Very enjoyable game, with engaging, deep story - even though it's not long, it will make a lasting impression. Graphics are very simple, but done with style. Voice acting is ok, especially actor playing main character fits him. If you like old point and click adventure games, or just enjoy playing something focused on the storyline, give that one a try.

This is a good game - to sum it up, I would say it is a sort of "indiana jones and the fate of atlantis" (with comparable graphics). It's an Indie so you should expect creativity rather than awesome graphics or such comercial features.

The problem with the game is... it has an excellent argument and idea going on, but the game is simply just too short. The storyline covers some 5 different places with some dialog in each one, and that's it. The storyline should have been at least 10 times longer so that the game could be compared to any decent adventure, point-and-click game. This is it's most outstanding setback.

But who knows? I read somewhere that they are planning sequels or improvements. They should be welcome. The tough, rather cinical Rabbi Stone as a main character does feel unique. The genious of the game resides in that. Should the story be deeper and longer, this game would have managed to be an uncontestable top game.

The shivah is a great little adventure game that uses it's unique main character (a rabbi) both as an interesting plot and mechanical device in the 'rabbinical response' Answering a question with a question, which can open doors as often as close them thanks to it annoying characters.

Worth getting, and the price tag makes it a steal, if it's ever on special don't ignore it.

A short and very sweet adventure game where you play as a very gritty Rabbi Stone. A previous member of Stone's ramshackle synagogue has died under mysterious circumstances and left our grizzled hero a significant sum of money...enough to attract the attentions of Detective Durkin leaving Stone a likely suspect.

Typical of modern-day adventure games, the puzzles are generally pretty easy, but the dialogue is well written and the music takes you there. Also rarely seen are a few multiple choices which change the story around, allowing for multiple endings. Overall, the game is an excellent way to spend a few hours, and I recommend it.

While the Jewish culture does not interest me in particular, interesting stories do! and the ´unorthodox´ (sorry, could not resist) setting of this game raised my very interest for sure.


Author Dave Gilbert created not only a deep reflecting story about Jewish culture and humor but also an compelling love-letter to New York City itself, written into a SCUMM-Engine.


The setting of The Shiva is a thriller that reminds me of the atmosphere of the great time of New York City based movies of in the 70ies and 80ties: a little bit of „Taxi Driver“ for some drastic violence in the game, a bit of „All the President's Men“ or „The Conversation“ for hunting the truth and secret interest groups.

This a also a story about the falling of faith and moral decisions, putting the religious aspect down to earth. 
Additionally to this, there is the „Kibbitz-Mode“ that holds a lot of background information about the game, the locations and the cultural aspects. This game also has full and professional voice-over, giving it a big additional atmospheric boost.



What makes The Shiva fall short is the length of the Game. I won´t even hold the quite crude graphics, the not so much puzzling puzzles, or the low number of locations against it. But while the game is worthwhile during it´s 2 - 3 hours of play, the story just doesn´t fit into that time frame, unfortunately. It sometimes feels too rushed and skipped esp. towards the end. This is the biggest downer of the game. While what is there is great, it does not feel complete.


As a whole this might only appeal to connoisseur gamers, while casual gamers will most surely `not get´ the values The Shiva has to offer.