STAY ALIVE MY SON (PC Version): A True Story About A Father's Search For His Son
UME STUDIOS · 2025 · RPG, Interactive Fiction, Visual Novel, Third Person, Psychological Horror
PC
1 user reviews100% · 1
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About STAY ALIVE MY SON (PC Version): A True Story About A Father's Search For His Son
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT, MONUMENTAL MILESTONE!!!!!We listen to our community! Originally designed as a groundbreaking VR experience, we have now adapted it for PC so that this story can live on and be experienced by more people worldwide.This April 17th — the day Phnom Penh fell, marking the start of Cambodia’s darkest chapter and this year the 50th Anniversary — we released Stay Alive My Son on PC via Steam. This isn’t just a game release. It’s a tribute. A remembrance. A call.Inspired by the memoir of Pin Yathay, this interactive journey invites audiences to step into the heart of a father’s fight for love, truth, and survival. Now accessible without a headset, it opens the door for more classrooms, more communities, more homes — and more hearts.When we returned to Cambodia for the International Film Festival (CIFF), we witnessed something unforgettable: young Cambodians stepping into their history for the first time — reclaiming what was once buried in silence. This launch continues that homecoming and you are part of history in the making, in the healing. As the director, Victoria Bousis, said during her speech at CIFF:“Can we truly heal what has never been fully shared or seen? Through this experience, we don’t just tell a story - we invite people to live it. History is not meant to sit in books unread — it must be lived, remembered, and learned from. And when the headset comes off, there is a deeper call - not just to feel, but to act.”After the Cambodia International Film Festival, Stay Alive My Son will be housed as a permanent installation at the Extraordinary Chambers of Cambodia (ECCC) Resource Center, where visitors from around the world will be able to experience this powerful story—for free as our tribute to the resilience of the people of Cambodia. OVERVIEWSpanning over 45 years, Stay Alive My Son (SAMS) is an interactive narrative experience that immerses you in the life of Yathay Pin, a survivor of the Cambodian genocide. Witness history unfold through his eyes, where every decision you make shapes his poignant story of family separation, survival, and resilience. Based on the true events described in Yathay Pin’s novel Tu Vivras Mon Fils (Stay Alive My Son), this game delivers an authentic and deeply moving experience.Made by a small, purpose-driven team, SAMS is more than an interactive story; it’s a bridge to the past, an exploration of human endurance, and a testament to love, perseverance, and healing.THE EXPERIENCEYour journey begins outside Yathay’s home, where you meet an elderly digital recreation of Yathay himself, powered by AI. Through light gameplay mechanics, you delve into the psyche of a father haunted by his past. In a ceremonial rite intertwining your fate with his, your hands become his; his memories become your own. As you descend into his recollections, you embark on a quest for redemption and understanding.Navigate a labyrinth of memories, uncover the rich history of Cambodia, and confront the defining moments of Yathay’s life—the separation from his family and his desperate search for his son, Nawath. Relive the anguish of a father who never knew his child’s fate, experiencing the emotional depths of love, sorrow, and hope.In a mythical final journey, you will stand at the heart of Angkor Wat, a beacon of resilience in the darkness of Yathay’s past. In a candle-lit sanctuary, you will uncover the final elusive memory, bringing closure to his lifelong search and revealing the transformative power of forgiveness.OUR TEAMWith limited resources and over five years in the making, a dedicated team of nine artists and developers set out to tell this story with heart. We believed in using technology to shape culture and society, delivering an immersive experience with a mission to change the modern-day narrative of family separation into one of reunification.Carrying PCs and VR headsets in suitcases, we traveled across 28 countries, screening SAMS for thousands of audiences, technologists, policymakers, NGOs, and Heads of State. Our mission has always been to humanize the trauma of family separation and urge global action.By bringing Stay Alive My Son to PC, we are ensuring that this powerful story reaches even more people worldwide. Your support is not just for this project; it is a movement for change. It is a beacon of hope, a light in the darkness, and a tribute to the enduring strength of survivors everywhere.We thank you!!!Victoria, our cast, crew, and team at UME StudiosCAST & TEAMWritten & Directed By: Victoria BousisCAST:Elodie Yung - “Any” - (Cleaning Lady, Marvel’s Daredevil, GI Joe Retaliation)Arnold Chun - “Young Thay” - (Man in the High Castle, Bullet Train)Vincent Rodriguez - “Khmer Rouge Soldier” - (Mortal Kombat 1, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Raya & the Last Dragon)Abraham Sigler - “Sudath” - (Disney’s Wish, Raya & the Last Dragon)Lucas Sigler - “Nawath” - (Disney’s Wish)Kostas Filippoglou - “Old Thay” - (Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Wild Bees)PRODUCTION STUDIO: UME Studios
What Steam players say
Recent verbatim reviews from Steam — separate from playze.io community reviews below.
I am old enough to remember the Vietnam War but was not fully aware of the situation in Cambodia until I saw the 1984 film, The Killing Fields. Stay Alive, My Son puts a personal spin on a very dark chapter in world history. Those who play need to understand that it is not a game. It is an “immersive film” that is masterfully done and tells the story of Pin Yathay. He is a survivor of genocide at the hands of the Khmer Rouge, and he gives an almost existential account of losing everything dear to him but finding the will to survive and heal. He has spent decades searching, without success, for the son that was taken from him. Originally released as a VR title, Stay Alive, My Son has been adapted for the PC and uses the WASD keys to move and the mouse to pan and interact. Most of the film involves you moving through a labyrinth of Mr. Yathay’s memories and stopping to experience flashbacks of specific events. You learn of his captivity, his escape, and the fate of his family. You will get a sense of the brutality of the period but, if anything, the true horror of it is only hinted at. On occasion, there are highlighted items which are picked up. This is the only clunky aspect of…11 found this helpful
This isn’t a game you play to win—it’s a visual journey, guiding you along a linear path as you absorb the emotional story of a father forced to abandon his son during a tragic historical moment. Given its narrative-driven structure centered on a real historical event, gameplay is kept minimal. This is reflected in the simple controls—just movement and a single interaction button. Originally designed for VR, the standard version still delivers the experience smoothly and effectively. You see the world through the father’s eyes, though there’s also a third-person camera option. It’s not necessary, but it’s a welcome addition. The detailed character model is impressive, but the immersive first-person view feels more appropriate for the tone of the game. After a brief moment inside the father’s home, you’re pulled into a surreal realm—a dream or perhaps a nightmare—with only one path forward. The story unfolds through a series of vivid settings, much like a carnival ride that transitions you from one richly detailed scene to the next. Progress is made by listening to the father’s monologue and advancing from scene to scene. You do this by simply walking forward or by interacting w…4 found this helpful
Beautiful game -- so important to capture and tell these stories. Me and my wife playing through the PC version on stream and we both got tears.. Thank you for making this and capturing this point of view, story and emotions.
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