatekeeper.

• Elle and Richard Brynn
  Benny’s parents represent the dual forces of expectation and support. Elle, with her unfulfilled dreams of becoming a composer, projects her ambitions onto Benny, creating pressure that he struggles to bear. Richard, in contrast, is a grounding presence, offering unconditional love and encouragement. Their dynamic reflects the complexities of parent-child relationships, where love and expectation often intertwine.

• Chloe
  Chloe is Benny’s childhood friend and first love, embodying the innocence and freedom of youth. Her relationship with Benny is strained by his illness and her own struggles with loss, but their eventual reconciliation underscores the game’s themes of connection and forgiveness.

Narrative Structure and Pacing

The game’s narrative is non-linear, unfolding through fragmented memories that are triggered by the player’s blinks. This structure creates a sense of unpredictability, as the pacing of the story is dictated by the player’s natural blinking patterns. The “blink counter” serves as a pacing mechanism, signaling when a blink will advance the narrative, but even this is subject to the player’s control.

The game’s pacing is deliberate, allowing moments of quiet reflection alongside more intense emotional beats. The use of repressed memories—scenes that cannot be fully viewed on the first playthrough—adds depth to the narrative, as these moments often contain the most painful truths. The Ferryman’s insistence on revisiting these memories forces Benny (and the player) to confront the realities they have avoided.

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Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Gameplay Loop

At its heart, Before Your Eyes is a narrative-driven adventure game with minimal traditional gameplay elements. The core loop revolves around experiencing Benny’s memories, with the player’s blinks serving as the primary means of progression. The game is divided into scenes, each representing a moment in Benny’s life. Players explore these scenes, interacting with objects and characters, until the blink counter appears, signaling that the next blink will advance the story.

The gameplay is intentionally passive, emphasizing observation and emotional engagement over active problem-solving. However, the blinking mechanic introduces a layer of tension, as players must decide when to blink and when to keep their eyes open, knowing that each blink could skip a crucial moment or reveal a hidden detail.

Blinking as Interaction

The blinking mechanic is the game’s most innovative feature, transforming an involuntary action into a meaningful form of interaction. The game tracks the player’s blinks via webcam, using them to:

• Advance Time: The primary function of blinking is to progress through Benny’s memories. Each blink can advance the narrative by seconds, minutes, or even years, creating a sense of unpredictability and reinforcing the theme of time’s passage.

• Reveal Hidden Details: In some scenes, blinking can reveal additional information or interactions. For example, closing your eyes might allow you to eavesdrop on a conversation or uncover a hidden object.

• Engage in Mini-Games: The game includes several mini-games that utilize blinking in creative ways. For instance, players might need to blink in rhythm with a piano melody or hold their eyes closed to complete a task.

• Navigate the Environment: While the game is primarily first-person, players can use the mouse to look around and interact with objects. Blinking is often required to confirm these interactions, such as picking up an item or examining a detail.

Accessibility and Alternative Controls

Recognizing that not all players may have access to a webcam or prefer not to use eye-tracking, Before Your Eyes includes an alternative control scheme where mouse clicks simulate blinks. While this option makes the game more accessible, it diminishes the emotional impact of the blinking mechanic. The developers have noted that the game is best experienced with the webcam-enabled controls, as the physical act of blinking enhances the sense of immersion and emotional connection.

Puzzle Design and Interactivity

The game’s puzzles are minimal and often tied to the narrative. For example, players might need to connect stars in the night sky by blinking at the right moments or follow a rhythm to play a piano piece. These interactions are simple but effective, reinforcing the game’s themes without detracting from the storytelling.

One of the most poignant uses of the blinking mechanic occurs during Benny’s illness, where the act of blinking becomes increasingly difficult. As his condition worsens, the game introduces moments where players must struggle to keep their eyes open, mirroring Benny’s physical deterioration. This design choice is a powerful example of how gameplay mechanics can enhance narrative themes.

