Catalyst

Catalyst is an interactive narrative about psychotherapy. You play Dr. Novak, a relatively unknown psychotherapist who takes over the practice of Dr. Pokorny after Pokorny’s mysterious death. Along with the practice, Novak inherits Mrs. Ruzicka, the deceased psychologist’s secretary, and finds the practice struggling.

The therapy sessions

One morning, Novak receives a box of recorded psychotherapy sessions and is asked to listen to them and analyze their contents. The sessions are fully narrated by Joseph K. Krachtovil. You form your own insight into the recordings, and your answers determine Dr. Novak’s fate, leading to one of three endings.

Evidence and journal

The story unfolds through newspaper articles, notes from a disgruntled secretary, unwelcome letters, journal entries and audio recordings. The journal evolves throughout the game based on your analysis of an unusual therapy session.

Novak’s desktop

An interactive desktop lets you control timespans to make days shorter or longer. The game also features an eerie musical score and visual effects.