Interior Worlds
- April 7, 2023
- sodaraptor
- 25h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Interior Worlds" is an ambient first-person exploration game where you photograph environmental anomalies in derelict settings, such as a run-down hotel and empty movie theater, using a vintage SLR camera. The game features 10 unique locations, each with its own eerie atmosphere, and allows for customizable zoom levels and filter options. Players can track and share their in-game photo catalog, complete with timestamps and pre-filtered with a "maximum liminal crust" for a unique touch.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
PlayStation
Reviews
- The game excels in creating a chill, atmospheric experience that captures the essence of liminal spaces without relying on jump scares.
- The photography mechanic adds a unique layer to the gameplay, encouraging exploration and creativity while capturing eerie moments.
- The attention to detail in the environments and the inclusion of numerous secrets and Easter eggs enhance the overall enjoyment and replayability of the game.
- Some levels can feel repetitive and confusing due to the lack of clear direction and the need to find keys to progress.
- The game may be too short for some players, leaving them wanting more content and exploration opportunities.
- Technical issues, such as performance problems and limited controller support, can detract from the overall experience.
- atmosphere117 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its chilling, immersive quality, effectively capturing the eerie essence of liminal spaces without relying on jumpscares. Players appreciate the combination of stunning visuals, ambient sound design, and the opportunity to explore unsettling environments at their own pace, making it a standout experience for fans of atmospheric exploration. Overall, the atmosphere is described as both haunting and captivating, drawing players into a uniquely unsettling yet enjoyable journey.
“This game absolutely nails its atmosphere, its aesthetic, and is able to keep up the tension through its various environments with its sound design.”
“Interior Worlds is possibly the most atmospheric game I have seen.”
“The ambience and atmosphere in this game is incredible, and honestly had me feeling extremely uneasy far more often than any typical horror game.”
“I wish it took that atmosphere towards more explorative levels and creepier ambience, but nevertheless it was still fun to capture unsettling forms in pictures in a wonderfully creepy atmosphere.”
“Game won't be for everyone as it's very slow and all about the atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere goes hard, was creeped out the whole time despite knowing that there weren't any hostile enemies.”
- graphics50 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's graphics have been widely praised for their effective use of a PS1 aesthetic, creating a nostalgic yet immersive atmosphere that enhances the eerie exploration of liminal spaces. Players appreciate the combination of low-poly visuals with modern rendering techniques, which contribute to a unique and unsettling experience. While some minor issues like brightness adjustments were noted, the overall visual design successfully complements the game's sound and environment, making it a standout feature.
“I thought the lighting was great on most maps, I loved the heavy fog, and the graphical style itself is a great midpoint between the source engine’s fidelity and the haziness of 6th generation consoles, creating an enticing, mystical vibe.”
“Everything about it reeled me in, from the PS1-style pixelated graphics and ambient sound design to the interesting locations and creepy atmosphere.”
“The visuals and the environmental sound fit perfectly together and get you even more inside the game.”
“Not to say there aren't other good elements, but if you don't like what you see from visuals alone then you should probably pass on this one.”
“Enjoyable, but a bit less creative than hypnagogia, and the performance isn't great considering the game's visuals.”
“It would be nice to have the option to increase the brightness in the graphic options or to toggle the 'dotted texture' to better enjoy the view, but I can still wholeheartedly recommend this game despite these two minor things.”
- gameplay48 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 81 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Interior Worlds" is primarily centered around exploration and photography, with players navigating through various environments to capture specific images. While the camera mechanic is praised for enhancing the experience and encouraging exploration, many reviewers note that the gameplay can feel repetitive due to the reliance on a key-and-lock system, limiting the freedom of exploration. Overall, the game offers a visually stunning atmosphere but lacks depth in gameplay mechanics, leaving some players wanting more variety and engagement.
“I loved exploring all the different locations and I thought the camera mechanic was neat!”
“The camera is an ingenious mechanic for this genre, as it actively encourages the player to explore the environment and view things with a more critical eye.”
“An excellent example of a 'liminal space' exploration game, Interior Worlds builds upon the populated liminal genre with a novel photography game mechanic and light horror elements.”
“Gameplay is limited and the exploration isn't as free-flowing as I was hoping (lots of keys and locks, and you're told what to snap pictures of), but the atmosphere is what truly matters, and it's absolutely perfect.”
