Cosmodread

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 566 reviews
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
  • story
Cosmodread Game Cover
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A VR survival horror roguelike. Trapped in a dying spaceship filled with horrors, you must explore, survive, and find your way back to the safety of Earth. Cosmodread features a rich, tense and immersive atmosphere that will make you forget about the world outside the headset.

  • PC
  • Virtual Reality
  • Windows
  • Oculus Quest
  • Oculus VR
  • Play​Station
  • Play​Station VR2
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 566 reviews
gameplay66 positive mentions
stability12 negative mentions
  • Superb sound and lighting create a thick horror atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience.
  • The game offers high replayability with procedural generation and unlockable modifiers, keeping each run fresh and engaging.
  • The atmosphere and enemy design effectively evoke a sense of dread and fear, reminiscent of classic horror titles like Dead Space.
  • The movement speed is slow, which can hinder gameplay and make encounters feel frustrating.
  • Some enemy designs appear goofy rather than scary, which can detract from the overall horror experience.
  • Physics interactions can be clunky, making it difficult to grab items or manage inventory effectively.
  • gameplay142 mentions

    The gameplay in Cosmodread is characterized by a simple yet engaging loop that combines exploration, resource management, and survival mechanics within a tense, atmospheric setting. While the game offers a rewarding experience through its roguelike elements and the thrill of learning enemy mechanics, some players find the shooting mechanics clunky and the overall gameplay can become repetitive after multiple runs. Despite these criticisms, many appreciate the game's ability to create a frightening atmosphere and the satisfaction of progressing through its challenges.

    • “The room exploration mechanics are very cool and add a lot to the tension of the game.”
    • “However, the most pleasantly surprising aspect of Cosmodread is the genuinely fun gameplay loop at the core of the game.”
    • “Cosmodread is a fantastic rogue-lite with a simple but engaging gameplay loop.”
    • “The biggest downside of this game is that after each session, you get used to the atmosphere and mechanics, making the game a bit repetitive and less scary.”
    • “I didn't find the combat exciting; I wasn't impressed much by the game mechanics, I was just sort of dissatisfied.”
    • “There's also this pointless 'oxygen' mechanic in this game where you're constantly losing oxygen and you need to search the place for oxygen tanks or you will die. I understand that the point was to prevent the player from slacking off, but it just adds unnecessary tension.”
  • atmosphere110 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its superb sound design and immersive lighting, creating a thick sense of horror and tension throughout gameplay. While some players noted that enemy designs could detract from the overall fear factor, the combination of ambient sounds and environmental storytelling effectively keeps players on edge. Despite minor criticisms regarding graphics and occasional sound direction issues, the game's ability to evoke genuine scares and a feeling of helplessness is consistently highlighted as a standout feature.

    • “The atmosphere is just perfect, you'll be on edge the whole time, you'll hear groans and gurgles, strange thumps, odd computer sounds -- is that just a computer making computer noises or was that a security drone?”
    • “Cosmodread nails the atmosphere of the abandoned spaceship and truly makes you feel helpless even though you are equipped with a crossbow.”
    • “Genuinely one of the most atmospheric horror games I've ever had the experience of playing.”
    • “The biggest downside of this game is that after each session, you get used to the atmosphere and mechanics, making the game a bit repetitive and less scary.”
    • “Not the best looking game by any stretch of the imagination but the atmosphere created by the sound design is really good; the creaking, banging, groaning, and moaning noises had me constantly looking around in a panic thinking I was about to become some grotesque monstrosity's lunch.”
    • “I just wish the textures/models were better; they are pretty low res and the environment doesn't have a lot of detail, but you can easily overlook these and get sucked into the atmosphere.”
  • story60 mentions

    The game's story, set aboard a malfunctioning ship orbiting a celestial body, is conveyed through audio logs and collectibles, creating an intriguing narrative that encourages replayability. While some players appreciate the atmospheric storytelling and the depth of lore, others feel the plot is somewhat standard and could benefit from expansion to enhance player engagement. Overall, the narrative serves as a solid backdrop for the gameplay, but many reviewers express a desire for a more developed and cohesive story.

    • “The story is interesting, but it is a pity that you cannot discover everything in a simple run; you must keep playing to unlock all the objects and lore bits of the game.”
    • “The plot given through audio logs was unexpectedly good.”
    • “There's plenty of replayability on account of it being a rogue-like, and the story is intriguing enough on its own to warrant repeat playthroughs to find out just what happened on this ship.”
    • “The story is told in brief audio recordings and texts that you can find littered around the ship.”
    • “Story is pretty standard fare, and it's aggravating to find a disk hoping it will contain a blueprint, only for it to contain lore text that frankly, you're not gonna care about much.”
    • “Which I didn't really gather much of that; seems like a Dead Space archetype story arc.”
  • replayability48 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability due to its rogue-like elements, procedural map generation, and unlockable modifiers, which encourage players to return for multiple playthroughs. While many users appreciate the variety and challenge it offers, some feel that the limited enemy types and objectives could be expanded to enhance replay value further. Overall, it is considered a solid investment for those seeking engaging gameplay with significant replay potential.

