Read Only Memories: Neurodiver

A neo-noir adventure with an overly kooky cast and an obsession with video game references.

A decent game that ends before it begins.

Despite the snags I’ve mentioned, I’m still thinking about Read Only Memories: Neurodiver well after I finished the story. It’s such a pitch-perfect execution on its premise, mixing the worlds of modern cyberpunk with ancient PC technology and western anime fandom. I had a blast spending several hours with these characters and the world they inhabit, and would gladly have spent several hours more. A little more narrative depth and some puzzle guardrails and we’d have a true all-timer on our hands. But as it is, Neurodiver still stands out as a dope slice of niche gaming in a month stupidly crowded with that kind of thing.

The general quality of Read Only Memories: Neurodiver is surprisingly good. Between the facial animations, likeable protagonist, and general humour, the game hits a lot of key points that are rare nowadays. What really drags things down is that some segments become very hard to advance due to not clicking on the correct object or mixing items the right way. Further, while the day-to-day story is quite entertaining, the larger plot simply takes far too long to develop, which may leave players to check out before it takes off.

There were several different ways Midboss could've approached this sequel, likely all of which would've been better than Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER.

The strong foundation sets this title up perfectly. However, with a new team behind the scenes, it had the potential to fall short. Luckily, the writing was strong and I adore the varied characters. Moreover, the visuals capture a sci-fi edge that is magical and zany. Accordingly, though it isn’t perfect, I recommend buying it here! Can you master your skills and become a hero? Relax, read each mind, and piece together the truth.

Read Only Memories: NEURODIVER revisits the world of Neo San Francisco, presenting new characters and an interesting story to unravel. The voice work and graphics are lovely, though the run time is a little on the short side. If you enjoyed 2064, you'll likely enjoy this stripped-down experience; just be aware that there's less to this outing than its predecessor.

I’m still really happy with Neurodiver. It’s got the shine and polish that you wouldn’t have expected, and the interactions and storytelling are excellent right up until the end. It does what I wanted: it gives me more of the world that is Read Only Memories without forcing you to go back and play the first or sit through a rehash of the initial story. It’s got the meat and bones that let it exist independently, and gives me more of a Shadowrun vibe than I would have imagined, though less grim.

It’s strange going back to Read Only Memories. There was a time I would have been ecstatic about a sequel. And now that one is here, I’m not sure how to feel. Neurodiver was an enjoyable return to this style of adventure game, but it’s also one that didn’t leave me with any strong feelings either way. I enjoyed what I played, but it didn’t leave a strong imprint on me either. It’s just… fine? Feels kinda anticlimactic. Fitting in some way given how long it’s been. A sequel could only quietly exist and be fine. 2015 was a different time. Read Only Memories hit differently then. It’s still good now, but less impactful than it was then.

As for Read Only Memories: Neurodiver, it’s a very tight, focused experience that’s a lot of fun and has a great style and flair for its setting, and I loved it. I just wish there was more to it.