Read more about Jordan's graphic novel memoir, Replay.
"Both poignant and heartbreaking... Much like one of his games, Mechner's Replay is a challenging work that defies expectations." 9.5/10
— Nintendo Force Magazine
"A true masterpiece... I was wide-eyed through every page of this tapestry that jumps between centuries, nations, war, peace, love, loss & longing. With echoes of Maus & Joe Sacco, but a style and tone entirely his own. I cannot recommend this book more highly."
— Shiv Aroor, India Today
"Illuminating debut... An affecting ensemble portrait of one family's experience with war and dislocation. Fans of Maus will want to take a look."
"Each page resonates with a profound sense of humanity and grace... Through its captivating blend of history, memoir, and artistry, Mechner invites us to bear witness to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring power of love and connection. This book is not merely a tale of survival, but a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the darkest corners of the past and inspire hope for the future."
"The famed video-game designer (Prince of Persia) pivots to personal history in this ambitious but intimate graphic novel. In it, he elegantly interweaves themes of memory and exile with family lore from three generations: a grandfather who fought in World War I; a father who fled Nazi persecution; and his own path as a globe-trotting, game-creating polymath."
"A beautiful, moving graphic novel. Through simple, yet incredibly evocative art and naturalistic dialogue, it examines the universal struggle of balancing living, loving, and finding purpose in one's life. Replay is a masterclass in narrative structure, expertly weaving multiple timelines, creating an emotional experience that is more powerful than its individual tales. I can't recommend it enough."
— Neil Druckmann, co-creator of The Last of Us
"Vibrant, poignant... Short but powerful scenes of resilience, loss, and intergenerational connectedness are at the heart of Jordan Mechner's new nonfiction graphic book Replay: Memoir of an Uprooted Family. Though Replay's many twists and turns underscore the pervasive impact of the past, including painful traumas and unbearable losses, the emphasis is ultimately on the connectedness that remains in the present."
— NPR
"Jordan Mechner just released a masterpiece—Replay—and it's a graphic novel! I'm still overwhelmed by it. This sensitive autobiographical comic book touched me enormously. Thank you, Jordan, for sharing your story and that of your family."
— Eric Chahi, creator of Another World
"Mechner delivers a grand tale of the 20th century on the themes of uprooting and exile. He also offers a fascinating look at the evolution of video games, from the days when a kid could code a worldwide hit in his bedroom, to today's industry when a game mobilizes a team of hundreds of people. Drawing his first comic book (with talent), Jordan Mechner continues to make his mark on the history of the graphic arts, and surprises us with the ambition of a work as universal as the family narratives of Marjane Satrapi or Riad Sattouf."
— Jean-Samuel Kriegk, dBD
"Replay is a masterpiece of a graphic novel. Its structure of interlocking time periods creates juxtapositions that progressively build in emotion, and its ideas are gently yet relentlessly explored and expressed. The art is clear, personal and evocative. Jordan succeeds in making the personal universal and the universal personal. I enjoyed every page, and the experience stayed with me long after I closed the book."
— Boaz Yakin, screenwriter and director (Fresh, Remember the Titans, Aviva)
"A gripping and touching family saga that spans the century."
— Guy Delisle, author of Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea
"A meditation on the meaning of family, a theory and practice of video-game design, a haunting exploration of one man's patrimony — how can a single graphic novel contain so many things, and do them all so beautifully? Jordan Mechner's Replay is a wise, deeply moving book that I anticipate revisiting, and rereading, many times."
— Tom Bissell, author of Extra Lives
"Touching, funny, and sad at the same time, this graphic novel is a splendid work by the creator of Prince of Persia. Despite its 300+ pages, one reads it in a single sitting and is almost sorry that it doesn't continue further."
— Anthony Cocain, Insert-coin.fr
"The author manages to juggle time quite fluidly, delicately linking past to present without falling into the anticipated trap... These are 300 pages to put in the hands of every lover of biographical and genealogical stories."
— Damien Boone, ActuaBD
"An Austrian soldier in World War I, a Jewish child separated from his parents in World War II, and a video game designer, all in one book?... Jordan Mechner, author of the acclaimed Prince of Persia, opens up for the first time in a graphic novel that links his own story with his father's and grandfather's. These three stories are actually interconnected by big themes: escape, difficult life choices, and above all, family. And as in a good game, you find yourself captivated by a tale brimming with humanity."
