Iron Lung VR

About

"Iron Lung VR" is a virtual reality game where you play as a convicted explorer in a makeshift submarine, tasked with photographing artifacts in the blood ocean. With permission from the creator of the original game, this VR recreation offers a fresh take on the atmospheric horror experience. Successful completion of your mission may lead to your earned freedom.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,895 reviews

atmosphere630 positive mentions

replayability30 negative mentions

atmosphere
956 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
33%
1%
The atmosphere of "Iron Lung" is widely praised for its intense, claustrophobic, and immersive qualities, effectively creating a sense of dread and isolation throughout the gameplay. Reviewers highlight the exceptional sound design and minimalistic visuals that enhance the eerie experience, making players feel vulnerable in the depths of an ocean of blood. While the gameplay mechanics may be simplistic and the game short, the overwhelming atmosphere is considered its standout feature, drawing players into a uniquely terrifying world.
- “The atmosphere is incredible, controlling the sub is simple but satisfying & there's some really interesting lore tucked away.”
- “Iron lung has an eerie atmosphere, some great jumpscares, and a brilliant ending!”
- “The atmosphere and the lore is so good and captivating, it serves to isolate you in this hopeless universe devoid of humanity, we've taken the worst course possible and have found ourselves in a place of extreme existential dread and isolation.”
- “Probably the most overrated game I've ever tried playing; any atmosphere that this game might've tried to establish gets yeeted out the window with how poor the gameplay is.”
- “The atmosphere is so thick that you can taste it.”
- “The atmosphere wasn't enough to make me tense, and the ending was hilariously predictable.”
gameplay
694 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
64%
9%
The gameplay of "Iron Lung" is characterized by its simplicity and minimalism, primarily involving navigation using a map and coordinates while piloting a submarine in a claustrophobic environment. While some players appreciate the unique mechanics and atmospheric tension it creates, others find the gameplay tedious and repetitive, leading to mixed feelings about its overall engagement. The game effectively builds suspense through its sound design and limited visuals, but its short runtime and lack of complex mechanics may not appeal to everyone.
- “The gameplay, lore, mechanics, and to make it short... everything about this game was pure perfection!”
- “The gameplay is very simple, but the limitations add to the horror of it, as your player is essentially defenseless to their surroundings.”
- “The gameplay, atmosphere, and experience of it all make the game what it is.”
- “The gameplay is unbelievably boring.”
- “The gameplay is just tedious and monotonous with no interesting or meaningful changes from beginning to end.”
- “The gameplay loop, as I said, is slow and if the game time was stretched out, it'd probably just be really boring for most people.”
story
340 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
64%
3%
The game's story is a minimalist yet intriguing narrative set in a bleak, cosmic horror environment, where players navigate a submarine in a blood ocean on a seemingly futile mission. While the plot is straightforward and brief, it effectively builds tension and atmosphere, encouraging players to piece together the lore through environmental storytelling and sparse text. Many reviewers express a desire for a more fleshed-out narrative, highlighting the potential for deeper exploration of the game's universe.
- “The story is so intricate, in fact, that I think it could warrant a sequel or spin-off of sorts.”
- “The story, while vague, is also pretty interesting.”
- “The story is interesting and creative.”
- “The ending leaves the player with no resolution or impact on the overarching story and comes off as a trashy and disappointing cop-out.”
- “There is no real story or anything.”
- “The plot is mostly nonexistent and there only to motivate the setting just enough that you can understand--without ever quite understanding--what you're up against.”
graphics
230 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
67%
4%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro, PS1-style aesthetic that effectively enhances the horror atmosphere, creating a sense of dread through minimalist visuals and low-resolution textures. While some players find the graphics simplistic and limited, many appreciate how this design choice contributes to the game's immersive experience, allowing sound and tension to take center stage. Overall, the low-fidelity graphics are seen as a deliberate artistic choice that complements the game's themes and enhances its unsettling ambiance.
- “The retro graphics also suit the bleak atmosphere of the game's world pretty well.”
- “The classic PS1-style aesthetic of the graphics adds to the experience, but the game doesn't rely on the nostalgic art style alone to be an enjoyable experience.”
- “The low-poly graphics are used beautifully, truly a game which demonstrates that a horrifying experience must be slowly crafted with the tools you have, not thrown into your face.”
- “The graphics are very limited and it leaves a lot of what's going on to your imagination.”
- “Fitting of an indie title, the graphics are low polygon and low-resolution.”
- “The graphics are the PS1 type graphics.”
music
117 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
58%
3%
The music in *Iron Lung* is widely praised for its ability to create a chilling and immersive atmosphere, enhancing the game's sense of dread and claustrophobia. Reviewers highlight the dark ambient soundtrack and unsettling sound design, which effectively complement the gameplay and evoke feelings of anxiety and hopelessness. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's horror experience.
- “The chilling soundtrack does a superb job of setting the tone, adding a sense of depression and hopelessness while in-game.”
- “The soundtrack, sound design, and progression of the game were all woven together into something seamlessly and beautifully terrifying.”
- “Incredible atmosphere, incredible music, unique mechanics, short and oh so wonderfully bitter-sweet.”
- “The music and soundtrack: there is none, fuck you give David your hard earned dollars for that soundtrack paypig.”
