Blackout Memphis

Blackout Memphis is a fast-paced action game set in an alternative version of Memphis in the early 2000s. You play an ordinary family man struggling with an exhausting job, a long-term marriage to a luxury-loving wife and the challenge of raising an extroverted teenage daughter. As violence and citywide blackouts escalate, sleeplessness, brutal nightmares and frequent memory lapses make everyday life increasingly difficult, leading him to seek psychological treatment.

As his medication begins to take effect and family life settles, Memphis is hit by a blood-red wave of violence. Murders and gang crimes multiply, nightly blackouts unsettle the public and no one feels safe. The story asks why the authorities are doing nothing and whether everything is as it seems—not only in Memphis. Its backstory unfolds between action levels through conversations with the protagonist’s family, his psychologist and shady individuals, as well as messages on an answering machine. These encounters take place in locations including fast-food restaurants, video rental stores and mall shops.

Combat and locations

You fight gangsters from the Memphis underworld in abandoned construction ruins, neon-colored bars, underground casinos and other locations. Combat is lethal: every shot kills, and a single punch can kill you. Defeat sends you back to the beginning, while a fast electronic soundtrack of synthwave and techno beats accompanies the action.

You can use a wide range of melee and ranged weapons, from baseball bats to assault rifles. Throwing a weapon can stun an opponent, allowing you to finish them with a finishing move. Killing opponents in quick succession builds combos and can raise your level score, which is shown as a school score.

Masks and scoring

As you progress, you unlock animal masks that disguise the protagonist’s identity. Before each level, you can choose an unlocked mask from a gallery; masks can give you a special trait or change the game’s look.