Is Simon There?

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 121 reviews
  • story
  • atmosphere
  • gameplay
Is Simon There? Game Cover
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In "Is Simon There?", you navigate through a chilling narrative centered around the death of the player's son. This 40-minute horror experience combines walking simulator elements with atmospheric tension and suspense, as you question supernatural occurrences in your otherwise empty home. User discretion is advised for those sensitive to emotionally intense themes. Note that this title leans heavily on walking simulator mechanics and may not appeal to everyone.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 121 reviews
story11 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • The game creates a tense and unsettling atmosphere that keeps players on edge throughout the experience.
  • It features multiple endings and easter eggs, adding replay value and depth to the gameplay.
  • The sound design and graphics are well-executed, enhancing the overall horror experience.
  • The gameplay can feel repetitive, requiring players to walk back and forth to trigger events, which may lead to confusion.
  • Some players found the story and character motivations lacking depth, making it feel basic or underdeveloped.
  • There are technical issues, such as bugs and poor optimization, that can detract from the overall experience.
  • story35 mentions

    The game's story features three unique alternate endings, enhancing replayability and emotional depth, particularly for players with personal connections to its themes. While some reviews note the narrative as basic or mediocre, many appreciate its effective storytelling, atmosphere, and the balance of horror elements. Overall, the story is seen as engaging and well-executed, with a mix of intriguing plot twists and emotional resonance.

    • “There are 3 alternate endings to unlock, and each one is unique to the story.”
    • “Loved the details as you try to uncover the details of your character and the backstory as to what is going on!”
    • “As the story unfolds, it is pretty emotional, especially if you have/had a child.”
    • “Decent horror, mediocre story, cool easter egg but really poor optimization.”
    • “Storytelling could have been improved as I felt it was all spoon-fed at the end rather than being introduced organically.”
    • “The category psychological horror means devs can do almost anything with the game but most game devs stick to a walking simulator that the surroundings mysteriously change after you walk past them 30 times or spin around or something that doesn't make sense as far as progress in the story goes.”
  • atmosphere25 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is consistently described as unsettling and immersive, effectively creating a sense of dread that keeps players on edge. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to build tension through its sound design and environmental details, although some note that the fear diminishes as the game progresses. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its quality and effectiveness in enhancing the horror experience.

    • “It will keep you on the edge of your seat for a good hour and immerse you in its unsettling atmosphere!”
    • “For a long time I forgot what a constant atmosphere of dread felt like in a horror game, until I played this game and nearly chickened out because said atmosphere was so invasive.”
    • “The atmosphere was unsettling and the tension kept building up throughout the game.”
    • “People, including myself, talk about atmosphere concerning horror games so much it starts to lose its meaning.”
    • “The atmosphere was eerie and unsettling.”
    • “The ambiance and jumpscares often include low-pitched, thunderous noises that create an uncomfortable and oppressive atmosphere.”
  • gameplay13 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a strong atmospheric presence, with players experiencing a sense of disempowerment that enhances the horror elements. The mechanics involve exploring environments to trigger events, leading to multiple endings that encourage replayability. While some players miss previous mechanics like photography, the developer effectively utilizes a limited space to create a fresh and engaging gameplay loop.

    • “On a gameplay standpoint, this takes the player out of control to an extreme, and I absolutely love it.”
    • “Every single title of his that comes out always has some amount of familiarity between them in terms of mechanics, but the atmosphere, the story, the delicately placed jumpscares... Stan knows exactly how to scare me in a video game.”
    • “It was a lot of walking around to trigger events, but the atmosphere was good and I like the different endings in these short games. It makes me want to come back to play it again to find the other ways to end the game, which adds to the gameplay time and makes it worth the money you spent on it.”
    • “It was a lot of walking around to trigger events, but the atmosphere was good and I like different endings in these short games. It makes me want to come back to play it again to find the other ways to end the game, which adds to the gameplay time and makes it worth the money you spent on it.”
    • “Gotta say I miss the photographing mechanics of the previous games. I know it doesn't fit in this one though. I would actually love if the developer made a game focusing only on that, not unlike Fatal Frame, but without the need for combat, more like seeking out paranormal events to catalog.”
    • “The developer does a lot with a little - they utilize a smaller home but alter it in ways that keep it fresh and assist in making the gameplay loop not feel overly repetitive.”
  • graphics7 mentions

    Overall, the graphics are generally praised for their quality, attention to detail, and smooth performance, contributing to an immersive experience. However, some users noted issues with excessive bloom that can detract from the visual clarity. The combination of good graphics and sound design enhances the game's atmosphere, though there is room for improvement in the audio aspects.

    • “Amazing creepy game.. puts you on edge all the way through worth every penny, amazing graphics and attention to detail.”
    • “The game's graphics are smooth, movement and interaction is smooth.”
    • “Graphics look good and story is crazy as always.”
    • “And for some reason, there is an insane amount of bloom that washes out the graphics pretty badly.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its impactful storytelling, which resonates deeply with players, particularly those with personal experiences related to loss or parenthood. The narrative unfolds naturally, providing a poignant and gut-wrenching experience that leaves a lasting impression.

    • “The two serious ones delivered more context without it feeling forced, and were an emotional punch in the gut.”
    • “I died in real life once, was on edge the entire time and has a heartbreaking story.”
    • “As the story unfolds, it is pretty emotional, especially if you have or had a child.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    Players find the game highly replayable due to multiple endings and the ability to jump to checkpoints after the initial playthrough, enhancing the overall experience. The achievements also contribute to its replay value, making it an enjoyable experience worth revisiting.

    • “This new release from Turnvex has blown away expectations from the sound, to atmosphere, to textures, story, scares, and replayability/endings!”
    • “There is replayability that is very enjoyable, thanks to there being 3 endings and a checkpoint that you can jump ahead to after your first playthrough.”
    • “The achievements make it have replay value.”
    • “This new release from Turnvex has blown away expectations from the sound, atmosphere, textures, story, scares, and replayability/endings!”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game's optimization is criticized for being poor, despite decent graphics and performance. While the sound design and character dialogue could use improvement, the overall experience is marred by optimization issues.

    • “The graphics and performance are good, the sound design could have been better and more engaging, and maybe some more dialogue from the characters.”
    • “Decent horror, mediocre story, cool easter egg, but really poor optimization.”
    • “The game has great potential, but the optimization issues make it nearly unplayable.”
    • “I love the concept, but the constant frame drops and crashes due to poor optimization ruin the experience.”
  • music2 mentions

    The music in the game is minimal and effectively enhances immersion, particularly in the horror genre, where the absence of a soundtrack contributes to a more authentic and unsettling experience.

    • “The music immerses you into the game without being unnecessary.”
    • “The best horror games lack a soundtrack, making you feel as if you are actually there, in the game.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The game features a well-paced blend of jump scares and humor, with players noting both amusing moments and clever Easter eggs that enhance the overall experience.

    • “Amazing game, good pace with the jump scares and had some pretty funny moments as well!”
    • “Funny easter egg as well.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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