| The Suicide of Rachel Foster | |
|---|---|
 Cover art featuring Rachel's retainer | |
| Developer(s) | One-O-One Games |
| Publisher(s) | Daedalic Entertainment |
| Director(s) | Daniele Azara |
| Programmer(s) | Lorenzo Bellincampi |
| Writer(s) | Daniele Azara |
| Composer(s) | Federico Landini |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 4 |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release |
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| Genre(s) | Adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
The Suicide of Rachel Foster is a 2020 adventure video game developed by One-O-One Games and published by Daedalic Entertainment. The story follows Nicole Wilson in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, during December 1993 on a visit to her family's Timberline Hotel. Having left ten years prior with her mother following the revelation that her father Leonard was in a sexual relationship with the teenaged Rachel Foster, Nicole plans on quickly inspecting the Timberline and selling it. After being forced to stay there due to a heavy snowstorm starting after her arrival, Nicole's only contact with the outside world is a Federal Emergency Management Agency agent named Irving. With his help, Nicole decides to investigate the relationship between Leonard and Rachel, as well as her mysterious suicide.
In developing The Suicide of Rachel Foster, One-O-One Games aimed to create a horror game that emphasized suspense and fear instead of traditional monsters. The game's narrative and gameplay were developed simultaneously to ensure that one would complement the other. The game was created as a walking simulator to allow real-life topics to be explored, given the genre's emphasis on narrative. The Overlook Hotel from the 1980 film The Shining was used as inspiration for the Timberline's architecture. The developers sought professional advice for the game's depiction of topics such as child sexual abuse and suicide to portray them with sensitivity. The game was released in February 2020 for Windows and in September 2020 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One; it was ported to the Nintendo Switch in October 2021.
The Suicide of Rachel Foster received mixed reviews from critics. The setting and sound design were praised for creating an appropriate atmosphere, with Nicole and Irving's relationship and voice actors also being commended. Conversely, the game's plot and mystery, as well as some gameplay aspects, received a more mixed reception. Critics responded overwhelmingly negatively to the depiction of child sexual abuse and suicide, arguing that the game does not handle these topics with the proper care; the ending was especially criticized for forcing players in the position of a character who tries to commit suicide, which was viewed as random. The Suicide of Rachel Foster was nominated for various awards, winning Game of the Year at the 2021 DStars. A sequel titled The Fading of Nicole Wilson was announced in October 2024.