In Sound Mind

A psychological horror game with a focus on narrative consistency and gameplay variety, In Sound Mind is a great time due to excellent pacing, level design, and pure ingenuity, even if it's not particularly scary.

96%Game Brain Score

story, music

optimization, grinding

96% User Score Based on 3,319 reviews

Critic Score 70%Based on 17 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $1.64

Buy NowGet on Steam$3.49

Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store

Buy NowGet on Epic Games Store

Buy NowGet on PS Store$6.99

About

"In Sound Mind" is a psychological horror game where you explore an inexplicable building and uncover the stories of victims exposed to an experimental chemical. The game features unique boss fights, puzzles, and an eerie soundtrack by The Living Tombstone. As you journey through your own memories, you'll encounter strange visions and unlikely companions, including a cat named Tonia that you can pet.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,319 reviews

story1k positive mentions

optimization43 negative mentions

Engaging and heartfelt narrative that explores mental health themes.
Creative puzzles and unique gameplay mechanics that keep the experience fresh.
Beautiful visuals and an outstanding soundtrack by The Living Tombstone.

Combat mechanics can feel clunky and unresponsive at times.
Some puzzles may be too straightforward or lack depth.
Performance issues and technical glitches can detract from the overall experience.

story
1,931 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
44%
2%
The story of "In Sound Mind" is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, exploring themes of mental health through the experiences of a therapist and his patients. Players appreciate the unique narrative structure, where each patient's story unfolds through engaging gameplay and environmental storytelling, often leading to surprising twists and heartfelt moments. While some reviewers noted pacing issues and a few predictable elements, the overall consensus is that the game offers a compelling and immersive story that keeps players invested from start to finish.
- “The story is incredible, deep and thoughtful.”
- “The story kept my attention throughout the game and the story was pretty unique.”
- “In sound mind is an exceptional psychological horror game that masterfully blends eerie atmosphere, clever puzzles, and an intriguing storyline to create an unforgettable gaming experience.”
- “The game is very well thought out with details in every area, mechanics that are as or even more innovative than in recent big titles and the characters and story keeps you interested.”
- “My only nitpick is that while the story is well put together and is presented masterfully, the final parts of the story feel a little bit rushed and a little cliché, in the sense that in the last hour or two a big revelation is dropped on you with massive implications, yet it is not really explored much deeper before you beat the game and the credits roll.”
- “The puzzles kill the pacing of the story; not only do the puzzles rarely have anything to do with the actual story, but whenever you finally finish a boring tedious puzzle, it is quickly followed by another one, and by the time I solved them, I had already stopped caring about the plot or was way too frustrated to even pretend to care, which is horrible for a game that touches subjects such as these.”
music
942 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
44%
1%
The music in "In Sound Mind" has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its exceptional soundtrack created by The Living Tombstone, which enhances the game's atmosphere and emotional depth. Players appreciate the unique character-themed songs that reflect the narratives of each patient, as well as the ambient tracks that contribute to the overall immersive experience. Many reviewers recommend collecting the vinyl records found throughout the game, as they contain original songs that further enrich the storytelling.
- “The soundtrack by the Living Tombstone is simply extraordinary.”
- “The music made everything come together so nicely, and with each level getting better and harder than the last.”
- “The music is outstanding to the point that I listen to the score while working on my creative writing projects.”
- “The music from the vinyl records was some of the cringiest shit I've ever heard and it deserves a negative review just for that disgusting insult to my ears.”
- “The quality was just too low for it to be immersive, let alone scary: narrative, voice acting, console controls, sound design, music, nothing clicked for me.”
- “I expected more from the music side, and it's very buggy towards the end.”
gameplay
839 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
54%
4%
The gameplay of "In Sound Mind" is characterized by its innovative mechanics and engaging puzzles, which evolve with each chapter, keeping the experience fresh and varied. While the game successfully blends exploration, psychological horror, and action elements, some players noted issues with combat mechanics and occasional technical flaws. Overall, the combination of a compelling narrative, unique gameplay features, and atmospheric design makes it a standout title in the indie horror genre.
- “The combination of challenging puzzles, atmospheric exploration, and thrilling monster encounters keeps the gameplay fresh and rewarding.”
- “The game’s ability to balance psychological depth with engaging mechanics is nothing short of remarkable.”
- “Each area introduces new mechanics that build on previous ones, keeping things from getting stale.”
- “The bad side of this game is actually on the technical side... the game has no manual save, making the gameplay feel like a trial-and-error experience.”
- “Unfortunately, the controls are really bad, the gunplay is basic, the enemies offer very little threat, and the gameplay feels repetitive by the third or fourth hour.”
- “The gameplay is immensely generic, and it's incredibly easy to just kite enemies and bop them on the head.”
