The player controls Laura through computer generated full-motion video (FMV) sequences, and must complete the game within two hours without a save or pause function.

To ensure these scenes would not be censored, Eno submitted a "clean" version for late publisher approval, knowing they would require him to deliver the game to the manufacturer.

The game was a commercial and critical success in Japan, selling a million copies and receiving a special edition re-release.

D is an interactive movie which features adventure game elements, a horror genre storyline, and heavy use of full motion video.

The movements occur through FMV sequences as she walks to the desired location, from where the player is greeted with a static screen which may contain items they can interact with or other paths to direct Laura.

Laura's father (taking the form of apparitions) warns her to leave, saying that staying too long means being stuck in the alternate reality forever.

He reveals the sordid past of his family: Laura and her father are part of a bloodline of cannibalistic vampires, dating back to the infamous Dracula.

As Laura tearfully cradles her dying father in her arms, he confesses that he allowed the transformation to occur out of scientific curiosity and thanks her for stopping him.

The plot was largely based on that of Dracula, but Eno found it too boring, and so added violence and cannibalism to make the game more striking.

[28][30][10] In their import review, GameFan staff stated they normally disliked interactive movie FMV games, but praised D for being innovative and creative, dubbing it "a masterpiece.

[30] Next Generation reviewed the 3DO version first as an import, rating it two stars out of five, and stated that "This is without a doubt the most heavily atmospheric and creepy title to date for the 3DO - or for that matter, any home system.

[24][32][20][27] Sam Hickman from Sega Saturn Magazine commented that the game manages to be extremely creepy and terrifying despite having almost no bloodshed.

[32][33] Maximum staff likewise gave positive reviews to both versions, saying that D is similar to Myst (1993) and Mansion of Hidden Souls (1993) but ultimately better due to its more enticing story.

The reviewers felt its short length, addictive gameplay, and lack of overly challenging puzzles ensured that the player will be finished with it very quickly.

[24] A Next Generation reviewer gave the same praises for the scary storyline and graphics, and also said the puzzles "are just challenging enough to satisfy and yet not so difficult as to impede your progress for very long."

They found the gameplay tedious but did praise the graphics and the storytelling, concluding the "story would make a great movie or book, but not a game.

"[34] Modern retrospectives find D less appealing by contemporary standards, but have acknowledged its cult following and unique place in video game history.

[36] Brittany Vincent of Rock, Paper, Shotgun called it a "quintessential example" of a period when developers were attempting to blend FMV techniques with traditional game design to build something coherent.

He commended D for ushering in the era of survival horror by paving a path for games like Resident Evil, and said that without historical context, it's difficult to enjoy D in modern times.