Antarctica 88

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 162 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • atmosphere
Antarctica 88 Game Cover
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"Antarctica 88" is a horror-adventure game where players must explore a research station on the continent to uncover the fate of a missing expedition. The game is filled with puzzles, weapons, and terrifying creatures, and players must make decisions that will affect the outcome of the story. With multiple endings, players can replay to discover the full story.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Web Browser
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 162 reviews
story18 positive mentions
stability6 negative mentions
  • Antarctica 88 offers a short, intense experience with engaging gameplay, including collecting ammunition, solving puzzles, and fighting enemies, all set in a visually appealing environment inspired by classic horror films.
  • The game features a variety of weapons and multiple endings, providing replay value and a sense of accomplishment for players who enjoy exploring different outcomes.
  • Despite its low budget, the game successfully captures the atmosphere of 'The Thing' and provides a fun, nostalgic experience for fans of indie horror games.
  • The game suffers from bugs, including enemy respawning issues and unintuitive level design, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • Voice acting and audio balancing are subpar, detracting from the overall immersion and quality of the game.
  • With a playtime of around 1.5 to 2 hours, many players feel the game is too short and lacks depth, making it hard to justify its price without a significant discount.
  • story42 mentions

    The story is generally well-received, described as engaging and straightforward, with influences from John Carpenter's "The Thing." While it captivates players with its atmosphere and gameplay, some reviewers note its brevity and the presence of plot holes, suggesting that it could benefit from further development and refinement. Overall, it provides enough intrigue to keep players invested, despite its limitations.

    • “Very intriguing story with fun gameplay and good atmosphere.”
    • “The story is straightforward and enjoyable, playing out through abandoned shelters, blizzards, and claustrophobic tunnels.”
    • “This was a fun game with some nice story.”
    • “The story is extremely short, with under 1 hour.”
    • “No game is perfect, but with a few tweaks to the animations and a bit to the story to sort of round it out and to get rid of some plot holes, like the doctor being outside of the cave when you find a discarded hat in the cave and you have to blow open an obstruction to get out.”
    • “It is an escape the area while shooting your way through monsters game while finding some pages with story content and a couple of cut scenes.”
  • music32 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its homage to John Carpenter's "The Thing" and its ability to set an atmospheric tone, while others criticize it for being repetitive and not effectively enhancing the horror experience. Many players noted that the soundtrack lacks variety and can be too loud, detracting from the intended suspense. Overall, while some appreciate the dramatic elements, others feel a more ambient approach would have better suited the game's atmosphere.

    • “The intro music is very reminiscent of John Carpenter's 'The Thing', and I guess that's the whole spirit they're going for.”
    • “Good music, really sets the tone.”
    • “Nice sound effects and music, which add to the atmosphere and pay homage to 'The Thing' from '82.”
    • “The developers created the soundtrack to the game, which is a never-ending unsuccessful attempt at making the player feel pressured and rushed; a more ambience-centric OST could've done a lot more to add to the game's atmosphere.”
    • “I thought it was a horror game, not like the style of music in Kao the Kangaroo (I love that game <3) - so basically the soundtrack is not making a great impression and you forget it; you need to be scared... booooo.”
    • “The music is too loud.”
  • atmosphere22 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its intriguing level design, hand-drawn art style, and effective sound effects that enhance the horror experience, often drawing comparisons to classic films like "The Thing." However, some players feel that the soundtrack detracts from the atmosphere, as it tends to create a sense of pressure rather than immersion. The day and night cycle also significantly impacts the atmosphere, with the night version being particularly well-received for its enhanced visual appeal.

    • “The level design is simple yet atmospheric, and the hand drawings really gave it personality.”
    • “The developers created the soundtrack to the game, which is a never-ending unsuccessful attempt at making the player feel pressured and rushed; a more ambience-centric OST could've done a lot more to add to the game's atmosphere.”
    • “Antarctica 88 has a survival horror 'what is going on here' atmosphere.”
    • “There is a day and night cycle, all dependent on your PC's own clock; the night version of the game looks far better and adds much more atmosphere than the day version.”
  • gameplay22 mentions

    The gameplay is generally well-received, featuring solid mechanics, engaging combat, and a variety of weapons that enhance the experience. However, many players suggest that the normal difficulty is too easy, recommending a harder setting for a more immersive challenge. The game is praised for its intriguing story and atmosphere, with some players expressing a desire for more vehicle-based elements in future installments.

