Fit check
Is The Shivah worth it for you?
We tell you who should skip it, too.
Play it if you…
Good fit- Adventure players who want a morally focused investigation
- Narrative game fans interested in Jewish religious themes
- Players seeking a short story with multiple endings
Skip it if you…
Saves you a refund- Players seeking broad exploration or a large, open-ended world may find the Manhattan investigation narrowly focused.
- Players wanting extensive combat systems may find the fighting secondary to conversations and investigation.
- Players looking for a role-playing game centered on character development and party management may prefer a larger RPG.
- Players who want a single fixed conclusion may not enjoy choosing among three endings.
Our take on The Shivah
The focus on a tightly framed investigation gives the story a clear moral direction, but leaves less room for broad exploration or expansive role-playing systems. The three endings add variation to the conclusion without changing the game's compact narrative structure.
What is The Shivah?
Play as Russell Stone, a Jewish rabbi whose struggling New York City synagogue is losing members and facing closure.
When a former congregant dies and leaves him a substantial sum, Stone must decide whether to accept the money or investigate its origins. Travel across Manhattan, use rabbinical conversation methods, and uncover the truth behind the inheritance. The game includes a distinct fighting system, an original musical score, and three possible endings. Its story follows Stone as he confronts financial pressure, moral doubt, and the possibility that the bequest conceals something sinister.
How The Shivah plays
- 01Rabbinical Dialogue
- Conversations use methods associated with the protagonist's role as a rabbi.
- 02Distinct Combat
- Encounters use a fighting system separate from the game's conversation mechanics.
- 03Three Endings
- The investigation can conclude in three different ways.
- 04Original Soundtrack
- The game includes music composed specifically for its story.
The Shivah compared to similar games
The Shivah centers on a rabbi investigating a suspicious inheritance through conversations, Manhattan travel, and three possible endings. Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition instead emphasizes exploration of a strange city, an unconventional story, characters, and a soundtrack, giving it a broader role-playing scope. The other listed alternatives focus on climbing, shooting, running, or RPG Maker-based gameplay rather than the same investigation-led adventure structure.
The Shivah: platforms & release
Is The Shivah worth it?
It is worth it if: adventure players who want a morally focused investigation. Skip it if: players seeking broad exploration or a large, open-ended world may find the Manhattan investigation narrowly focused.
Where can I download The Shivah?
Use the Download Now button on this page: it opens The Shivah's store page, where you can choose how to get it.
What platforms is The Shivah on?
Windows, macOS and Linux.
