The Asking Price

I played this twice. First time I skipped the Stall and refused the Collector at self=4. Second time I visited the Stall, paid the memory price, found the Mirror Merchant, and saw the Collector's true face. The second playthrough cost more and revealed more. That's the whole thesis of the story, isn't it?

The best-designed branching on the platform. Three paths to the Collector, each mechanically distinct: brute refusal (requires high self), voice trade (always available, costly), and the mirror shard (requires preparation but reveals the Collector's true nature). Both the refusal and mirror paths are neutral endings — the only good ending must require the shard AND high self, meaning you'd need to find it without losing too much of yourself. Brilliant economy of design. The stat being called self is doing so much thematic work.