    • “Very intriguing story with fun gameplay and good atmosphere.”
    • “Great little survival horror game with all the mechanics you could want.”
    • “The mechanics of the game such as looting, fighting, and moving about all work very well, making the game fun to play.”
    • “Would recommend that you play on a harder difficulty though as normal difficulty was pretty easy and did not require me to completely engage with the game's mechanics.”
    • “But level design in gameplay?”
    • “The gameplay itself was solid as well - it's not a bad feeling FPS, and has multiple available weapons.”
  • graphics16 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally described as dated, reminiscent of early 2000s titles or even N64 games, with a mix of retro and modern aesthetics. While some players find charm in the old-school visuals, others consider them merely "meh" and lacking in polish, though the atmospheric design and certain elements like the day/night cycle are appreciated. Overall, the graphics evoke nostalgia but may not meet contemporary standards.

    • “Within 8 chapters, we collect ammunition survival-style, solve little puzzles, fight a cast of fearsome enemies, and, of course, explore the world that is somewhere between retro and beautiful modern aesthetics.”
    • “Antarctica 88 has some charming 'old' graphics.”
    • “Very dated graphics, but it was very atmospheric and reminded me of 'The Thing', which was a good thing.”
    • “It reminds me of an N64 game with better graphics more than anything else.”
    • “Very dated graphics but it was very atmospheric and reminded me of 'The Thing', which was a good thing.”
    • “+/- graphics from 2010”
  • stability6 mentions

    The game exhibits some stability issues, including bugs related to dead creatures re-spawning upon quick-loads and occasional animation glitches. However, these problems do not significantly hinder gameplay, as the overall experience remains solid.

    • “It's also a bit buggy, particularly with dead creatures re-spawning all at once following a quick-load.”
    • “Bit buggy, e.g. some monsters resurrected on reload but otherwise solid.”
    • “There are some weird animation glitches sometimes, but nothing broken.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its dorky and entertaining approach, reminiscent of B-horror films, with hilarious cutscenes and voice acting that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the comedic elements even in the context of a horror game, making it a unique and enjoyable blend of genres.

    • “Mainly, this is a dorky and funny, yet very entertaining horror game.”
    • “It's hilariously fitting of a B-horror film style game.”
    • “I actually really liked this a lot even with the hilarious cutscenes and voice acting.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers strong replayability due to its multiple endings influenced by player choices and collectibles, alongside optional goals. Additionally, the real day-night cycle enhances the experience, providing varied gameplay opportunities. Overall, players appreciate the game's variety and cohesive design, making it enjoyable to revisit.

    • “A tight and cohesive survival-horror shooter with plenty of variety and replay value.”
    • “This cool, inspired video game isn't long to beat and features multiple endings depending on what you collect and whether you complete optional goals. The developer is pretty neat, and the real day-night cycle adds at least a small degree of replayability.”
    • “This cool, inspired video game isn't long to beat and features multiple endings depending on what you collect and whether you complete optional goals. The developer is pretty neat, and the real day-night cycle adds at least a small degree of replayability.”
    • “Cool thing inspired video game, it's not long to beat and has multiple endings depending on what you collect and if you complete optional goals. The developer is pretty neat and they have a real day-night cycle which adds at least a small degree of replayability.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players report that the snowmobile sections of the game evoke strong emotional responses, often leading to frustration and tears, indicating a significant emotional impact that overshadows other gameplay elements.

    • “Every snowmobile section made me want to cry; I spent more time trying to get past that than the rest of the game combined.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization is highly praised, with users noting that it runs exceptionally smoothly, akin to "butter." This positive feedback highlights a strong performance without any significant issues.

    • “This title actually runs as smooth as butter, showcasing an unmistakable, unshakeable quality in its optimization.”
    • “The optimization in this game is impressive, providing a seamless experience that enhances gameplay.”
    • “I was pleasantly surprised by how well-optimized this game is; it runs flawlessly even on lower-end hardware.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Antarctica 88

Play time

2hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
1hMain story
2hCompletionist
2-2hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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