Disminal

About

Disminal is a single player action game. It was developed by Brian Gonnet and was released on May 2, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

Disminal is a single-player first-person exploration adventure set in eerie, vacant backrooms inspired by liminal spaces. Featuring marvelous visuals, a stunning atmosphere, and a unique MPEG mode that mimics low-quality video artifacts, it immerses players in an unsettling journey exploring whether escape is possible or they remain trapped between worlds.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 85 reviews

graphics13 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Disminal offers a beautifully crafted liminal space experience with stunning visuals and immersive sound design, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.
The game successfully captures the essence of liminality without relying on monsters or jump scares, creating a peaceful yet unsettling atmosphere that encourages exploration.
Despite its short length, the game provides a unique and engaging experience, with varied environments and a strong sense of isolation that resonates with players.

The movement speed is excessively slow, particularly when navigating stairs, which can detract from the overall experience and make exploration feel tedious.
The lack of a save system forces players to complete the game in one sitting, which can be frustrating, especially given the potential for getting lost in the expansive environments.
Some players have reported technical issues, including frame rate drops and camera sensitivity problems, which can hinder the immersive experience.

graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
16%
16%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful, immersive visuals and VHS-style aesthetic that effectively capture the essence of liminal spaces. However, some users noted performance issues at higher resolutions and mentioned that certain areas appeared disoriented or pixelated. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered excellent for a Unity game, there are suggestions for optimization to enhance the experience further.
- “Superb visuals, short and sweet, and absolutely nails the essence of liminality: no monsters, no cheesy jumpscares, nothing but you and a serene environment to take in, explore, and ponder at your own pace.”
- “Great graphics followed by wondrous set pieces that were built by someone who truly understands the feeling of loneliness and familiarity.”
- “The graphics (with their VHS-style camera effects) are great and there's a real diversity in the design of the map, with each section of the liminal space you explore feeling visually distinct from the last.”
- “Most Unity games have mediocre and unrealistic looking graphics.”
- “The graphics were a little disoriented and too pixelated for my taste.”
- “I don't know if there was a graphic.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
22%
21%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by ambient music and sound design that create a relaxing yet eerie experience. Players appreciate the focus on liminal spaces and the absence of aggressive entities, allowing them to fully engage with the unsettling yet captivating environment. Overall, the game excels in crafting a unique and atmospheric experience that resonates with fans of walking simulators and exploration games.
- “The atmosphere is incredible.”
- “Atmosphere is a central focus of the genre, and it's where dismal shows expertise over its peers.”
- “This game absolutely nailed the liminal spaces atmosphere and aesthetic.”
- “Atmosphere is a central focus of the genre, and it's where Disminal shows expertise over its peers.”
- “I always love a liminal space game where there are no aggressive entities, rather a game that relies on uncomfortable atmosphere to create a sense of horror.”
- “Namely, no outright jumpscares or monsters (at least, none that I came across in my hour of playing as of the posting of this review), with the atmosphere instead coming from the eeriness of the setting.”
music
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
20%
30%
The music in the game is widely praised for enhancing the atmosphere, contributing to a relaxing and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the effective use of ambient sounds and a great soundtrack that complements the game's environments, creating a mildly unsettling and dreamlike quality. Overall, the music is seen as a perfect fit that elevates the gameplay without becoming a distraction.
- “The music from Infinity Frequencies definitely adds to the atmosphere to make a really solid, if not short game.”
- “The use of sound and music created a great atmosphere in the moments it was used without sticking around to be a distraction.”
- “Its inventive gameplay mechanics, subtle nods to internet culture, and amazing soundtrack combine to create an experience that is as thought-provoking as it is immersive.”
- “The music triggers in certain moments, but it often feels out of place.”
- “Everything felt so mildly unsettling and almost dreamlike, especially the little bits with strange music coming from who knows where.”
- “The music and ambient noise really added to the experience, but at times it felt repetitive and uninspired.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
45%
33%
Gameplay in this title has evolved positively, particularly with the addition of a save system, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the atmospheric exploration and inventive mechanics, though some express a desire for features like sprinting and better navigation to avoid tedious backtracking. Overall, the game offers a unique, immersive journey without the burden of traditional survival mechanics, appealing to those seeking a more artistic and contemplative experience.
- “The game is just an odyssey through this world that doesn't hamper you down with needless RPG survival mechanics or skips out on you before you've had your fill.”
- “Its inventive gameplay mechanics, subtle nods to internet culture, and amazing soundtrack combine to create an experience that is as thought-provoking as it is immersive.”
- “I'm discouraged from exploring so many places after 40+ minutes of gameplay because I don't want to spend several minutes slowly walking to a dead end then have to backtrack another several minutes.”
- “For the price, you're getting about an hour of forward-momentum gameplay, but you can easily get lost in here and explore dismal just as a piece of art - of feeling - for as long and as often as you want.”
- “A few things I'd like to see added though would be a sprint mechanic, flashlight, and more unique display/video options.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users appreciate humor in games, noting that funny sounds or visuals often enhance the overall experience, leading to enjoyable gameplay.
- “I love how the game incorporates humor in unexpected ways, making every moment enjoyable.”
- “The witty dialogue and hilarious character interactions kept me laughing throughout the entire game.”
- “The humor is cleverly woven into the gameplay, making even the most challenging parts fun and entertaining.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is highly praised, with users noting excellent performance that keeps PCs cool and quiet, even while delivering superior reflections compared to many modern AAA titles.
- “The performance is fantastic; my PC stayed cool and quiet despite the game having better reflections than most modern AAA games!”
- “The optimization is top-notch, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end hardware.”
- “I was impressed by how well the game runs; it manages to maintain high frame rates without sacrificing visual quality.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is reported to be highly unstable, with numerous bugs that appear to be unintentional, negatively impacting the overall experience.
- “The game is very buggy and seemingly not in an intentional way.”
- “I frequently encounter crashes that disrupt my gameplay experience.”
- “There are numerous glitches that make it hard to enjoy the game.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
50%
Players find the game has notable replayability due to hidden spaces and areas that can be revisited, encouraging exploration beyond the initial playthrough. Many users express a desire to return to uncover missed content, enhancing the overall experience.
- “It took me two short sessions to find the exit, and I replayed it over the next few days. I apparently missed a few hidden spaces, so this game definitely has replay value.”
- “I believe the game has replayability too because there are more areas you want to go back and explore.”
- “It took me two short sessions to find the exit, and I replayed it over the next few days. However, I apparently missed a few hidden spaces, so this game definitely has replay value.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional experience of the game to be a captivating blend of uncanny and cozy elements, enhanced by its visual and audio design, which evokes a sense of voyeurism in a magical yet unsettling world.
- “The visual and audio design made me feel like a voyeur inside a wrong but magical world that was equally uncanny and cozy, alienating and familiar.”