atmosphere
377 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
31%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its hauntingly beautiful design, effectively blending eerie soundscapes and immersive environments that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create tension and unease without relying heavily on jump scares, instead focusing on psychological horror and storytelling. The combination of unique settings, compelling music, and thoughtful level design contributes to a captivating and memorable atmosphere that keeps players engaged throughout.
- “Its hauntingly beautiful mix of electronic rock and eerie undertones perfectly complements the game’s atmosphere and leaves a lasting impression.”
- “The game delivers a surreal experience with an atmospheric setting and clever, challenging puzzles.”
- “The atmosphere is perfect, like a lucid dream or nightmare.”
- “The atmosphere is unreal.”
- “The horror in this game is so convincing because it's not cheap jumpscares but in the atmosphere, sadness of the stories, and enemy interactions.”
- “Outside the first chapter, the maps are too open and well lit (except for a few notable locations) and it results in the atmosphere not really being all that frightening.”
graphics
329 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
43%
5%
The graphics of the game have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising the vibrant art style and atmospheric visuals that enhance the storytelling. While some noted that the graphics are not groundbreaking and can suffer from performance issues, the overall aesthetic and attention to detail were highlighted as strong points. Many reviewers appreciated how the visuals effectively contribute to the game's unique atmosphere, making it a visually engaging experience despite some technical limitations.
- “I've gotta say, it's an amazing game, from the visuals to the storytelling to the audio, I cannot fault it.”
- “The overall story and the visuals are the best parts of In Sound Mind; it's very beautifully designed and polished.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the game is a good length (getting your money's worth), and, without spoiling too much, the ending leaves room for more, and you'll want more.”
- “The graphical fidelity of the game just doesn't excuse the hitching and dip in fps which happens whenever you do anything other than look around.”
- “Last but not least, I meet the minimum hardware requirements but this game's framerate goes from 60 fps one moment to 20 the next, while on low graphical settings and looking like a PS3 game.”
- “The graphics feel a bit dated, but they're serviceable, especially saved by some stellar color design.”
humor
205 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending dark comedy with horror elements to create a unique experience. Players appreciate the clever writing and well-timed jokes, which often serve to lighten the mood amidst tense moments, making the game both engaging and entertaining. The balance between humor and horror is praised, with many noting that the comedic aspects enhance the overall narrative without detracting from the game's eerie atmosphere.
- “In Sound Mind is a very creative and surprisingly colorful and humorous spin on the horror genre.”
- “The game also shies away from trying to create an immersive space and instead opts for 'the funny memes,' which is especially apparent in the hub world where a bunch of locked doors have signs like ':3' and '666'.”
- “The horror and humor are perfectly balanced throughout the game, with moments that will make you laugh just as much as they will make you jump.”
emotional
167 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely praised for its emotional depth, with many players reporting that it made them cry multiple times due to its heartfelt narrative and relatable characters. It effectively tackles sensitive themes such as mental health and personal struggles, blending moments of humor and horror with poignant storytelling that resonates deeply with players. Overall, it is described as an emotional roller coaster that leaves a lasting impact, making it a standout experience in the gaming landscape.
- “Developed by We Create Stuff, the game delivers a perfect blend of suspense, creativity, and emotional depth.”
- “This is one of the few games that is able to connect with me on a deep emotional level that I will never forget.”
- “The story is so touching it had me in tears multiple times.”
optimization
139 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
52%
31%
The game's optimization has received widespread criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including frequent stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, even on high-end systems. While some users noted that the game is playable despite these issues, the overall consensus is that the lack of optimization significantly detracts from the experience, making it frustrating for many. Despite occasional patches improving performance, the game still struggles with technical stability, leaving players disappointed.
- “The game is well optimized and I did not experience any glitches or freezes, and there were no graphical errors even with settings set to ultra.”
- “I can also mention that my computer is a bit old by now, but this game runs just fine on decent settings, so I would say that the game is pretty optimized as well.”
- “Despite some occasional performance issues, the game is ultimately a work of art.”
- “I have no clue how someone with the recommended specs is supposed to run this game because, despite me being well above them, I constantly struggled with performance.”
- “The sad part is that I hate this game because of how unoptimized it is; I've experienced about 9 crashes on my PC (yes, my entire PC crashed) while trying to play this game, and it doesn't save my progress, forcing me to redo everything until the next crash hits.”
- “The only real issue are some serious optimization issues.”
grinding
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
10%