Replayability and Branching Paths

Before Your Eyes is a relatively short game, with a runtime of approximately 90 minutes. However, it includes elements of replayability through branching paths and hidden details. Certain scenes offer choices that affect the narrative, such as whether Benny sneaks out with Chloe or stays home to practice for his audition. These choices do not drastically alter the overall story but provide subtle variations in dialogue and character interactions.

The game also includes repressed memories that can only be accessed on subsequent playthroughs, adding depth to the narrative and encouraging players to revisit the story. These memories often contain the most emotionally resonant moments, making them a compelling reason to replay the game.

Technical Implementation

The game’s blink detection system is built using the ULSee SDK, which tracks facial features via webcam. The system is designed to work with a wide range of lighting conditions and facial structures, though some players have reported issues with calibration and sensitivity. The developers have included a calibration tool to help players adjust the settings to their preferences, ensuring a smoother experience.

The game processes all blink detection locally, without storing or transmitting video data, addressing potential privacy concerns. This approach ensures that the mechanic remains secure and accessible while maintaining its emotional impact.

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World-Building, Art & Sound

Visual Design and Aesthetic

Before Your Eyes employs a soft, hand-drawn art style that evokes a sense of nostalgia and warmth. The visuals are intentionally simple, focusing on emotional expression rather than realism. The game’s environments are rendered in a dreamlike, almost storybook-like fashion, with muted colors and gentle lighting that enhance the introspective mood.

The character designs are equally expressive, with exaggerated features that convey emotion effectively. Benny’s parents, for example, are depicted with warm, inviting expressions that reflect their love and support, while the Ferryman’s canine-like appearance adds a layer of mystery and otherworldliness to the narrative.

Atmosphere and Setting

The game’s setting is divided between Benny’s memories and the afterlife, where he interacts with the Ferryman. The memories are grounded in realism, depicting Benny’s childhood home, school, and the seaside town where he grows up. These environments are rich in detail, with objects and interactions that reflect Benny’s personality and experiences.

The afterlife, in contrast, is more abstract and surreal. The dark sea, the Ferryman’s boat, and the Gatekeeper’s sanctuary are rendered in a way that feels both familiar and alien, reinforcing the game’s themes of transition and uncertainty. The contrast between the warmth of Benny’s memories and the cold, mysterious afterlife creates a powerful emotional dichotomy.

Sound Design and Music

The sound design in Before Your Eyes is subtle but effective, using ambient noises to immerse players in Benny’s memories. The sound of waves crashing, the hum of a piano, and the distant chatter of family members all contribute to the game’s introspective atmosphere. The audio transitions smoothly during blinks, ensuring that the narrative flow remains uninterrupted.

The game’s soundtrack, composed by Oliver Lewin and Dillon Terry, is a standout feature. The music is predominantly piano-driven, with melancholic melodies that underscore the game’s emotional beats. Tracks like “Elle’s Melody” and “A Full Life” are particularly poignant, evoking a sense of nostalgia and loss. The soundtrack is available as downloadable content, allowing players to revisit the music outside of the game.

Voice Acting and Performances

The voice acting in Before Your Eyes is exceptional, with performances that bring the characters to life in a deeply emotional way. Stephen Friedrich’s portrayal of the Ferryman is particularly noteworthy, balancing mystery, authority, and empathy. Sarah Burns and Eric Edelstein deliver powerful performances as Elle and Richard, respectively, capturing the complexities of their characters’ relationships with Benny.

Heidi Kang’s performance as Chloe is equally compelling, embodying the innocence and resilience of youth. The voice acting is a crucial component of the game’s emotional impact, as the characters’ dialogues and interactions drive the narrative forward.

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Reception & Legacy

Critical Reception

Before Your Eyes received widespread critical acclaim upon its release, with particular praise for its narrative depth, emotional impact, and innovative gameplay mechanics. On Metacritic, the PC version holds a score of 77/100, while the PlayStation 5 version scores 79/100. OpenCritic aggregates an average of 83/100, placing the game in the top 11% of reviewed titles.