“It doesn't help when the gameplay literally consists of: find locked door A, fetch key A, unlock door A, fetch key B, unlock door B and so on... (admittedly there is potential for twisting up this gameplay to make it interesting, but it quite literally never goes beyond what I've just summarized it as).”
“But I think the mechanics themselves are very prone to being repetitive and it can result in some unexpected boredom moments which I actually did experience midway through the game; I wish there were more mechanics than 'taking photos'.”
- story24 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story in the game is primarily conveyed through environmental storytelling and visual elements, creating a mysterious and dreamlike atmosphere that some players found engaging, while others felt it lacked depth and coherence. Many reviewers expressed a desire for more narrative exploration, as the existing storyline often felt vague or overshadowed by the gameplay experience. Overall, while the unique storytelling approach received praise, it left some players wanting a more substantial narrative.
“The graphics and the story are absolutely insane, thank you dev(s) for it.”
“I'm serious, sodaraptor, I was about to write a paper in university based solely off of your ability to tell a nuanced story in *hypnagogia: boundless dreams*.”
“There seems to be a story being told through the environment, and the horror elements are executed so subtly well.”
“Normally I don't like 'walking simulators' because the gameplay is almost nonexistent, and what little is there is in service to some big story thing that I could just watch someone else play through or read a synopsis.”
“Mostly because what little story there is can be easily overlooked in favor of simply experiencing the world and taking fun pictures of stuff.”
“I can't get into the story; not much stuck with me except one thing.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively blends humor with horror, featuring clever references and unexpected comedic elements, particularly in its secret endings and easter eggs. While the atmosphere leans towards dread rather than jump scares, players can enjoy a tense experience punctuated by laugh-out-loud moments and amusing hidden secrets. Overall, the humor enhances the gameplay, making it a delightful experience for those who enjoy secret hunting.
“It has aspects of horror, puzzle solving, references, and a great sense of humor.”
“There are a pretty good amount of secrets that you can find, some of which are unexpectedly hilarious.”
“Tense game with funny easter eggs for those who feel like secret hunting.”
- music5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the ambient soundtrack for creating a unique atmosphere that can be both soothing and unnerving, others find it overdone and prefer to play their own music. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the experience for those who enjoy the game's aesthetic, but it may not appeal to everyone.
“Really like the music and extra mushroom game.”
“With the addition of the ambient sounds and music, this game creates a great feel that's both unnerving at times and soothing at others.”
“The soundtrack does not help.”
“The ambient soundtrack and environmental sounds were a little overdone at times, but just turning down the volume works.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, with performance varying greatly across different maps and overall poor performance despite its visual appeal. Users have noted that it is poorly optimized, leading to a less enjoyable experience.
“Also, in true indie game walking simulator tradition, it's embarrassingly poorly optimized.”
“There are performance issues; some maps run significantly worse than others. The game is poorly optimized in general.”
“Enjoyable, but a bit less creative than Hypnagogia, and the performance isn't great considering the game's visuals.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly when backtracking for 100% completion, which can lead to boredom, especially in certain maps like the suburb. However, the introduction of a compass in the metro level helps alleviate some of this tedium, making the grinding experience more manageable.
“One thing I should note is that the backtracking can get a bit tedious, especially if you are going for a full 100% completion.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It becomes glaringly obvious at the suburb map, which is very atmospheric at the beginning, but gets tedious and boring very soon.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game's setting, highlighting its nostalgic and familiar atmosphere that resonates deeply. While many appreciate this emotional depth, some feel it lacks the visceral impact found in other works, such as those by Kitty Horrorshow.
“On many levels, I found myself emotional over how familiar I was with the setting and how accurately the developers captured that feeling of nostalgia and recognition that I don't find in a lot of media.”
“No complaints, although it isn't as emotionally visceral as the works of Kitty Horrorshow.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Users highlight a positive replayability aspect, noting that the game offers hidden depth and additional content that encourages multiple playthroughs.
“I appreciated the replay value and the fact that there could be more than what meets the eye.”
“The game offers so many different paths and choices that I found myself wanting to play through it multiple times.”
“Each playthrough reveals new secrets and storylines, making it a joy to revisit.”
“I found the replayability to be lacking; once I completed the game, there was little incentive to go back.”
“The game offers minimal changes in subsequent playthroughs, making it feel repetitive and dull.”
“While the story was engaging, the lack of diverse outcomes made replaying it feel like a chore.”
