Still Life Collection

Still Life Collection is a PC bundle of three noir detective adventures: Post Mortem, Still Life, and Still Life 2. The current Steam storefront name remains Still Life Collection, with no verified rebrand or replacement edition. Together, the games trace a connected crime-fiction lineage through occult murders, serial-killer investigations, and the cases of Gus Macpherson and FBI agent Victoria McPherson.

What the Collection Includes

The bundle is not one remastered game or a single unified campaign. It is a three-item package that combines Microids’ detective-adventure catalog around the Still Life storyline. Post Mortem functions as the prequel, Still Life follows Victoria McPherson’s investigation, and Still Life 2 continues Victoria’s story with a different structure and tone.

The recommended narrative order is Post Mortem, then Still Life, followed by Still Life 2. Players can start with Still Life, but the prequel adds context about Gus Macpherson, the earlier murder investigation, and the series’ recurring blend of crime, noir, horror, and supernatural suggestion.

Detective Gameplay and Puzzle Design

All three games are built around mouse-driven point-and-click investigation. You examine locations, speak with suspects, collect clues, combine evidence, and solve inventory puzzles that connect directly to the surrounding case. The pace is deliberate rather than action-focused, with progress depending on observation, dialogue, and remembering details across several locations.

Post Mortem uses a first-person presentation and places Gus Macpherson inside a 1920s Paris murder mystery involving occult imagery, ritualistic crimes, and a clairvoyant sixth sense. Its Conversation Engine gives some investigations different paths through dialogue and decisions, making character interactions more important than a simple question-and-answer routine.

Still Life shifts to a third-person adventure format and follows FBI agent Victoria McPherson in modern Chicago. Her current serial-murder case begins to resemble an older investigation from her grandfather’s files, linking two timelines and two investigators through matching methods and evidence. The central loop combines crime-scene examination, conversations, document analysis, and puzzle solving.

Still Life 2 changes the formula again by alternating between Victoria McPherson and journalist Paloma Hernandez. The two characters experience different forms of pressure: Victoria investigates while Paloma tries to survive. This dual-character structure creates separate objectives and viewpoints rather than simply extending the original game’s investigation mechanics.

Story, Tone, and Connected Characters

The collection is aimed at players who want a darker alternative to lighthearted adventure games. Its themes include serial murder, occult symbolism, crime-scene evidence, psychological tension, and mature subject matter. The writing treats the cases as mysteries first, but the atmosphere often moves toward thriller and horror territory.

The strongest connective tissue is the Macpherson family line and the recurring investigation of crimes that appear to cross generations. Gus Macpherson’s work in Paris establishes the series’ noir foundation, while Victoria’s case in Chicago expands the mystery through parallel histories. Mr. X and the East Coast Torturer become central to the later investigation, particularly in Still Life 2.

Players who enjoy grim investigative adventures with environmental clues may also appreciate noir point-and-click detective games such as Blacksad: Under the Skin, although Blacksad places more emphasis on dialogue choices and a comic-book presentation.

Content Model and PC Editions

On Steam, Still Life Collection is a paid bundle containing three complete single-player games: Post Mortem, Still Life, and Still Life 2. The individual titles are also sold separately. There is no season pass, live-service layer, or modern DLC program attached to the collection.

The developers and publishers vary across the package. Post Mortem is credited to MC2 and Microids, Still Life to Microids, and Still Life 2 to GameCO Studios and Microids. That difference is reflected in the games’ changing perspectives, interfaces, and narrative design rather than in a unified modern engine or shared feature set.

PC Features, Input, and Localization

These are traditional PC adventure games designed around keyboard-and-mouse control, cursor-based interaction, dialogue, inventory use, and scene examination. They do not present themselves as co-op or multiplayer products, and the storefront listings identify them as single-player experiences. No dedicated competitive modes, online matchmaking, or anti-cheat systems are part of the collection’s documented feature set.

Steam provides the collection through the Steam client. The GOG editions of the individual games are DRM-free, support offline installation, and do not require GOG Galaxy to play. Language availability differs by title and storefront, but the documented releases include English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and, for some entries, Polish text or interface support. Audio localization is also title-dependent, so players should check the listing for the specific game they intend to play.

There is no verified Cabinet Mode, ultrawide-specific feature, mod toolkit, Steam Workshop integration, or dedicated controller feature advertised for the collection. Its appeal comes from classic investigative design rather than modern platform extras.

Who Should Play Still Life Collection?

This collection suits players who enjoy story-driven detective puzzles, mature crime fiction, slow-burn suspense, and older adventure interfaces. It is a good fit if you prefer investigating rooms, reading case evidence, questioning characters, and solving problems through logical item combinations instead of reflex-based combat.

It is less suitable for players looking for open-ended investigations, modern accessibility systems, branching role-playing mechanics, or a continuous trilogy with identical controls. The three games are connected, but they are also products from different development contexts, so the pacing, camera perspective, and puzzle expectations change between entries.

For a more contemporary detective-adventure comparison, players who enjoy clue-driven point-and-click mysteries like Arsène Lupin: Once a Thief may find the same satisfaction in following leads, interrogating characters, and connecting evidence, even though its tone is more playful.

Still Life Collection FAQ

What is included in Still Life Collection?

The current Steam bundle includes Post Mortem, Still Life, and Still Life 2. It is a package of three separate single-player detective adventures, not a remaster or a new standalone sequel.

Is Still Life Collection the current name?

Yes. The verified Steam bundle listing uses the name Still Life Collection. The individual products retain their original names: Post Mortem, Still Life, and Still Life 2. No verified storefront rebrand was found.

Should I play Post Mortem before Still Life?

Post Mortem is the prequel and provides useful background on Gus Macpherson and the series’ noir-occult foundation. Still Life can be played on its own, but the collection is best approached in release-story order: Post Mortem, Still Life, then Still Life 2.

Does the collection include multiplayer or co-op?

No. The documented games are single-player adventures focused on investigation, dialogue, environmental examination, and puzzles. There is no listed co-op, split-screen, or online multiplayer mode.

Does Still Life Collection require Steam or GOG Galaxy?

The Steam bundle is accessed through Steam. GOG offers the individual games as DRM-free products with offline installers, and GOG Galaxy is optional rather than required.

What kind of gameplay should PC players expect?

Expect classic point-and-click adventure gameplay: inspect crime scenes, talk to suspects, collect evidence, use inventory items, and solve puzzles that advance the investigation. Still Life 2 adds a two-character structure with separate investigative and survival-oriented objectives.