Benjamin "Benny" Brynn floats on a dark sea, before being picked up by a boat helmed by the Ferryman. Benny is unable to speak or gesture, though the Ferryman is able to perceive his blinking, which becomes his primary mode of communication. The Ferryman explains that he senses something unique in Benny, and is bringing him to the Gatekeeper for judgement. If deemed worthy, Benny will be allowed to enter the Gatekeeper's paradise and the Ferryman will be rewarded; if not, Benny will be turned into one of the seagulls that frequently crowds the boat. To facilitate this, the Ferryman asks him to recount his memories so that he may be able to spin a tale for the Gatekeeper. However, he explains that Benny will be unable to stay within the memories, as they will flash forward as soon as he blinks.
The player must interact with Brynn's memories through eye-tracking technology to progress through the game. The player's eye movements and blinking is registered by the game, as blinking is the player's main way of interacting with the game, including moving time forward an indeterminate amount of time in Brynn's life. This narrative structure was inspired by the 1949 stage play Death of a Salesman, which portrays the story partly through the protagonist's memories. The player can instead opt to play with a mouse instead of a webcam, as clicking will perform the same actions as blinking.