Edge of Sanity

About

"Edge of Sanity" is a psychological survival horror game set in the wilderness of Alaska, inspired by the Cthulhu Mythos. After a resupply mission goes wrong, you must explore caves, mines, and laboratories to uncover the truth. Manage your camp, scavenge for supplies, and make wise decisions to ensure survival in this hand-crafted 2D art style game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 69 reviews

story15 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

The game features a captivating Lovecraftian atmosphere with great art direction and sound design, immersing players in a chilling experience.
Gameplay mechanics, including resource management and the trauma perk system, provide a unique challenge that keeps players engaged.
Voice acting is well-executed, adding depth to the characters and enhancing the overall storytelling experience.

The game suffers from repetitive gameplay and a lack of variety in levels, leading to a sense of monotony as players progress.
Technical issues, such as save deletion and awkward controls, detract from the overall experience and can lead to frustration.
The pacing can feel slow, especially in the early stages, and some players may find the story predictable and lacking in depth.

story
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
68%
5%
The story in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it interesting and atmospheric, particularly appreciating its horror elements and art design. However, many criticize it for being predictable, lacking depth, and featuring awkward cutscenes and voice lines. While some players express hope for additional content to enhance the narrative, others feel that the gameplay mechanics detract from the overall storytelling experience.
- “On the upside, the theming, art, and voice acting are lovely, and I'm enjoying the story.”
- “The story is interesting, the setting is a mix of Lovecraftian cosmic horror and SCP or Umbrella Corp vibes.”
- “The story, while not entirely stunning, does have a couple of twists that are genuinely surprising.”
- “There are weird parts that make no sense and wonky cutscenes or voice lines here and there, but it is fine, I guess. If you care a lot about story, then this is not the one for sure, so be warned.”
- “The plot is boring and predictable, the enemies are just worms, and the characters are cut-and-paste archetypes.”
- “The game batters you over the head with your character being possessed by some demon and being in a loop or something constantly, then acts like you're too dumb to figure it out by having the one plot NPC talk behind your back about it like you have no idea what's going on.”
gameplay
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
64%
13%
The gameplay is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the survival horror mechanics and resource management, while others find it repetitive and frustrating, particularly in the early stages. The mechanics, including stealth and a sanity system, offer potential for engaging gameplay, but the pacing and flow can detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game features a rich atmosphere and character interactions that keep some players invested.
- “Very enjoyable gameplay with survival horror mechanics, as well as an insanity perk system.”
- “Despite minor repetitive gameplay, the game's rich character interactions and tense environment keep you engaged from start to finish.”
- “A perfect mix of Lovecraftian horror and survival/resource management-based gameplay, that's all right up my alley.”
- “The gameplay is serviceable but repetitive, and the slow pacing gets more frustrating as the game goes on, making the repetitiveness a conscious flaw you're aware of.”
- “The gameplay loop is one of the worst I've experienced in a long time.”
- “Gameplay is where it falls apart for me.”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
79%
5%
16%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their charming hand-drawn art style, which effectively creates an eerie Lovecraftian atmosphere. Many reviewers noted the visuals as stunning and immersive, with comparisons to the art style of "Darkest Dungeon." Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's engaging experience, despite some comments on its lack of originality and high-budget polish.
- “The hand-drawn art style is visually stunning, creating an eerie and immersive world.”
- “Daedlic encompasses the sensation of sanity decreasing so well; the illustrations and visuals were unsettling but very cool.”
- “The art style is fantastic, with detailed multi-layered 2D environments.”
- “But, this game only took inspiration from the Lovecraft lore and the art style of Darkest Dungeon.”
- “Edge of sanity with Lovecraft elements, together with Darkest Dungeon inspired art style, make this game a thrill to play with.”
- “Refreshing game concepts that bring a little variety to the AAA 3D graphics monsters, don't promise endless open world entertainment but still offer exciting gameplay and tricky challenges.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
11%
17%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating Lovecraftian elements, effectively creating a sense of unease and constant danger. Players appreciate the combination of beautiful art style, foreboding music, and immersive voice acting, which together enhance the overall experience. Despite some gameplay frustrations, the game's ability to evoke a chilling and engaging atmosphere stands out as a significant strength.
- “Good, charming game, very nice art style with a good Lovecraftian atmosphere set in Alaska.”
- “Edge of Sanity is an enthralling Lovecraftian survival horror game that masterfully combines resource management with a deeply unsettling atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere in this game is incredible—it constantly made me feel uneasy, like something horrible was always lurking around the corner.”
- “Edge of Sanity shines when it comes to a general vibe and atmosphere of being in constant danger.”
- “The music is also, as I said, satisfactorily foreboding and adds a lot to the atmosphere.”
- “Creepy atmosphere combined with some retro sci-fi.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring hours of resource farming to prepare for later chapters. While some appreciate the overarching story that maintains a degree of investment, the repetitive nature of grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment and immersion, especially when faced with frustrating setbacks.
- “It wouldn't be the biggest deal if I didn't spend literal hours farming to build up a healthy supply in preparation for chapter 3.”
- “It's inelegant, and tedious, and not frightening in the least.”
- “After spending an hour grinding metal and wood and upgrading my food and water stations, I got one bad event that destroyed my food stockpile, another that poisoned my water, another where some survivors were thieves and punishing them ruins morale, and finally one that destroyed my upgrade to water and food stations.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
50%
38%
The reviews highlight a mixed perspective on replayability, with some players appreciating the opportunity to explore different decisions and save various survivors, while others criticize the game for its linear structure, suggesting it lacks significant replay value. Although there are elements that encourage multiple playthroughs, such as different survivor skills, the overall consensus leans towards limited replayability due to the game's narrative constraints.
- “I haven't finished the game yet, but I know that replayability is a given, considering that you can save different survivors with a different skill set.”
- “I recognize the replay value in returning to areas to explore alternative decisions, such as opting to save a sick individual who might jeopardize your group's security, instead of prioritizing safety and dealing with the burden of guilt that lingers until the following day.”
- “It assumes replayability and multiple playthroughs.”
- “This is entirely linear, and there's no replayability or variety.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
43%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, with a foreboding and dynamic soundtrack that complements the Lovecraftian themes. While the game may not have a high budget or original art style, the quality of the music, along with the writing and voice acting, significantly contributes to the overall experience.
- “The music is satisfactorily foreboding and adds a lot to the atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack is terrific and dynamic, and is one of my favorite elements of this game.”
- “The introductory scene involves the moon suddenly being replaced by a gigantic eye while a stressful musical 'sting' plays.”
- “It's supposed to be a survival affair, but it's really a bad game of musical chairs.”
- “The music is also, as I said, satisfactorily foreboding and adds a lot to the atmosphere.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a blend of funny and poignant moments, showcasing well-written dialogue that often leads to amusing situations, particularly when the character Carter engages in self-dialogue. Overall, the humor is appreciated for its depth and creativity.
- “Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, but all well written and interesting.”
- “This leads to hilarious situations when Carter sounds like he talks to himself in a couple of dialogues.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game effectively creates an intense emotional atmosphere, instilling a persistent sense of unease and anticipation of impending dread.
- “The atmosphere in this game is incredible—it constantly made me feel uneasy, like something horrible was always lurking around the corner.”
- “The character development is so profound that I found myself emotionally invested in their journeys, feeling their pain and joy as if it were my own.”
- “The story's twists and turns left me in tears, capturing the raw essence of love and loss in a way that resonated deeply with my own experiences.”