: The game unfolds in real-time. If Taylor goes to sleep or explores a wreckage, they will actually be "busy" for hours, and you must wait for a notification to continue.

The game series, developed by 3 Minute Games , is a groundbreaking collection of real-time, text-based survival adventures that turned mobile notifications into a narrative tool. What is Lifeline?

Unlike traditional RPGs where you play the hero, in Lifeline , you are the hero's only contact. You receive messages from , a science student stranded on an alien moon after their spaceship, the Varia , crashes. Your role is to guide Taylor through life-or-death decisions via a simple A/B choice interface.

: The writing by Dave Justus (of The Wolf Among Us fame) creates a deep emotional bond; players often report feeling genuine guilt if their advice leads to Taylor’s death.