Edge of Sanity
- September 13, 2024
- Vixa Games
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"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.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- Great atmosphere and art style, especially for fans of Lovecraftian horror.
- Engaging gameplay that combines survival, resource management, and stealth mechanics.
- Strong voice acting and an interesting story that keeps players invested.
- Controls can be confusing and poorly documented, leading to frustration during gameplay.
- Repetitive gameplay and lack of variety in missions can make the experience feel tedious.
- Some players found the story predictable and lacking in depth, with a short overall playtime.
- story35 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it intriguing and atmospheric, particularly appreciating its Lovecraftian elements and unexpected twists. However, many criticize it for being predictable, dull, and lacking depth, with repetitive gameplay detracting from the narrative experience. Overall, while the setting and certain story elements are praised, the execution leaves much to be desired for a significant portion of the player base.
“Its a good game, interesting story, awesome art and fun game loop.”
“The story is interesting, the setting is the thing with a mix of Lovecraft/cosmic horror and SCP or Umbrella Corp vibes.”
“The atmosphere is great and the story is interesting.”
“But this game also fails on a storytelling level.”
“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.”
- gameplay19 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
Gameplay in this title is a blend of resource management, stealth mechanics, and survival elements, reminiscent of games like Darkest Dungeon. While some players found the initial gameplay loop repetitive, later acts offered more engaging experiences, with a strong emphasis on managing stress and inventory. The atmosphere and mechanics are praised, though some aspects, like the dash mechanic, could use improvement.
“However, it's a good ride if you enjoy the setting and gameplay.”
“A perfect mix of Lovecraftian horror and survival/resource management-based gameplay, that's all right up my alley.”
“The gameplay loop is very reminiscent of the games I mentioned above: stress and resource management, with an upgradable base to keep resources coming in and stress levels low; scouting/scavenging, weapon durability, and stealth are also major mechanics here; there are multiple ways to dispatch or avoid enemy encounters, with each enemy type having exploitable weaknesses and strengths, making for fun and creative survival gameplay.”
“Gameplay is where it falls apart for me.”
“Of note: the dash mechanic of this game needs improvement.”
“For me, the act 1 gameplay loop was kind of repetitive and boring after the story missions, but then act 2 was a lot more fun and I felt like I got a good grip on things.”
- atmosphere11 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its Lovecraftian elements, effectively creating a creepy and immersive experience that enhances the storytelling. Players appreciate the combination of atmospheric graphics, foreboding music, and engaging mechanics, although some find repetitive gameplay in later levels frustrating. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that captivates players and supports the indie development effort.
“Great atmosphere; if you like Lovecraft, you are going to enjoy this short but sweet little indie.”
“Nice atmosphere and graphics; it got me hooked :)”
“The atmosphere is great and the story is interesting.”
“The music is also, as I said, satisfactorily foreboding and adds a lot to the atmosphere.”
“Creepy atmosphere combined with some retro sci-fi.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many praising the detailed, multi-layered 2D environments and the overall art style, which draws inspiration from titles like Darkest Dungeon. While some reviewers note that the graphics may not be high-budget or entirely original, the atmospheric visuals combined with effective sound design contribute to an engaging experience. Overall, the graphics enhance the Lovecraftian theme and help immerse players in the game's world.
“Nice atmosphere and graphics, it got me hooked :)”
“The graphics are neat and the soundscape is great.”
“The art style is fantastic, with detailed multi-layered 2D environments.”
“This game only took inspiration from Lovecraft lore and the art style of Darkest Dungeon.”
“The graphics feel outdated and lack the detail expected from modern games.”
“The character models are poorly designed and lack any real depth or personality.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed topic among users; while some appreciate the ability to save different survivors with unique skill sets, others criticize its linear structure, arguing that it offers limited replay value. Many feel that the lack of significant variation in outcomes diminishes the incentive to replay, suggesting that those seeking high replayability should consider other titles. Overall, the game seems to cater more to a single, story-driven experience rather than encouraging multiple playthroughs.
“I haven't finished the game yet, but I know that replayability is a given, considering that you can save different survivors with different skill sets.”
“It assumes replayability and multiple playthroughs.”
“The only flimsy excuse he gave was this: 'this game has zero replayability.' This is a story-based linear game, and I personally find nothing wrong with it.”
“This is entirely linear, and there's no replayability or variety.”
“So there's not that much replay value, except maybe in getting different survivors (you can't get all of them in one playthrough unless a couple die off, and they don't affect the ending anyways).”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its foreboding and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a terrific and dynamic soundtrack. While the game may not be high-budget or original, the writing, voice acting, and music contribute significantly to its appeal, making it a standout feature for players.
“The soundtrack is terrific and dynamic, and is one of my favorite elements of this game.”
“Because the writing, music, voice acting, and story are excellent.”
“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.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and inelegant, often leading to frustration rather than engagement. Despite the repetitive nature of the tasks, some players feel that the overarching story provides a slight incentive to continue, though the environments can detract from immersion. Overall, grinding is seen as a necessary but unenjoyable part of the gameplay experience.
“It's inelegant, 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.”
“Act 3 requires more repetitive grinding, so that's not exactly the most fun, but the overarching story helps keep you marginally invested.”
