Mirror's Edge is a first-person action game set in a dystopian society ruled by a totalitarian regime that exercises a high amount of surveillance on citizens. The city has a clean look, with bright cold tone visuals that are mainly white with hints of orange. Players control Faith, a female runner who transfers information by moving over the roofs of the city as all other forms of communication are monitored. She grew up alone in the streets when her mother died during the November Riots and her father deserted her shortly after. She was taught as a little girl by a man called Mercury, who caught her breaking in and was impressed with her skills. Hunted down by government agents, she needs to find a way to free her sister.
The gameplay focuses on movement, building fluid flow through various actions such as running up walls, sliding below fences, jumping, vaulting, or climbing, using pipes, ramps, or objects as zip-lines. The camera spins and bobs according to the speed, highlighting Faith's arms, legs, and torso. The game is largely HUDless, providing a fast-paced experience with Runner Vision, which highlights environmental pieces that can aid escape routes. Reaction Time allows for temporary bullet time in complex situations.
The gameplay involves both running from agents on foot or helicopters, as well as melee combat and disarming enemies to grab their weapons. The game takes place outside and inside buildings, spanning ten chapters with a main story mode, a time attack mode with level portions, and hidden messenger bags that can be collected for extras.