Connection: The Nightmare Within

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Connection: The Nightmare Within is a single player survival shooter game with horror and mystery themes. It was developed by dragonlevel and was released on October 25, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

Buy the full game on steam or play the Free DemoInspired by the classics such as Resident Evil, Silent Hill and Alone In the Dark: Detective Stone investigates a shadow conspiracy. Explore atmospheric levels, fight monsters, and solve puzzles. Unravel a story of twists and turns. Choose classic fixed camera, or over-the-shoulder. Fight creatures and bosses with unique fighting styles that chall…

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Single-Player

Connection: The Nightmare Within screenshot

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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 48 reviews

story9 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

Connection: The Nightmare Within offers a solid survival horror experience with a gripping atmosphere, clever puzzles, and engaging combat reminiscent of classic Resident Evil games.
The game features impressive production values for an indie title, including beautiful graphics, well-directed cutscenes, and professional voice acting that adds to the overall enjoyment.
Players appreciate the option to choose between fixed camera and over-the-shoulder gameplay, catering to both nostalgic fans and those who prefer modern controls.

The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 4-6 hours, which some players feel limits its overall value and replayability.
Boss fights are often considered underwhelming and lack creativity, leading to a less satisfying climax for some players.
Inventory management is inconvenient, as players cannot rearrange items, which can detract from the overall experience.

story
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
29%
18%
The game's story is described as interesting and somewhat original, featuring a premise involving shady scientists and the exploration of a mysterious individual's mind. While some reviewers appreciate its entertaining and cinematic qualities, they note that it doesn't fully capitalize on its potential, often feeling superficial and clichéd. Despite its flaws, the narrative is engaging, particularly for fans of horror games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill.
- “It's a low budget game, with its flaws, but the storytelling is great; it is a must-play for anyone who loves Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and The Evil Within.”
- “I love the story and cinematics, and the art style in general.”
- “I'll admit that the game didn’t take full advantage of its storytelling power, neither in terms of the surreally dreadful possibilities human imagination is capable of, nor of the story’s potential itself. It generally comes off as mostly having scratched the surface of those things instead of fully embracing its ridiculous premise and running with it in a way similar to the 'Evil Within' games.”
- “There are definitely moments where the story seems to think it is deeper than it really is.”
- “The story involves physically entering the mind of a mysterious individual by shady scientists, for certain shady reasons.”
atmosphere
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
77%
8%
15%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its blend of eerie environments, impressive graphics, and effective use of both over-the-shoulder and fixed camera perspectives, enhancing the survival horror experience. Players appreciate the variety of locations, clever puzzles, and the overall immersive design, despite some critiques regarding combat mechanics. Overall, it is considered a strong homage to classic survival horror, delivering a gripping and atmospheric experience.
- “The game can be played both in over-the-shoulder view like modern Resident Evil games or in fixed camera mode for a more retro survival horror atmospheric experience.”
- “A must-play for survival horror fans, this game is a gripping homage to classic survival horror, blending eerie atmosphere, intense combat, and clever puzzles in a scary environment, grotesque monsters, and unexpected twists.”
- “The game just nails the puzzles, the set design and atmosphere are great, and the cinematic fixed camera angles are spot on.”
- “The game has a lot going for it, a decent atmosphere, what looked to be solid puzzles, etc. but the reason I refunded was the combat just didn't feel great.”
- “I mainly played this in the over-the-shoulder mode and liked the atmosphere of the game.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
12%
13%
The graphics are widely praised for their beauty and atmospheric quality, significantly enhancing the narrative and setting of the game. Many reviewers note the impressive visuals, especially considering it is an indie title developed by a small team, with fully animated cutscenes adding to the overall experience. Overall, the graphics, along with the audio elements, contribute positively to the game's immersive storytelling.
- “The graphics are superb on max settings.”
- “The graphics are very beautiful and atmospheric; you get some good location variety due to the plot.”
- “I love the story and cinematics, and the art style in general.”
- “Given the fact that this is a two-person team, the graphics are decent and the fully animated/voiced cutscenes are pretty ambitious, even if they come off a bit hammy.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
12%
25%
The gameplay is generally well-received, featuring smooth controls and the flexibility of choosing between fixed-camera and over-the-shoulder perspectives, appealing to both classic and modern horror fans. While some aspects may feel rough or cliched, the puzzles are engaging and the overall experience is described as fun and cinematic, with a well-told story. Players note that it may take some time to master the mechanics, but it becomes easier and enjoyable once familiarized.
- “The option to choose between fixed-camera or over-the-shoulder gameplay adds to its appeal, catering to both classic and modern horror fans.”
- “The gameplay is good and the controls are smooth; also, you can choose a camera like a third-person shooter or a fixed camera.”
- “If you can excuse corny and cliched writing/acting, the gameplay is fun enough (even if it doesn't reinvent the wheel), and the puzzles were surprisingly great!”
- “Creaky mechanics!”
- “It takes a bit to get the hang of the game, but once you understand the mechanics, it's relatively easy to play.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The music in the game is generally considered serviceable, with some reviewers noting it as good but not particularly memorable or standout. While it complements the graphics and voice acting well, it does not leave a lasting impression.
- “The graphics and music are pretty good too.”
- “The graphics are great, and the voice acting and music are really good as well.”
- “The music is serviceable, but nothing really stands out as special or interesting.”
- “The soundtrack feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it easy to tune out.”
- “While the music fits the game, it doesn't leave a lasting impression or enhance the overall experience.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is highlighted by its impressive cinematic presentation, with well-directed cut-scenes and strong voice performances that enhance the overall experience.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the humor in the game particularly evident in the character's running animation while in fixed camera mode, which is described as hilarious and adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.
- “When you're in fixed camera mode, the way your character runs is hilarious.”
- “The witty dialogue and absurd situations had me laughing out loud.”
- “The game's quirky characters and their ridiculous antics kept me entertained throughout.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Overall, users report a stable gaming experience with smooth performance and no glitches during combat, contributing to an enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “Combat was also enjoyable; no glitches, the game ran smoothly.”
- “The game maintains a stable frame rate, which enhances the overall experience.”
- “I appreciate how the game rarely crashes, allowing for uninterrupted gameplay.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game features two endings determined by a single choice, which limits its overall replayability, as players may not find significant differences in subsequent playthroughs.
- “There are 2 endings, however it comes down to a singular choice you make at the end - which sadly doesn't do much for replayability.”
- “Once you've experienced the story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
- “The lack of diverse paths or choices means that replaying the game feels more like a chore than an adventure.”

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Connection: The Nightmare Within is a survival shooter game with horror and mystery themes.

Connection: The Nightmare Within is available on PC, Windows, Xbox and PlayStation.

Connection: The Nightmare Within was released on October 25, 2024.

Connection: The Nightmare Within was developed by dragonlevel.

Connection: The Nightmare Within has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its music.

Connection: The Nightmare Within is a single player game.

Similar games include Tormented Souls 2, Them and Us, Crow Country, Tormented Souls, Hollowbody and others.

Connection: The Nightmare Within

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