Pocket Mirror

Pocket Mirror is a horror adventure game developed by AstralShift, released in 2016. Players guide a young girl who awakens in a mysterious mansion with amnesia, using a pocket mirror to navigate puzzles, dialogue, and Quick Time Events. As she explores the eerie environment, she encounters enigmatic characters and uncovers disturbing truths about her identity and the mansion’s dark secrets, leading to multiple endings based on player choices. The game features a top-down perspective, anime-style visuals, and a New Game+ mode with additional content.

Pocket Mirror: Review

Introduction

In the dimly lit corridors of a decaying mansion, where mirrors reflect nothing and clocks tick backward, Pocket Mirror (2016) emerges as a haunting parable of fractured identity. Born from the indie RPG Maker scene, this Portuguese-developed horror adventure transcends its technical limitations to deliver a psychologically devastating journey through a labyrinthine mind. As a spiritual successor to Ib and The Witch’s House, Pocket Mirror weaves a tapestry of surreal puzzles, chilling encounters, and heartbreaking revelations, ultimately cementing its place as a cult classic in the annals of psychological horror. This review deconstructs its legacy, from its humble origins to the lavish remaster GoldenerTraum (2023), arguing that despite its obscurities, Pocket Mirror remains a masterclass in atmospheric storytelling and emotional resonance.

Development History & Context

Crafted by AstralShift (formerly AstralShiftPro), a 15-member team hailing from Portugal, Pocket Mirror was developed using RPG Maker VX Ace—a tool both empowering and restrictive. The engine’s limitations forced ingenious workarounds for custom graphics, animations, and voice acting, yet its familiarity allowed the developers to focus on narrative and artistry. Inspired by fairy tales (e.g., Alice in Wonderland, The Red Shoes) and psychological horror (Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Rozen Maiden), the team envisioned a game exploring dissociative identity disorder through dreamlike symbolism. Released for free in July 2016, it capitalized on a burgeoning indie horror movement, where RPG Maker titles thrived on community-driven discovery. Post-launch, version 1.3 (2018) became the definitive “Classic,” fixing bugs and replacing uncredited assets before development ceased. The 2023 remaster, Pocket Mirror ~ GoldenerTraum, rebuilt the game from scratch in RPG Maker MZ, aiming to preserve its core while polishing its rough edges—a testament to the original’s enduring appeal.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

The plot follows an amnesiac girl (codenamed “G”) awakening in a surreal mansion, armed only with a pocket mirror inscribed with the letter “G.” As she navigates increasingly bizarre realms—Fleta’s dollhouse, Egilette’s dinner party, Harpae’s ballroom—she encounters girls who guard golden “Regalia,” each containing a fragment of her identity. The narrative unfolds like a nightmare: red-eyed antagonists (Fleta, Egilette, Harpae, Lisette) initially seem hostile, but their roles as split personalities of Goldia (G’s true name) reveal a profound tragedy. The game’s genius lies in its dual-layered storytelling: a surface-level horror adventure and a deep dive into mental illness. The mansion is a manifestation of Goldia’s 19th-century asylum confinement, where her personas—Fleta (loneliness), Egilette (idealized femininity), Harpae (perfectionism), Lisette (self-loathing), and Enjel (externalized evil)—represent her fractured psyche. Dialogue drips with symbolism, like Harpae’s combing ritual evoking Snow White’s poisoned hairbrush, while the Strange Boy (a demonic entity) embodies trauma’s permanence. Themes of memory, self-acceptance, and the cost of escapism culminate in multiple endings: the “Dawn” ending (Goldia accepting her trauma) versus the “Little Goody Two Shoes” ending (a false escape), where sacrifice and delusion blur into tragedy.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Pocket Mirror eschews combat for tense exploration, logic puzzles, and branching narratives. Players guide G through top-down environments, solving riddles (e.g., “It’s yellow, blue, red, and green! No one can reach it, not even the queen!”—a rainbow clue) and interacting with characters via dialogue choices. QTEs punctuate chase sequences (e.g., mashing buttons to flee Lisette in mirror halls), while boss battles manifest as psychological duels: Fleta demands G win her games to avoid becoming eternal playthings, while Enjel’s final confrontation tests G’s resolve. The New Game+ mode unlocks after a first playthrough, offering chapter skips, new Pumpkin Charms (for bonus content), and the “Shattered Delusions” ending (exclusive to GoldenerTraum). Systems are lean but effective: inventory management is crucial (e.g., using the mirror to spot hidden clues), and choices dynamically alter outcomes—helping Harpae may trigger her shattering, while lying to Lisette grants her solace. Yet the original’s puzzles occasionally frustrate; obtuse riddles (e.g., “How is F like a cow’s tail?”) and save-file bugs marred the experience, issues GoldenerTraum mitigates with clearer hints and UI refinements (e.g., assignable “use” slots).

World-Building, Art & Sound

The mansion’s architecture is a psychological battleground: Fleta’s dollhouse drips with childish innocence, while Harpae’s ballroom opulence masks decay. Environments shift from Victorian grandeur to circus surrealism, using parallax layers and particle effects to create depth. Pocket Mirror’s art style—anime-inspired sprites with glowing red eyes—contrasts horror with beauty, reflecting the duality of Goldia’s mind. The remaster elevates this with vibrant new sprites, though a “legacy art” option lets purists revert to the original’s grittier aesthetic. Sound design amplifies unease: original tracks by yuzuki and McMangos blend piano melodies with dissonant strings, while voice acting (by aruH, Lin, and others) gives life to characters. The iconic “Mirror Hall,” where silence amplifies G’s footsteps, exemplifies the game’s mastery of atmosphere. GoldenerTraum adds two new tracks (“GoldenerTraum,” “Everblooming Wild Rose Coronation”) and an animated opening, enriching the auditory landscape without overwhelming the original’s melancholic core.

Reception & Legacy

Upon release, Pocket Mirror garnered a cult following for its artistry and ambition, praised for its “hauntingly beautiful soundtrack” and “rich lore” (MobyGames). However, its obtuse puzzles and narrative opacity polarized players, with some requiring wikis to decipher endings. The remaster revitalized its reputation, earning a “Very Positive” 93/100 on Steam (1,480 reviews), with critics lauding its “gorgeous visuals” and “heartwarming message” (Siliconera). Its influence extends beyond horror: Little Goody Two Shoes (2023), its prequel, explores Goldia’s mother’s backstory, expanding the universe. Pocket Mirror’s legacy lies in its emotional honesty—treating mental illness with gravity—and its proof that RPG Maker games can achieve cinematic depth. As one fan noted, it’s a “work of art that lingers in your mind” (Reddit), inspiring indie developers to prioritize atmosphere over spectacle.

Conclusion

Pocket Mirror is a rare gem: a flawed yet transcendent horror experience that burrows into the psyche long after the credits roll. Its fusion of fairy-tale aesthetics and psychological trauma creates a unique narrative tapestry, while GoldenerTraum’s refinements make it accessible without diluting its soul. While its puzzles sometimes frustrate and its symbolism demands patience, the game’s emotional payoff—Goldia’s reconciliation with her fractured self—resonates with universal themes of identity and healing. For fans of Ib or Madoka Magica, it’s essential; for newcomers, GoldenerTraum offers the definitive journey. In an industry saturated with jump scares, Pocket Mirror stands as a testament to horror’s power to illuminate the darkness within. It’s not merely a game but a mirror reflecting the fragility—and resilience—of the human mind.