Critics lauded the game’s storytelling, with many highlighting its ability to evoke strong emotional responses. Andrew King of GameSpot called the narrative “moving” and praised the voice performances as “powerful,” noting that they “help the game reach new emotional depths.” Marcus Stewart of Game Informer commended the writing as “earnest and thoughtful,” while Ben Kuchera of Polygon described the themes as “both crushing and freeing.”

The blinking mechanic was also widely praised for its integration with the narrative. Critics noted that the mechanic felt “refreshingly natural” and enhanced the game’s dreamlike quality. However, some reviewers expressed frustration with the control scheme, particularly regarding calibration issues and the need for frequent recalibration.

Commercial Performance and Awards

Before Your Eyes achieved significant commercial success as an indie title, selling approximately 596,000 units on Steam alone and generating $3.6 million in gross revenue as of 2025. The game’s multi-platform releases, including on PlayStation VR2 and mobile devices via Netflix Games, expanded its reach and accessibility.

The game garnered several prestigious awards and nominations, including:

• BAFTA Games Award for Game Beyond Entertainment (2022): This award recognized the game’s impact beyond traditional entertainment, highlighting its emotional depth and innovative storytelling.
• Nomination for Games for Impact at The Game Awards 2021: This nomination acknowledged the game’s exploration of life, loss, and reflection.
• Nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Story at the 25th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards (2022): This nomination underscored the game’s narrative excellence.

Cultural Impact and Influence

Before Your Eyes has been credited with advancing the interactive fiction genre through its blend of narrative-driven gameplay and novel input methods. The game’s use of eye-tracking technology has inspired other developers to explore alternative control schemes, particularly in the realm of accessibility. Its success has demonstrated the commercial viability of experimental indie titles, paving the way for broader adoption of innovative mechanics in interactive media.

The game’s emotional resonance has also made it a cultural touchstone, with many players sharing their personal reactions and stories online. The game’s themes of mortality, regret, and acceptance have resonated deeply with audiences, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which heightened awareness of life’s fragility.

Legacy and Future Prospects

Before Your Eyes stands as a landmark title in the evolution of narrative-driven games. Its innovative use of blinking as a gameplay mechanic, combined with its deeply emotional storytelling, has set a new standard for interactive narratives. The game’s success has positioned GoodbyeWorld Games as a leader in experimental storytelling, with the potential to influence future titles in the genre.

The game’s legacy is also tied to its accessibility, as it has demonstrated the potential for alternative control schemes to make gaming more inclusive. The developers have expressed interest in exploring further innovations in this space, suggesting that Before Your Eyes may be the first of many groundbreaking titles from the studio.

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Conclusion

Before Your Eyes is a masterful blend of innovation and emotion, a game that pushes the boundaries of interactive storytelling while delivering a deeply personal and resonant experience. Its use of blinking as a gameplay mechanic is not merely a gimmick but a fundamental part of its narrative structure, reinforcing themes of time, memory, and mortality. The game’s story is a poignant exploration of regret, acceptance, and the meaning of a life well-lived, told through a series of fragmented memories that are as heartbreaking as they are hopeful.

The game’s critical and commercial success is a testament to its quality and impact. It has not only redefined what narrative-driven games can achieve but has also demonstrated the potential for alternative control schemes to make gaming more accessible and inclusive. Before Your Eyes is a landmark title that will be remembered as a defining moment in the evolution of interactive storytelling, a game that challenges players to reflect on their own lives while immersing them in the fleeting moments of Benny Brynn’s.

In the pantheon of video game history, Before Your Eyes stands as a shining example of how innovation and emotion can come together to create something truly extraordinary. It is a game that lingers in the mind long after the credits roll, a reminder of the power of storytelling and the beauty of the human experience. For those who have yet to experience it, Before Your Eyes is not just a game to play—it is a journey to undertake, a story to feel, and a memory to cherish.