"Replay takes us on a journey through a century of lives, love and hate, dreams and torments, creation and destruction, via Jordan Mechner's epic family story in his graphic novel debut. A first outing that reveals the hand of a master... Fascinating from start to finish, Replay is also an opportunity to follow the ups and downs of the behind-the-scenes creation of a classic video game like Prince of Persia, all executed with a drawing style of great finesse. Magnificent!"
— Eric Guillaud, FranceInfo
"Thrilling... subtle and intimate... The story is moving, the narrative complex and very cleverly managed... It's simply impossible to stop reading. Beautiful first foray into comics by this inspired creative. Replay will appeal to video game fans wanting to know the behind-the-scenes story, to history fans, and also to those who love family sagas."
— Nathalie Z, Scifi Universe
"Jordan subtly underlines the existence of strange temporal echoes that run through the tumultuous history of his family, the Mechner-Zieglers. Their story merges with that of the 20th century."
— Vincent Brunner, Slate
"Jordan Mechner tackles his most personal and introspective story yet in this touching Replay... A magnificent personal testimony that transcends the simple framework of a family."
— Arnaud Gueury, La Ribambulle
"If you haven't already, read "REPLAY: Mémoires d'une famille" by Jordan Mechner. As Wendy Lower and other recent historians urge us to substitute the notion of family for an anonymous tally of victims, testimonies like Jordan's take on a particularly shattering meaning. This is a great book that couldn't have existed in any other form than comics."
— Joann Sfar, author of The Rabbi's Cat
"A journey through space, time and comics. This family memoir succeeds in bringing home two elements: the harshness of war and the struggle for survival of family members, and, in a lighter vein, what it was like to design a video game in the 1980s."
— David Neau, 7BD
"The subtle transitions between eras, and the finely interwoven and complementary life stories, make this comic a fascinating and moving chronicle of a family that survived two world wars."
— Radio France, Editors' Choice 2023 Comics to Read This Summer
"If you enjoy video games and their history, war on a human scale, or tales of a desperate diaspora, this thick "Replay" will not disappoint you."
— Nicolas Ancion, Actualitté
"A highly successful blend of biography and family saga... In both form and content, Jordan Mechner delivers an innovative work that avoids the usual pitfalls of biographical narratives. A touching family story that reflects on the legacy of previous generations, and on displacement in its many forms."
— Baptiste Gilbert, 9eme Art
"An authentic, sober, touching and natural family saga... With great precision, the author succeeds in making us experience some very strong emotional moments, which give the story real power... The whole is fluid and advances steadily, its 300-plus pages leaving breathing space for entertaining anecdotes amid the great wheel of history. A truly personal work, an accessible read for everyone that leaves us enriched."
— Mick Léonard, Planete BD
"Attention, here is a truly unique graphic novel... Replay will fascinate anyone who wants to work in the video game industry. But this comic book is also a wonderful account of the last century's European history, especially the Second World War. It's also a family story about the importance of transmission. Finally, it's a modern story of a couple who try everything to make their marriage work. Yes, Replay is all this and more. And it's definitely a graphic work that will make a mark this year."
— Christophe Coquis, Geek Junior
"The narrative scheme, color-coded for the different eras, is extremely fluid. We move easily between past and present. The art style, with just the degree of realism needed, makes even the harshest scenes palatable. A great book, a fine achievement, that should be read in French high schools, to give today's young people a better understanding of this national historical period which is sometimes watered down or just skimmed over in classrooms."
— Michel Litout, L'Independant
"If this came out as a book, it'd go straight to the Pulitzer or the Goncourt, so there's no reason why it shouldn't work as a comic... it's truly our big, big favourite of the year. It's absolutely the book to have in your beach bag for this summer."
— Hervé Bourit, Local Génial, TV Tours-Val de Loire
"The author's layout and color scheme clearly define each period, making the story a smooth, enjoyable read. Captivatingly realistic and moving... Replay is a gripping tale of the will to rebuild, no matter what the odds."
"An intimate chronicle that is both sobering and moving."
— Thomas Liard, CNews "Les 9 albums à lire absolument avant l'été 2023"
"Replay is the 2023 recipient of the Prix Château-de-Cheverny for historical graphic novel of the year. 'A fluid narrative and a very clean drawing style, reminiscent of Guy Delisle's... Above all, this graphic novel captures the depth of time, depicting the change and continuity within a family in constant exile, while succeeding in giving universal scope to this very personal story.'"
— Tristan Martin, L'Histoire magazine