Cognition Episode 1: The Hangman Debuts

by Rob Caprilozzi

Cognition: An Erica Reed Thriller, a supernatural adventure game series from indie developer Phoenix Online Studios, made its debut for the iPad with Cognition Episode 1: The Hangman.

Erica Reed is no ordinary FBI agent. She has a secret weapon when it comes to tracking a killer, an uncanny sixth sense that reveals flashes of the past so she can piece together how a crime went down. She's also grieving a devastating loss: the murder of her brother Scott, whom she tried and failed to save. Now a serial killer loose in Boston is leaving clues that only Erica, with her odd intuition, can decipher. As she struggles to control her increasingly erratic and frightening visions, how many more people must die before she can bring the killer to justice?

Each Cognition episode is a self-contained investigation into a unique serial killer that also advances Erica's story and brings her closer to avenging Scott's murder. With traditional "point and click" gameplay, stylized graphic novel artwork and cutscenes, and an intuitive interface optimized for iPad, this modern adventure is a must-have for fans of mystery games like Gabriel Knight, interactive narratives like Heavy Rain or The Walking Dead: The Game, supernatural serials like TV's Fringe, CSI-style crime dramas, or all of the above.

Leave a Comment