INSOMNIA: The Ark

51%
Game Brain Score Based on 457 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
INSOMNIA: The Ark Game Cover
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In "INSOMNIA: The Ark," you explore a colossal, dying space metropolis filled with intrigue, danger, and diverse inhabitants. As a "low-class" citizen, you'll need to navigate the complex politics and cultures of this isolated society, while also uncovering mysterious forces threatening the Ark. Your choices and actions will significantly impact the narrative and faction relationships in this immersive, story-rich RPG.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

51%
Audience ScoreBased on 457 reviews
story111 positive mentions
stability55 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and immersive dieselpunk sci-fi setting with great art design and atmosphere.
  • The story and lore are intriguing, with a complex narrative that encourages exploration and decision-making.
  • The combat system, while clunky at times, offers a satisfying challenge and allows for various playstyles.
  • The game is riddled with bugs and glitches, including game-breaking issues that can halt progress.
  • Many elements of the game, including quests and UI, are poorly translated or left in Russian, making it difficult for non-Russian players.
  • The camera controls are awkward, being locked to a fixed angle, which can hinder gameplay and immersion.
  • story436 mentions

    The story of the game is generally praised for its intriguing premise, rich lore, and immersive world-building, drawing comparisons to classic RPGs like Fallout and System Shock. However, many players express frustration with the execution, citing issues such as poor translation, vague quest objectives, and numerous game-breaking bugs that hinder progress. While the narrative has the potential to be engaging, the overall experience is often marred by technical shortcomings and unclear quest design.

    • “The world and story are well crafted and engaging, with surprisingly varied environments.”
    • “The story is very engaging.”
    • “The story itself is interesting but is a little disjointed in places.”
    • “The story itself may be the only part that can make the player keep going.”
    • “Major plot beats happen off-screen or without the protagonist, forcing the player to play catch-up to feel included in the narrative.”
    • “The story was also badly translated, with many parts making no sense, and sometimes after a reload, missions would lose their translation altogether.”
  • gameplay145 mentions

    The gameplay of "Insomnia: The Ark" is a mixed bag, featuring solid RPG mechanics, an interesting sci-fi setting, and enjoyable combat, but marred by numerous bugs, clunky controls, and a lack of polish. Players appreciate the depth of character customization and exploration, yet many find the mechanics tedious and the difficulty frustrating, often requiring patience to navigate its various systems. Overall, while the game has potential and a captivating atmosphere, its technical issues and gameplay inconsistencies detract from the overall experience.

    • “The gameplay is challenging without being frustrating.”
    • “The mix of Fallout and Bioshock vibes, the shooting and cover mechanics I didn't expect, the large explorable areas, and the unique story is just spot on for me.”
    • “The inclusion of crafting, scavenging, and survival mechanics in the formula are generally well-implemented, as they make the gameplay more interesting but never annoying.”
    • “The lack of polish shows on a mechanical level in mine minigames that are insta-death and basically require save scumming to beat.”
    • “This game's difficulty writes checks its gameplay mechanics can't cash.”
    • “While the story is well written, the atmosphere is perfect, and the environments are detailed and unique, this game suffers from a series of poor game mechanics and design choices made by the developers.”
  • graphics108 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning art style, atmospheric visuals, and unique aesthetic that blends elements of dieselpunk and retro sci-fi. However, players also report significant issues such as graphic glitches, bugs, and inconsistent performance that detract from the overall experience. While the visuals are often described as beautiful and immersive, the technical shortcomings and lack of polish leave some players feeling disappointed.

    • “The visuals are stunning at times and there’s a lot of content to plough through.”
    • “The ambiance is fantastic, it's got a dark Soviet/sci-fi aesthetic which is extremely appealing.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, the cinematics are sweeping, and the potential is there.”
    • “Buggy as hell, keybinds not working, no mini map, shooting with gun mechanics are crap, quests vague, graphics are terrible even on ultra, characters don't speak, it's all text. The game feels like one from 25 years ago; apart from this, it's great, but I do not recommend you buy this yet.”
    • “The cinematics are made with the same engine as the game, which exposes all the errors of the graphic engine, making the cinematics look bad and lose the interest of the consumer.”
    • “Very interesting game... the movement is janky, the graphics options are limited, the translation is passable but only barely, and motion blur can't be removed.”
  • atmosphere81 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive world-building, and unique art style, often drawing comparisons to iconic titles like Bioshock and Fallout. Reviewers highlight the combination of music, lore, and detailed environments that create a captivating experience, despite some gameplay flaws and technical issues. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest feature, effectively pulling players into its richly crafted universe.

