Martha Is Dead

Martha Is Dead presents a dark first-person psychological thriller set in 1944 Italy, blending reality, superstition, and the tragedy of war. As fighting escalates between German and Allied forces, the desecrated body of a woman, Martha, is found drowned. Now deceased, Martha's twin sister Giulia, daughter of a German soldier, must face the trauma of loss and the consequences of the murder alone. The search for truth is enveloped by mysterious folklore and the encroaching terror of war. The game offers unapologetically authentic Italian voice acting as the default language to ensure full immersion. It is the second release from LKA, the award-winning studio behind The Town of Light, known for narrative games based on tough subjects. The story is a deep, dark exploration of loss and relationships during a grim historical period, viewed through the eyes of a young woman with secrets of her own. Players can explore a detailed recreation of the Italian countryside, specifically Tuscany, on foot, by bike, or boat, in a setting grounded in reality and faithful to historical facts. Gameplay involves playing with dolls in a puppet theatre to recover repressed memories and mixing folklore with superstition by unlocking symbols and using tarot cards. The war serves as a backdrop, where players collect newspapers, telegrams, and listen to the radio. The game also features virtual photography, allowing players to take pictures for pleasure and story progression, developing actual photos in an in-game darkroom. The soundtrack includes authentic Italian music of the era, with contributions from underwater music specialists Between Music, The Town of Light composer Aseptic Void, and reimagined versions of classic tracks like Schubert's Ave Maria and O Bella Ciao.