    • “Rogue-like elements give the game a good amount of replay value as well.”
    • “There's plenty of replayability on account of it being a rogue-like, and the story is intriguing enough on its own to warrant repeat playthroughs to find out just what happened on this ship.”
    • “One of the best survival horror games on any platform in years, and very replayable with its procedural environments and modifiers.”
    • “In my opinion, this could have used way more variations (that only occur in some runs) for more replayability, since right now it feels like there are only about 6 enemy types, and nearly all of them are 'shoot first, ask questions later' and equally go down. Some weapons are just outright better than anything else (looking at you, crossbow), while the pistol felt really awkward to use due to its massive chamber, which didn't feel as effective as the crossbow.”
    • “Replayability and continued engagement are questionable—there are plentiful gameplay elements and mechanics to keep one engaged for several hours a few times, but this probably isn't something you'll play for 100 hours+.”
    • “I feel like if there were more objectives in the game, it would become a lot more replayable, especially because the main objective seems to be the only focus.”
  • graphics42 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally considered serviceable but not groundbreaking, with some users noting a low-poly aesthetic reminiscent of mobile games. While they may not impress in comparison to AAA titles, the visuals effectively contribute to the game's eerie atmosphere, enhanced by good lighting and sound design. Overall, the graphics are adequate for immersing players in the experience, though they may not meet the expectations of those seeking cutting-edge visuals.

    • “The sound is amazing, and the graphics are more than good enough to suck you in.”
    • “The graphics are maybe not next-gen, but they serve their purpose very well and immerse you into the experience.”
    • “Graphics are pretty good on PC, really fit the atmosphere with great lighting and particle effects.”
    • “Maybe time hasn't been too kind on the graphics.”
    • “Cosmodread doesn't have the best graphics, nor the best sounds, nor design in general.”
    • “As for graphics, the screenshots on the store page had me a bit concerned.”
  • music26 mentions

    The music in the game is praised for its ambient and spooky qualities, effectively enhancing the overall atmosphere and tension. However, some players criticize the repetitive nature of the music during encounters, which diminishes the element of surprise and impacts the effectiveness of jump scares. Despite these issues, the sound design contributes significantly to the game's terrifying ambiance and gameplay experience.

    • “The atmosphere is incredible, and its great music and overall design brings much to the table.”
    • “Even after completing the game, you'll be on edge all the time thanks to the terrifying atmosphere and excellent sound/music.”
    • “Extremely good atmosphere, combat, mechanics, music, physics, sound design, and story.”
    • “The sound is pretty creepy and fitting, but sometimes you can hear the cut in and out of the sound effects and music.”
    • “The fact that the same scary music plays every time I enter a room with an opponent means that I will almost never be surprised. Anyone who’s played a horror video game knows how important jumpscares are for paying off built-up tension.”
    • “There is a questionable musical cue when monsters appear, and I think that could be optional.”
  • stability16 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players report a smooth experience with no major bugs, some encounter frustrating visual glitches and specific gameplay issues, particularly with certain actions like using a syringe. Performance is generally praised, especially in VR, but users have noted stuttering when alt-tabbing, indicating some areas for improvement.

    • “It runs great too, better than 90% of VR games in my experience.”
    • “Runs great at 120Hz at 140% super sampling.”
    • “It runs great too, better than 90% of VR games in my experience.”
    • “It's buggy in its current state as of the time of writing this, but fortunately what I've experienced is purely visual and hasn't broken the game for me.”
    • “Frustratingly buggy on Rift S initially.”
    • “Using a syringe is buggy; I think you have to drive it into your hand and not just bring it in from the side.”
  • optimization10 mentions

    The game is highly optimized for VR, delivering smooth performance, impressive visuals, and responsive controls across various hardware setups. Players report flawless performance on systems like the Rift S, indicating that it runs exceptionally well even on less demanding platforms like the Quest. Overall, the optimization is praised as one of the game's standout features.

    • “The game itself is highly optimized for VR.”
    • “The game itself is optimized amazingly well.”
    • “Note: played it on a Rift S with a Ryzen 5 3600 + RX 590 + 16GB RAM - flawless performance, very well optimized (I do tend to have minor issues with other VR games).”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding mechanics to be excessively tedious and frustrating, often requiring multiple attempts to perform simple actions like opening doors or picking up objects. This repetitive nature detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game, with some users feeling that the AI's ability to prolong these tasks is particularly aggravating.

    • “Very boring and tedious.”
    • “Like I'll pull open a door 5-10 times and it works the 10th time, or picking up an object with other objects around it can be very tedious.”
    • “It is actually unnerving just how good the AI is at grinding you down.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is derived from its jump scares, which some players find amusing, especially when they become predictable over time. Additionally, the original title "cosmophobia" adds a layer of irony, as players compare the game to other titles like "phasmaphobia" and "Amnesia: The Dark Descent," highlighting its blend of horror elements in a lighthearted manner.

    • “The game apparently was originally called Cosmophobia, which is funny because the game feels like Phasmophobia combined with Amnesia: The Dark Descent on the USG Ishimura.”
    • “This gave me a couple of jump scares for sure, which I find hilarious since the only game that has ever freaked me out was Subnautica. But the jump scares wore off after a while as they get predictable, and I was able to time them with the lighting.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express a strong desire to connect with the game emotionally, but many feel let down by mechanics that create a sense of betrayal, undermining their overall experience.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

2hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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