- “As you make your way around, spooky music sometimes plays for a bit, and you hear weird sounds from the outside (the repertoire for these sounds is very small so it gets repetitive very fast).”
- “The game's stage is set with a very minimal soundtrack, a claustrophobic 'submarine', a very low resolution black and white camera, and a map with some coordinates.”
replayability
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
55%
34%
The game is widely regarded as having very low replayability, primarily due to its short duration of about 1-2 hours and a lack of additional content or varied gameplay experiences. While some players appreciate the unique atmosphere and compelling narrative, most agree that once completed, there is little incentive to play again, aside from hunting for missed achievements or secrets. Overall, it is seen as a one-time experience that, despite its limitations, is still enjoyable for its initial run.
- “It has enough replayability to go through it once or twice afterwards for secrets and achievements.”
- “So yea, the replay value isn't too high (unless you go looking for those apparent unmarked photo locations), but that doesn't bother me in the slightest because of how unique this game is and how much I thoroughly enjoyed playing it through.”
- “Low replayability, a few jumpscares, incredible atmosphere, quite spooky stuff happens, simple gameplay.”
- “From what I can tell, there's almost zero replayability (besides wanting to get that last achievement).”
- “The game is extremely short and doesn't have a whole lot of replay value aside from an achievement or your own curiosity.”
- “Ultimately, Iron Lung is a very short game with very little replay value.”
grinding
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
8%
90%
The reviews consistently highlight that the gameplay in this title is overwhelmingly tedious, often described as monotonous and frustrating, with many players feeling that it detracts from the overall experience. While some appreciate the atmosphere and narrative elements, the repetitive nature of navigation and lack of meaningful engagement lead to a sense of boredom, with many feeling that the payoff does not justify the effort. Overall, the game is seen as a slow burn that may appeal to a niche audience but is likely to alienate those seeking more dynamic gameplay.
- “Took about an hour from start to finish, but wasn't as tedious as I expected.”
- “It consists of incredibly tedious gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is just tedious and monotonous with no interesting or meaningful changes from beginning to end.”
- “It's just 50 minutes of the most tedious and boring gameplay ever with some minor spooky things happening like a loud sound or some eerie picture appearing.”
humor
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted, with players finding amusement in the quirky design of the "funny fish" and the absurdity of certain situations, such as unexpected jumpscares and silly dialogue. Many reviews note that while the game may not be genuinely scary, it provides a lighthearted experience filled with laughter, making it enjoyable for those looking for a comedic twist. Overall, the humor is described as a standout feature, contributing to a fun and entertaining atmosphere.
- “The only good part of the game was the fish jumpscare which was so hilariously bad it sent me into hysterics for a good 3 minutes.”
- “I didn't find it scary, dreadful, or suspenseful at all, to be honest, and the ending made me laugh, which is probably not the intended effect.”
- “It was really funny when I was looking at the coordinates and suddenly it was turning red around me, and I was like 'hmm why is it getting all red?' for like a minute and I turned around and it was on fire, lmao.”
- “I can't wait for the Markiplier movie (also insert unfunny Ocean Gate joke).”
- “Poopy came out my bummy, David. That's not funny, not funny at all!”
- “Not funny :(”
emotional
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional responses to the game are highly varied, with players experiencing intense fear, claustrophobia, and vulnerability, often accompanied by moments of joy and pride. While the atmosphere and sound design effectively build suspense and dread, some players felt let down by abrupt endings or lack of payoff. Overall, the game elicits strong feelings, ranging from terror to nostalgia, making it a memorable experience for many.
- “No other game I know of is like this, nor has any other game made me feel such emotions.”
- “I screamed, I cried, my friends made fun of me for screaming and crying.”
- “This game made me feel claustrophobic and vulnerable - and I'm not even claustrophobic!”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its solid performance, with users reporting no bugs or glitches. Compatibility and performance on various systems, including an M1 Mac Mini, were also highlighted as positive aspects, indicating a well-optimized experience.
- “Performance in this game was solid throughout (as David's games usually are), and I didn't run into any bugs or glitches.”
- “I played this game on an M1 Mac Mini using Whisky/GPTK and was very happy with the compatibility and performance.”
- “The performance was good, and I didn't face any issues.”
- “The game is poorly optimized, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “I experienced significant lag and long loading times, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
- “The optimization feels rushed, as there are numerous performance issues that should have been addressed before release.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with most players reporting a smooth experience and minimal bugs or glitches. However, some users noted occasional graphical issues that detracted from the overall aesthetic.
- “The glitches and bugs, much like the damaged public places I once reveled in, served as a stark reminder of the fragility of our digital illusions.”
- “Although the game offers some nice graphics and a pleasant aesthetic, there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game is considered reasonable, with a price point of $2-3 deemed appropriate, though some users feel it lacks substantial value for the average player. While it is not viewed as a cash grab, the game's advertising is praised for its effectiveness.
- “This should be $2-3 max. I wouldn't say it's a cash grab because it's really well done, I just don't think there's a lot of value here for most people.”