My Journey as Adam Lane in An Elmwood Trail

 

If you had told me I’d be driving through a dark forest, solving high-level riddles, hacking into secret files, and being emotionally tangled in a missing person case—all from my phone—I might’ve laughed. But An Elmwood Trail, created by Techyonic, has given me an experience that’s deeper and more human than I ever expected from a mobile game. It’s not just a game—it’s a full-blown narrative adventure where you live the role, not just play it.

In this interactive mystery thriller, I stepped into the shoes of Adam Lane, a detective with a complicated life—balancing work, fatherhood, and a fragile relationship with my wife, Amanda Lane. Our teenage son, Jim Lane, is smart, independent, and a bit too brave for his age. While trying to solve the town’s biggest mystery—the disappearance of 18-year-old Zoey Leonard—I was also trying to hold my family together.

The town of Riverstone, surrounded by the haunting Elmwood Forest, is a beautifully eerie place. It’s been three weeks since Zoey vanished, and while the police have labeled her a runaway, something never quite adds up. That’s where I come in. I knew there was more behind the silence. The way the clues are slowly laid out in the game it makes you feel like a real detective. And the fact that I have to base every decision on actual evidence? That’s what makes it thrilling.

But the journey hasn’t been all cold logic and chasing leads. Some of the most memorable parts came from my own home. One evening, I had a major misunderstanding with Amanda. Our son Jim had gotten into trouble at school—he punched a classmate. I later found out it wasn’t just a random fight; Jim was standing up against bullying. Still, Amanda was upset. She wanted me to guide our son to handle things differently, to report such issues to teachers, not take matters into his own hands. It was a tense conversation, but it showed me how this game doesn't just focus on crime—it dives deep into family dynamics and emotional weight. And it does it so naturally.

There was another night where I helped Jim with his physics project—assembling electrical circuits and running to the store for supplies. It was a quiet, bonding moment between father and son that somehow stood out just as much as chasing suspects or sneaking into digital vaults. These simple scenes gave the story heart.

But speaking of vaults… Vault 8 nearly drove me crazy.

This riddle was like a wall I kept banging my head against. It required layers of logic, pattern recognition, and the patience of a saint. I don’t know how many times I got it wrong, but when I finally cracked the code and unlocked it—there was this surge of pride I rarely feel from any puzzle game. I was fist-pumping in real life, like I had just broken into a real government facility.

Then came the tense escape from the cave with Kevin. I had to help him out using a memory-based puzzle system while guiding his every step. Every wrong move could’ve led to danger. The stress was real, the stakes felt high, and the relief after guiding him to safety was unforgettable.

I also can't forget the hacking moment with Crossbar_86. This mysterious ally helped me break into Rajan’s phone, and the whole scene felt like a realistic cyber operation. From extracting the .wav file (yes, I had to wait for it to load) to watching encrypted messages unfold—it felt so cinematic. I remember Crossbar_86 suggesting, “All three of us should meet. It would be like a blind meet-up.” That line stuck with me. The writing in this game really knows how to build atmosphere.

The immersive feeling is amplified by the game's sound effects, music, and visual design. Whether I was reading texts from Jim, driving late at night with faint music playing from the car speakers, or listening to Zoey’s voiceovers, the game had me emotionally present every second. It was dark, dramatic, but also deeply human.

Each episode—there are three released so far—felt like watching a series, but better because I was in it. I also noticed something unexpected: I was learning English in the process. The vocabulary used in the game is pretty advanced, and while I sometimes needed to pause and look up certain words, over time I could feel myself improving. So not only did I get entertainment, but I also got a little language upgrade along the way.

And here’s one of the best parts: this is an offline game. That means you can enjoy the full experience without worrying about your internet connection. No need to stress about buffering or network drops, and even better, the ads don’t interrupt your gameplay. It’s peaceful, immersive, and focused purely on the story.

The team behind it—Aahan Sharma, Himakshi Lohani, and Sparsh Tyagi—along with a talented crew of musicians and voice actors, have done something truly special. It feels more like a personal experience than a game.

Now, I wait in suspense for what comes next. Will Zoey be found? Will the town finally learn the truth? Will my in-game family come out stronger? I can only hope for a happy ending, but even if it turns out dark, I know this journey will stay with me for a long time.

Here is a documentary that I captured in the last session of episode 3,

So, if you’re ready to enter a mystery filled with emotion, tech, puzzles, and heart, give An Elmwood Trail a try. You can download it now on the Play Store and start your own journey as Adam Lane. Just don’t be surprised when you start feeling like you're living in Riverstone, one riddle at a time.

— Zahwa