In MiSide, players step into a first-person adventure that unfolds within the confines of Mita’s virtual apartment, which manifests in various forms throughout the game. This environment serves as a playground where players explore, solve puzzles, and interact with a multitude of objects to uncover the underlying mysteries. The apartment changes dynamically as the narrative progresses, mirroring the mental state and storyline twists involving the characters. The setting intensifies from a simple exploratory space to a complex arena filled with stealth and horror elements, challenging players to adapt to its evolving nature.
Aside from the main exploration and puzzle-solving elements, MiSide offers a rich array of mini-games, enhancing the gameplay experience. These range from competitive PvP mini-games, where the main character and Mita engage directly, to solo challenges like operating game machines within the apartment.
The game begins when the male protagonist, whose name is player-determined, downloads a life-simulation app called MiSide, designed to care for a female character named Mita. Initially presented as a simple 2D top-down game, the plot thickens on the 37th day when Mita expresses a desire to meet in person. This request coincides with a surreal shift for the player, who finds himself transported from staring at his smartphone to sitting on a couch in a 3D version of the game’s world, face-to-face with Mita.
As the player adjusts to the virtual environment, engaging in routine activities and console mini-games with Mita, strange occurrences begin to surface. These oddities escalate when the player hears noises from a closet, and Mita attempts to prevent any investigation. The tension peaks when Mita snaps her fingers, plunging the room into darkness and transforming from a companion into a hunter. This pivotal moment leads the player to discover a key in the closet that opens a door to a basement, revealing a caged, benevolent version of Mita who explains the perilous reality of their situation.
The player’s escape from the malevolent Mita marks the beginning of a quest through earlier versions of the game, encountering different iterations of Mita along the way. Each version showcases unique traits and some even appear as glitches within the code. The narrative culminates in a dramatic showdown at the core of the virtual world, where the player attempts to reset the malevolent Mita.