    • “The atmosphere, the story, the lore, the baroque-like level of detail of the world, the sheer diversity of items and their complexity, the human touch in every aspect of the sophisticated story that oscillates between eastern philosophies and modern cynicism and materialism, everything screams 'work of love'.”
    • “The art design, visuals, sounds, atmosphere and world design are outstanding.”
    • “It crashes from time to time (mostly when loading a save) but goddammit this game is special, it just pulls you into its world and won't let you go; the atmosphere, the art, the people, it all blends together perfectly.”
    • “I think this game is beautiful both in how the music draws you into this apocalypse and the architecture of this ancient ark of a crumbling civilization, the sorrow of a people having long suffered, encapsulated in a diesel-punk sci-fi atmosphere.”
    • “It is dated-looking and the graphics are not great, but then there are moments of real beauty where the vision of the devs shines through; they were obviously influenced by a great many cool things when making insomnia: the ark, and coupled with the gloomy, otherworldly vibe and atmosphere created by the soundtrack, I found myself quite enthralled for the length of the game.”
  • music59 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the immersive experience with a moody and fitting soundtrack that complements the game's diesel-punk aesthetic. However, some players have reported issues with unturnoffable music tied to the environment, audio bugs, and a lack of variety in the soundtrack, leading to mixed opinions on its overall execution. Despite these criticisms, many appreciate the music's ability to evoke a strong sense of place and emotion within the game's world.

    • “The music is also spot on coming from all the different radios and matches the surroundings well.”
    • “I loved the atmosphere, music, and style of the game.”
    • “The music is moody and sets the tone very well.”
    • “I would highlight the sound really above the music and what to the latter I find it very absent during most of the title.”
    • “The soundtrack that they are hocking off is bland and dull at best and a dreary moan that, since we are going with a food theme here, what comes after gas station sushi?”
    • “The base settings for the audio are terrible as all the narration is drowned out by the music, not sure why they did that?”
  • stability58 mentions

    The game is widely criticized for its significant stability issues, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and unfinished elements that severely impact gameplay. Players have experienced game-breaking errors, freezing, crashing, and poor AI, leading many to describe it as a "buggy mess" reminiscent of early Bethesda titles. While some patches have improved the situation, the overall consensus is that the game remains unpolished and requires substantial fixes before it can be considered stable.

    • “Runs great on a 1060 GPU with everything maxed, and looks pretty decent with lots of cool little details.”
    • “It's also not exactly bug free.”
    • “Besides that, the real bad thing is that the translation from Russian isn't that good (but not 'that bad' either) and Insomnia isn't bug free, so don't forget to save often and check the discussions on Steam if you have a problem!”
    • “The game is riddled with bugs and glitches.”
    • “It's an unfinished buggy piece of software missing translations, item placeholders, and missing stats.”
    • “The game has been a bug-ridden mess since release; I managed 35 hours before game-breaking issues killed my progress.”
  • optimization24 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, poor performance, and instability, particularly on AMD platforms and with certain graphics cards. While some users have experienced decent performance, others have encountered low frame rates, graphical glitches, and translation issues, leading to a general consensus that the game is not yet in an optimal state. Ongoing patches from the developers show promise for future improvements, but many recommend waiting for further updates before fully engaging with the game.

