- Nurse, Disturbed is a short psychological horror 2D visual novel game that takes place during one shift at a hospital. It is aimed at young adults – particularly women, and takes inspiration from other visual novels and movies of the genre such as ‘Doki Doki Literature club!’ and ‘Black Swan’, to present the experience of an unstable nurse’s battle against self-doubt and paranoia.
Synopsis:
You follow Lilith – a timid new nurse trying her best to let go of past anxieties. As she begins a day to night shift at a hospital, alongside her coworkers Eve and Naomi, fear and uncertainty creep into her mind and her perception of reality becomes distorted. The unreliable narrator starts to view her colleagues and environment as hostile and frightening, and experiences gaps in her memory. The lines between reality and delusion are blurred as her detached personality emerges. She has developed it as a way to protect herself from perceived threat. Lilith is forced to confront the possibility that her worst enemy may be her own fractured mind.
- The game title Nurse, Disturbed is inspired by that of the memoire and cult movie ‘Girl, Interrupted’, which follows similar themes of instability and mental health.
Lilith:
Lilith is the protagonist and unreliable narrator of the visual novel.
She is a twenty two year old timid new nurse, working her first shifts at the hospital. Her struggles with a history of mental health issues and a deep fear of being disliked by others cause her to be extremely emotionally fragile. She overthinks mundane interactions and misinterprets others through her own paranoia. As pressure builds, she begins to experience hallucinations and gaps in her memory – culminating in the emergence of an aggressive hostile personality that she cannot remember nor control. Lilith’s primary colour of baby pink
Eve:
Eve is a secondary character and perceived antagonist in the visual novel.
She is a twenty seven year old senior nurse at the hospital. She is stern and disciplined, taking her responsibilities seriously and holding a high standard for her colleagues. She mentors Lilith and scolds her for mistakes, which is perceived much harsher than Eve intends. However, her strict demeanour is only driven by a desire for professionalism and improvement, not malice. She is observant and notices Lilith’s struggle, although her concern is not met favourably.
Naomi:
Naomi is a secondary character and perceived antagonist in the visual novel.
She is a twenty three year old nurse who has worked at the hospital for a year. She is easy-going and friendly, known for her ability to cheer up patients and to get on with everyone in the hospital. She takes an interest in Lilith, offering reassurance through casual conversation. However, her friendliness is viewed as insincere and uncanny, and Lilith struggles to appropriately engage with her.
