Hippocampal: The White Sofa

About

"Hippocampal: The White Sofa" is a satiric and contemplative game where you play as an astronaut, M.kurt.C, who is sent back to earth after monsters crash into him in orbit. The game allows you to choose your own path, whether it's seeking revenge, finding ways to relax, or preventing future attacks, depending on the trauma of the crash. The game mocks hero tropes and invites you to explore and understand its world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

31%

Audience ScoreBased on 65 reviews

humor8 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game offers a surreal and unique experience that some players find interesting and entertaining.
There are moments of quirky humor and absurdity that can be enjoyable for those who appreciate experimental games.
The visuals and soundscapes, while confusing, can create a trippy atmosphere that some players appreciate.

The game suffers from poor controls, frustrating navigation, and a lack of coherent gameplay, leading to a confusing experience.
Many players find the graphics and level design to be bland and repetitive, making it visually unappealing.
The game is criticized for being a short, unfulfilling experience that feels more like a chore than enjoyable gameplay.

humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews of the game's humor are mixed; some players find it to be a failed attempt at absurdist comedy, describing it as random and unfunny, while others appreciate its self-aware and subtle humor, noting that it offers a unique blend of quiet wit and goofy moments. Overall, the humor seems to resonate differently with players, with some finding it tedious and others enjoying its quirky charm.
- “I purchased the game in June 2014 because I thought it looked like a funny, absurdist game experience that parodies horror and exploration games of the time.”
- “So let's bring some light into the mysterious dark that is 'Hippocampal: The White Sofa': it is a completely self-aware and funny exploration game that has a very special, quiet, and somehow hidden kind of humor that I enjoyed, mixing in goofy moments whenever you accomplish a target.”
- “I thought it would be funny and deliver a few genuine wtf moments.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
43%
43%
The gameplay has been criticized for its lack of engagement and fluidity, with many finding it slow and confusing, often feeling more like a chore than an enjoyable experience. While some players eventually find a way to make it work, the overall consensus is that it lacks depth and is visually unappealing, leading to a recommendation to watch gameplay rather than play it.
- “The gameplay is simple at best, confusing at first, but once you get the grip of it, it somehow 'works'.”
- “No commentary, no pleasing visuals, no engaging gameplay.”
- “Ten minutes of gameplay stretched to more only because of the slow movement and cutscenes.”
- “It's a sore to the eye and the gameplay is barely something one could call gameplay.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The music in the game is largely criticized for its absence, with players noting that it features minimal sound beyond a few brief moments of relief after checkpoints. The sound effects are described as repetitive and grating, contributing to an overall negative auditory experience that detracts from gameplay enjoyment. While some elements of the sound design, like the music during item discovery, are appreciated, they are overshadowed by the lack of a cohesive and engaging soundtrack.
- “The design of the little clip and the music that plays when you find one of your missing items was cool.”
- “The game is about finding hidden objects in an absurd environment, which is fair enough, but it starts with awful controls, inconsistent graphics, lackluster animations, and even more awful sound and music.”
- “You float slowly through incoherent levels filled with neon lights, alien creatures, and badly fitting music and sound effects.”
- “The game features no music (save for the few seconds of relief after completing a checkpoint worthy event) and the sound effects of 'busy city center' and 'bugged out generic jetpack noises' can only be listened to on continuous repeat for a maximum of five minutes before you feel like committing ear-seppuku in front of your monitor.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics in the game are criticized for being inconsistent and lacking visual appeal, with poor animations that detract from the overall experience. While the absurd environment has potential, it ultimately fails to deliver engaging visuals, leading to a disappointing impression.
- “The game is about finding hidden objects in an absurd environment, which is fair enough, but it starts with awful controls, inconsistent graphics, lackluster animations, and even more awful sound and music.”
- “No commentary, no pleasing visuals, no engaging gameplay.”
- “If this was a free thing, I'd be willing to half-heartedly recommend it for the trippy soundscapes and visuals, but don't be stupid like me and pay a cent for it.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is praised for its moody and unique vibe, contributing to an engaging experience; however, some users feel that the short duration may not justify the price.
- “I like the atmospheric, moody vibe.”
- “The atmosphere is unique and captivating.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs, including instances of getting stuck in invisible walls, which detracts from the overall experience. Many find the gameplay frustrating and narratively lacking, leading to a physically uncomfortable experience.
- “Tldr: will make you physically sick, buggy, narratively meaningless, an absolute chore to play.”
- “Buggy - sometimes you can enter invisible walls, causing you to be stuck outside the areas you should be in.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional impact of the game is intense, with some players reporting feelings of physical sickness due to disorientation, highlighting its ability to evoke strong, visceral reactions.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
200%
Users report that the game suffers from persistent lag and slow performance, even after multiple attempts to improve optimization through console commands.
- “I found that using the console commands significantly improved the game's performance.”
- “After tweaking some settings, the optimization made a noticeable difference in gameplay smoothness.”
- “The developers have done a great job with optimization, making the game run much better on lower-end systems.”
- “The game is still laggy and slow even after multiple attempts to optimize performance.”
- “I tried using the console to improve performance, but it didn't help at all.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story is generally considered weak but entertaining in a quirky way, appealing primarily to those who enjoy experimental games. While not universally recommended, it can provide a decent experience for players curious about its unique approach.