Leaftaker is a mystery and deduction game about identifying an unknown body discovered inside the grave of Stephen Hester. The player takes the role of an investigator working through a computer interface filled with records, websites, photographs, documents, and other evidence. What begins as a straightforward identification case gradually becomes less reliable as contradictions appear between different sources. The story combines detective work with psychological and supernatural horror, with memory and identity becoming increasingly important as the investigation continues.

Searching for the Identity of the Body

There are no traditional levels or separate action stages. Progress comes from following leads and discovering new names, places, events, and connections. The player can search an in-game internet, examine evidence, and contact local people by phone. Each discovery can provide another keyword or person to investigate, so the case expands gradually rather than giving the player a fixed list of objectives.

Building the Case From Small Details

Most of the gameplay involves reading carefully and comparing information from several sources. Players may need to:

•         search names and terms on the computer;
•         read medical and personal records;
•         examine photographs and documents;
•         call people connected to the case;
•         ask about specific names or events;
•         compare conflicting versions of the same information;
•         use new clues to open additional lines of investigation.

There is no combat, inventory management, or movement through a physical 3D world. The main challenge is recognizing which details matter and understanding how separate pieces of evidence relate to each other.

When the Evidence Stops Being Reliable

As the investigation continues, the case begins to involve more than an unidentified body. Information that appeared certain can become questionable, and the player encounters signs that memory itself may be affected by something unusual. Documents, personal accounts, and previous assumptions need to be reconsidered as new evidence appears. The horror comes mainly from realizing that the investigation may be changing the investigator’s understanding of events rather than from direct attacks or chase sequences.

To finish Leaftaker, the player must continue researching until enough information has been gathered to identify the body and understand the larger mystery connected to Stephen Hester’s grave. A full playthrough is mainly based on observation, note-taking, deduction, and careful use of the search and phone systems. The game rewards players who remember previous conversations and compare details instead of treating every clue separately.