SF text adventure "Lifeline+" where the protagonist's communication comes back in real time. Guide him to escape with the right choices (Start today: Apple Arcade #49)
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/950/G095083/20251003016/
Writer: Ichimoto Tetsuya | 2025/10/04 03:00 (UTC)
Image Gallery No.017 thumbnail / Sci-fi text adventure “Lifeline+” where the protagonist’s messages are returned in real time. Guide him to safety with correct choices (Start today: Apple Arcade #49)
“Apple Arcade” is a game subscription service offered by Apple for ¥900 per month (tax included) or ¥6,000 per year (tax included), available on iPhone / iPad / Mac / Apple TV / and Apple Vision.
In this series, we introduce titles selected by 4Gamer from the over 200 games currently offered—games that can be played without ads or in-app purchases.
In Issue #49, we spotlight “Lifeline+”, a text adventure where you guide the protagonist through real-time messages based on your choices.
“Lifeline+”
Release Date: February 24, 2023
Publisher: 3 Minute Games, Inc.
Developer: 3 Minute Games, Inc.
Supported Devices: iPhone / iPad / iPod touch / Apple Vision
Gamepad Support: × Image Gallery No.001 thumbnail / Sci-fi text adventure “Lifeline+” where the protagonist’s messages are returned in real time. Guide him to safety with correct choices (Start today: Apple Arcade #49)
Recommended Features
- Simple gameplay—just tap a choice to progress
- Messages from the protagonist, Tyler, arrive in real time based on his actions
- Message text can be read directly on your device’s notification panel
[Download Page for “Lifeline+”] (https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/lifeline/id1615551423?itsct=4gamerjp_arcade&itscg=30200&app=arcade&at=1001l3bwE)
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“Lifeline+” (Lifeline Plus), developed and distributed by 3 Minute Games, is a text adventure where you guide the protagonist “Tyler,” who has crash-landed on an unknown planet, based on messages he sends.
It’s the Apple Arcade version of the critically acclaimed original game “Lifeline…” (available for iOS / Android), and includes a connecting episode between the original and its sequel, “Lifeline: Silent Night.”
Game screen for “Lifeline+"—no graphics or visuals are displayed at all Image Gallery No.002 thumbnail / Sci-fi text adventure “Lifeline+” where the protagonist’s messages are returned in real time. Guide him to safety with correct choices (Start today: Apple Arcade #49) Image Gallery No.003 thumbnail / Sci-fi text adventure “Lifeline+” where the protagonist’s messages are returned in real time. Guide him to safety with correct choices (Start today: Apple Arcade #49)
The game interface is barely more than a simple chat app, showing real-time messages from the protagonist “Tyler,” who has crash-landed on an alien planet after a spacecraft accident.
As the recipient of these communications, your role is to read Tyler’s messages and choose one of two options presented when he asks you questions—guiding him toward the correct path.
Your only action is tapping a choice. Tyler then acts accordingly.
Messages appear one after another at Tyler’s pace, but you can scroll through the chat log to read past messages.
Though “Lifeline+” resembles a gamebook where players imagine scenes from text, it differs fundamentally from traditional books or similar text adventures—because Tyler’s communications are delivered in real time.
In typical text adventures, messages appear based on system timing or when the player presses buttons. But here, if Tyler says something like “Wait a moment,” you must wait for that brief period to pass before the next message arrives.
For example, if he says “I’ll contact you again once I arrive” or “I’m just taking a short nap,” the next message won’t come until the actual time he spends on those actions has elapsed.
When Tyler is acting without typing messages, the screen shows “[Typing…]”. The timing of when the next message arrives depends on what his current action implies. Image Gallery No.006 thumbnail / Sci-fi text adventure “Lifeline+” where the protagonist’s messages are returned in real time. Guide him to safety with correct choices (Start today: Apple Arcade #49) Image Gallery No.007 thumbnail / Sci-fi text adventure “Lifeline+” where the protagonist’s messages are returned in real time. Guide him to safety with correct choices (Start today: Apple Arcade #49)
Even regular messages appear with slight delays, mimicking someone typing—this time-based effect is a hallmark of the game and gives you the authentic feeling of actually chatting through an app.
The delay before messages appear—with a simulated keyboard input animation—is another key point. Image Gallery No.008 thumbnail / Sci-fi text adventure “Lifeline+” where the protagonist’s messages are returned in real time. Guide him to safety with correct choices (Start today: Apple Arcade #49) Image Gallery No.009 thumbnail / Sci-fi text adventure “Lifeline+” where the protagonist’s messages are returned in real time. Guide him to safety with correct choices (Start today: Apple Arcade #49)
While real-time delivery means Tyler’s actions feel immediate, it’s still just an illusion designed to make you imagine what he’s doing. Your delayed responses won’t affect the story’s outcome.
You might be eager to see what happens next—but embrace this pacing (though a setting does exist that lets you skip time delays).
Another clever touch: The app notifications are actually Tyler’s messages themselves. This feature mirrors real chat apps—when enabled, game messages appear on your lock screen just like regular messages do.
Moreover, when a message includes options, it shows “Respond…”; long-pressing it brings up the choices and lets you continue playing directly from the notification panel. Being able to play the entire game through notifications is unique to this title.
Message display on iPhone lock screen. Once set up like other apps, messages appear and the notification sound plays.
Long-pressing a message showing “Respond…” brings up the choices and lets you continue playing.
The game is also compatible with Apple Watch, allowing you to select responses directly from notifications. Other smartwatches that can display iPhone alerts can read messages too, though not respond.
Seeing space-originating messages displayed on your wristwatch evokes memories of childhood dreams about futuristic watch-based communication devices—giving a subtle sense of future.
Screenshot from the smartwatch I use: while you can’t select choices, the message is readable and the atmosphere feels authentic. Image Gallery No.012 thumbnail / Sci-fi text adventure “Lifeline+” where the protagonist’s messages are returned in real time. Guide him to safety with correct choices (Start today: Apple Arcade #49)
The entire game is fully localized into Japanese, and messages are written in a way that helps you imagine Tyler’s personality. After playing a bit, I realized the tone of the choices seemed feminine—making me wonder if I was wrong about his gender.
From the message content, you can infer Tyler is a student. His situation becomes clearer through his messages (or at least, it feels that way).
Player-side settings also appear among the choices.
The real-time interaction with Tyler feels realistic and sometimes thrilling—there were moments when I found myself silently yelling at my phone, “Hey, are you okay!?”
While this pacing means it takes time to progress, we encourage players to take their time and carefully guide Tyler through his crisis.
Additionally, other titles in the “Lifeline” series using similar systems are also available. So far, eight games have been released—including sequels and stories set in different worlds—so be sure to explore them too.
Looks like I made a wrong choice. Communication with Tyler has been cut off.
Upon reaching a bad ending, the settings screen unlocks rewind and fast-forward modes.
[Download Page for “Lifeline+”] (https://apps.apple.com/jp/app/lifeline/id1615551423?itsct=4gamerjp_arcade&itscg=30200&app=arcade&at=1001l3bwE)
Apple Arcade: ¥900/month (tax included) / ¥6,000/year (tax included)
Apple One: ¥1,200/month (tax included)
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