Heavy Rain is a high-def psychological thriller; an adventure game with action-oriented elements and a dark storyline that is as disturbing as it is compelling. The noir plot follows the lives of four largely unrelated individuals, all of which have been affected by a serial murderer on the loose. Each with a different motive, the characters seek to end the gruesome spree of the "Origami Killer," so-called for the folded paper creations left on murder victims.

Players navigate the game world using the controller's left stick to look around and the trigger to move, squeezing harder to run faster. Interaction with objects comes through context-sensitive buttons. Fights, chases, escapes, and other fast actions are accomplished in quick-time event style, as players must punch in a button sequence, move the analog sticks in a particular direction, or shake the controller, quickly and accurately following onscreen cues for success. Each decision and action can influence the development of the plot, and even the ultimate survival of the four main characters depends on the choices the player makes throughout the game.

The "Director's Cut" edition includes the previously released add-on content and the game's official soundtrack. PlayStation Move support, which was added to the original Heavy Rain post release, is also featured.