82%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often leading to frustration and a sense of overstaying its welcome. While some enjoy the puzzles and story, many feel that the combat and resource management contribute to a monotonous experience, particularly during extended gameplay sessions. Despite some redeeming qualities, the frequent backtracking and repetitive mechanics detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “There's no tedious repeats you have to do to collect enough of anything; it feels like everything's worth exploring, and the hints of what to do make a lot of sense.”
- “Incredible job by the devs, and even collecting the achievements was fun and not tedious.”
- “Couple that with how much the game seemed to overstay its welcome, it makes for a tedious and tiresome experience.”
- “Playing this game is frustrating and tedious at the best of times, and the pacing is utterly ruined by trying to manage your resources, particularly when the math proves that you're going to lose, and there's nothing you can do about it.”
- “This game starts great and then devolves into the most boring FPS bingo with janky controls, tedious combat, horrible cliched environments like train depot, factory, and every shade of industrial brown and grey, and of course you press buttons and replace fuses and do every single thing you've done a million times before in better games.”
character development
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
31%
10%
The character development in the game is highly praised for its depth and integration with the story, allowing players to gain a nuanced understanding of the protagonist and the patients he encounters. The unique and striking character designs enhance the emotional impact of the narrative, reflecting themes of mental health and personal struggles. Overall, the combination of thoughtful character arcs and visually compelling designs contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “This allows the story to slowly reveal itself through a primarily visual means; character design and how your player-character reacts to the stimuli gives insight into their own processing of the circumstances and allows for a more intimate understanding of their choices, wants, and goals.”
- “Seriously, one of the best horror games out for the money. The story in this game is beautiful, and you really get drawn into the character development. It's one of the best stories I've played, especially for the price.”
- “What truly sets 'In Sound Mind' apart is its ability to balance horror with moments of introspection and character development.”
- “Banger soundtrack and score from The Living Tombstone, unequal environments of equal desolation, a thrilling twisting lore, and abyssal-deep character development to make a 20-minute YouTube video about.”
- “I love the little bits of character development that get scattered around.”
stability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a smooth experience free of significant bugs or glitches, while others encountered frequent technical issues, including crashes, freezing, and unresponsive gameplay. Many noted minor glitches that detracted from immersion, and performance varied widely depending on hardware, with some experiencing severe frame rate drops and crashes. Overall, while some players found the game well-optimized, others deemed it unplayable due to its instability.
- “Some decent fundamentals and skill at design on display, but it is unoptimized and buggy to the point of being unplayable for me.”
- “Terrible technical performance, as the framerate swings wildly between 30 and 80, and frequently stutters/freezes when looking around or aiming weapons, even though my PC is better than the recommended requirements shown on the store page.”
- “The game often freezes whenever something spawns or a special effect gets triggered, which can be really frustrating mid-jump in a platforming section, or trying to fight enemies.”
replayability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
73%
14%
Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with many players noting that while the initial experience is memorable and engaging, there isn't much incentive to replay it. Some aspects, like randomized elements and character cases, offer minor reasons to revisit, but the lack of significant changes or additional difficulties limits the replay value. Players appreciate the journey but agree that it is unlikely to draw them back for multiple playthroughs.
- “The game's themes and story beats work fantastically in my opinion, and I'd imagine there's a lot of replay value not only in re-experiencing the story with new context (and so seeing certain metaphors/foreshadowing/etc. that you missed the first time) but also in the fact that the game has randomized elements that make each playthrough unique.”
- “Levels are replayable; there's no need to make a new game.”
- “Has replayability and encourages deep exploration.”
- “One psychedelic playthrough will be enough for most people, since the game doesn’t really have any replay value.”
- “My only issue is the lack of replay value, since there's no fourth harder difficulty, and a lot of walking and listening which would mean replaying the game to get all the pills isn't really worth it.”
- “The experience is short and the narrative aspect of the game makes it not that replayable.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate a negative perception of the game's monetization strategy, with users criticizing it as a "cash grab" approach that prioritizes profit over quality. There is also disappointment regarding the lack of effective advertising and the underwhelming music despite promotional partnerships.
- “I mean AAA developers put out the same garbage with their 'release now, patch later' cash grab mentality.”
- “It's sad how little attention this title gets; it deserves more recognition and better advertising.”
- “An added note: despite the heavy advertisement of their partnership with The Living Tombstone, the music isn't really anything to write home about in my humble opinion.”