Imaginary Friend Asylum

About

Imaginary Friend Asylum is a single player survival simulation game with a horror theme. It was developed by Grant Marrs and was released on May 19, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

In "Imaginary Friend Asylum," experience a psychological horror game set in a grim 1949 children's asylum. As a new patient, you'll uncover disturbing secrets and mysteries, accompanied by your imaginary friends. With exploration, stealth, platforming, and ARG elements, immerse in a 3-4 hour journey of atmospheric environment, lore, and realistic graphics to reveal a dark conspiracy.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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100%

Audience ScoreBased on 54 reviews

story23 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

The game features a captivating and well-written story that immerses players from start to finish.
Character design is phenomenal, with unique and memorable imaginary friends that add depth to the narrative.
The game effectively portrays the dark themes of mental health and childhood experiences in asylums, showcasing a thoughtful approach to sensitive subjects.

Gameplay mechanics can feel simplistic and linear, with limited impact from player choices on the story.
There are some technical issues, including bugs and visual glitches that can disrupt the experience.
The story may feel chaotic or rushed at times, leaving some plot elements underdeveloped or confusing.

story
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
50%
6%
The game's story is widely praised for its engaging and immersive narrative, featuring well-developed characters and a dark atmosphere that effectively addresses heavy themes related to mental health and childhood experiences. While some reviewers noted awkward plot elements and a linear structure, the overall storytelling is described as captivating, with emotional depth and intriguing twists that keep players invested. Despite minor flaws, many consider it one of the best story-driven games they've encountered, highlighting its creativity and emotional resonance.
- “The game had an amazing story and lovable characters.”
- “The storytelling, while very linear, is done in an engaging and intriguing way, with cool twists near the end of the game.”
- “The story is captivating, and I can't even praise the sound design enough.”
- “The story was quite chaotic.”
- “The time travel element of the story was frankly ridiculous, as well as Dolly and Pixie being thrown in because they were in the previous game.”
- “Story could've been better crafted, and there were a few frustrating bugs, but other than that, a decent experience.”
gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The gameplay is characterized by simple mechanics and smooth animations, though some users noted occasional jankiness and repetitiveness. While it may not appeal to those seeking complex gameplay, the engaging character-driven story and design compensate for its shortcomings, making it a recommended experience for fans of narrative-focused indie games.
- “I will say, the gameplay mechanics were simple, but easy to understand and great for the game.”
- “By far my favorite indie game ever and I'm so glad to have come across it and be able to play it myself after watching various gameplays!”
- “Gameplay was smooth, especially after adjusting the sensitivity and quality settings that suited me!”
- “The animations and gameplay can be jank, and the price is a little high for what it offers, but not egregiously so.”
- “Mechanically speaking, it's nothing out of the ordinary for an indie game.”
- “Amazing story about what’s going on inside the asylum manages to pull you in the game despite some repetitive gameplay.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
42%
29%
The graphics of the game are praised for their beauty, featuring stunning art styles, well-designed 3D models, and impressive textures. While some reviewers feel the game is underrated compared to more established horror titles, they believe that with better support, the developers could enhance the graphical experience even further. Overall, the aesthetic and visual elements are highlighted as significant strengths of the game.
- “The art style, 3D models, textures, and graphics are absolutely beautiful.”
- “I really liked the imaginary friend designs and the overall aesthetic; it was one of the main reasons why I bought the game.”
- “It's, unfortunately, underrated and ignored for the likes of more well-established horror series, but if these developers got proper backing and more experience, I'm certain that they could make something far more developed graphically and, more importantly than graphics, functional.”
- “One hell of an incredible horror game with very silly cutscenes and phenomenal graphics.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The character development in the game is highly praised for its phenomenal design and thoughtful details, particularly the contrast between human characters as black silhouettes and their imaginative counterparts. While the gameplay may not be complex, the character-driven narrative and unique aesthetics make it a compelling experience for fans of character-focused stories. Overall, the design choices contribute significantly to the game's appeal, leaving players eager for a potential sequel.
- “Character design was phenomenal, and I'd love a sequel although the game doesn't really need one considering how it ended.”
- “If you're looking for something with complex gameplay, it's probably not going to appeal to you, but if you're a fan of character-driven stories and fun character design, I'd definitely recommend it.”
- “Every little detail - from the lighting to the character designs - feels deliberate and well thought out.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a dark and unsettling vibe, enhanced by the artistic choice of depicting humans as featureless silhouettes. This unique aesthetic contributes to an eerie yet whimsical ambiance, effectively intertwining horror elements with a compelling narrative and creative character design.
- “Not to mention the artistic choice of having all the humans appear as silhouettes with little to no facial features, which is absolutely brilliant and adds a lot to the unsettling and disturbing atmosphere of the asylum.”
- “Very dark atmosphere and creative characters with a great story.”
- “Not to mention the artistic choice of having all the humans appear as silhouettes with little to no facial features, which to me is absolutely brilliant and adds a lot to the unsettling and disturbing atmosphere of the asylum.”
- “It’s got this unique vibe that perfectly complements the eerie yet whimsical atmosphere of the asylum.”
- “The horror is represented in the atmosphere and the story.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively captures emotional turmoil and the challenges of psychological care in the 1940s through powerful imagery, leaving players deeply moved and likely to experience strong emotional reactions.
- “The imagery used does such a good job depicting the blunting and emotional turmoil, as well as the hellscape of psychological care in the 1940s.”
- “10/10 would cry again”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is generally considered humorous and enjoyable, though some players feel that its comedic value may not justify its current price. Ultimately, the decision to purchase is left to individual preference.
- “Overall, it was a funny game to play through. I just don't think it is worth the current price, but it's up to you if you want to pay that money or not.”

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Frequently Asked Questions

Imaginary Friend Asylum is a survival simulation game with horror theme.

Imaginary Friend Asylum is available on PC, Windows and Xbox.

Imaginary Friend Asylum was released on May 19, 2024.

Imaginary Friend Asylum was developed by Grant Marrs.

Imaginary Friend Asylum has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Imaginary Friend Asylum is a single player game.

Similar games include Mists of Aiden, The Town of Light, Oxenfree, Beacon Pines, Marie's Room and others.

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