Heavy Rain is an interactive drama/psychological thriller in the noir style. The game features four main characters trying to solve the mystery of a serial killer known as the 'Origami Killer', who murders his victims during the rainy season.
In Heavy Rain, the player interacts with objects and other characters to influence the unfolding narrative. The game is divided into several scenes, each revolving around one of the four characters. The decisions made by the player, their actions or inactions, affect the subsequent scenes. If a character dies or is arrested, they do not appear in later scenes. The game does not end with the death of a character but continues to a logical conclusion, even if all characters become incapable of advancing the plot. When the game concludes, the player can revisit any scene and replay it, influencing future outcomes.
The game features four main characters that the player can control (one at a time):
Ethan Mars: An architect, married, with two sons. Two years before the game's events, his eldest son Jason dies in a car accident, after which Ethan falls into a coma. Returning to life, Ethan succumbs to his grief, leaving his wife and growing distant from his second son, Shawn.
Scott Shelby: A retired police officer currently working as a private detective investigating the murders of the 'Origami Killer'.
Norman Jayden: An FBI analyst sent to assist the police in investigating the 'Origami' case. He possesses glasses capable of altering reality, which help him collect and analyze evidence. However, Jayden is a drug addict.
Madison Paige: A photojournalist suffering from insomnia and nightmarish visions. She becomes embroiled in the 'Origami' case and embarks on her own investigation.