    • “Game is playable, performance is good.”
    • “The game runs solid at 1080p, no particular issues with performance.”
    • “Edit for update 1.5: game just keeps getting smoother and better performance and gameplay wise.”
    • “But even with these problems, the game could be at least an average indie title, but with the amount of bugs, bad optimization, and such, I don't recommend this game, at least until it's fixed into the optimal state, in which it should have been already on the release date.”
    • “As of version 1.3, there are cases reported of instability, bad optimization in denser maps, and crashes to desktop.”
    • “Textures clip, images and items are missing from the display or file altogether, collision meshes don't work right, it is poorly optimized (at least on NVIDIA), the animations look like I did them in stickman, and there are so many bugs in this, I might mail my PC to Orkin for a cleaning.”
  • replayability8 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability due to its diverse character classes, multiple quest approaches, and a richly detailed world filled with content to discover. Players can explore various builds and make impactful choices, ensuring that each playthrough can feel unique and rewarding. Overall, the combination of extensive gameplay options and hidden elements contributes to a strong incentive for replaying the game.

    • “Making this extremely replayable for the 7 or so unique classes, each changing your upbringing and social status.”
    • “There are multiple ways to build your character, different ways to do quests, and plenty of things to find, so there's replayability here. I know that in 40+ hours of gameplay, there's stuff I didn't find and missed, so there's a good deal of content if you're looking for an RPG of decent length.”
    • “The world is interesting to explore, there is some base replayability and choice available for certain important quests, the visuals are stunning at times and there’s a lot of content to plough through.”
    • “There are multiple ways to build your character, different ways to do quests, and plenty of things to find, so there's replayability here. I know that in 40+ hours of gameplay, there are things I didn't find and missed, so there's a good deal of content if you're looking for an RPG of decent length.”
    • “Does give choices of look and type and a proper selection of classes for replayability and style of play.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspects of the game to be excessively tedious, citing issues like a cumbersome inventory system, slow traversal across the world map, and repetitive minigames. The mechanics, including stamina management and weapon degradation, contribute to a frustrating experience that detracts from the otherwise intriguing world and story. Overall, the game suffers from a lack of engaging gameplay, making the grinding feel more like a chore than a challenge.

    • “Moving across the world map is tedious to the point that, of the 18 hours I've played the game so far, at least 8 of them have been just traversing the world map.”
    • “The whole premise of the world and visual style are very interesting and can quite easily immerse you, but the rest of the game such as quests and story itself are done lazily and tediously, not to mention many of the game mechanics and combat itself.”
    • “From overly complex storylines to tedious gameplay elements, a curiously obtuse inventory system and an identity somewhere between sci-fi RPG and supernatural horror, it's a game full of competing interests.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    Reviewers highlight the emotional impact of the game, noting its heartwarming qualities and the joy it brings, reminiscent of nostalgic gaming experiences. The personal anecdotes shared, such as the playful challenge involving likes and awards, further emphasize the game's ability to foster connection and engagement.

    • “I haven't seen a heartwarming game like this in a long time.”
    • “This game evokes such deep emotions that it stays with you long after you've finished playing.”
    • “The story and characters resonate on a personal level, making every moment feel impactful.”
  • humor3 mentions

    Reviews highlight a mixed reception regarding the game's humor, with some players appreciating its offbeat comedic elements while others find the experience frustrating due to serious bugs and confusing gameplay. The humor is described as fine-tuned, but the overall sentiment suggests that the game's shortcomings overshadow its comedic aspects.

    • “It is different from what you are used to and has a fine-tuned sense of humor.”
  • character development3 mentions

    Reviewers highlight the impressive character design and architecture in "Insomnia: The Ark," noting its engaging character development system that includes perks reminiscent of the Fallout series. The game combines elements of science fiction RPGs with real-time combat and crafting, enhancing the overall character progression experience.

    • “Insomnia: The Ark is a science-fiction RPG with real-time combat, a crafting and looting system, character development, and noir music.”
    • “If you like Fallout (atmosphere, post-apocalyptic universe, character development, perks).”
    • “Very nice architecture and character design.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful choices that impact the story.”
    • “I was disappointed by the lack of depth in character progression; it felt more like a grind than a journey.”
    • “The characters are one-dimensional, and their development doesn't resonate with the overall narrative.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling that the developers did not deliver on their advertised promises.

    • “I guess it's just another cash grab of a game.”
    • “They were unwilling to keep their word on their advertisement.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

30hMedian play time
29hAverage play time
20-43hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 13 analyzed playthroughs

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