Is Simon There?

About

Is Simon There? is a single player action game with a horror theme. It was developed by Stanislaw Truchowski and was released on May 6, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

Is Simon There? is a short horror experience with an approximate completion time of 40min. Is Simon There? also includes a single checkpoint at the mid-point of the game for those of you who want to explore alternate ending options.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 195 reviews

story18 positive mentions

Strong and unsettling atmosphere with effective use of sound design that builds tension and dread.
Multiple endings and easter eggs add replayability and depth to the narrative experience.
Well-crafted psychological horror that focuses on emotional impact and storytelling over cheap jump scares.

Gameplay can feel repetitive and tedious due to back-and-forth walking with minimal guidance.
Some puzzles are overly obscure or frustrating, leading to confusion and potential soft-locks.
The monster design and certain story elements feel disconnected or underdeveloped, weakening thematic cohesion.

story
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
69%
4%
The story in this psychological horror game is generally praised for its atmospheric, concise, and emotionally impactful narrative with multiple endings that offer varied interpretations. However, some find it vague, simplistic, or convoluted, and a few players report bugs that hinder story progression. Overall, it is appreciated more for mood and subtle environmental storytelling than complex plot development.
- “It is one of those tightly crafted experiences that focuses less on jump scares and more on atmosphere, building its tension through subtle environmental storytelling and an expertly sustained sense of anticipation.”
- “You uncover fragments of a tragic story while navigating a house that subtly transforms with each loop.”
- “The alternate endings reinforce this interpretation, offering multiple emotional resolutions that shift the meaning of the story depending on what clues the player uncovers.”
- “A boring walking sim (the shift to sprint doesn't seem to work) with a nonsensical story (your son got eaten by wolves but you had time to take a photo of him seconds prior..?) with a gimmick to unlock the 'true' ending that is outrageously convoluted - counting the flashing lights in a hallway is so opaque and obscure almost nobody is going to get it.”
- “Its promising but when it revealed who he is I didn’t get any feelings on it and it feels stupid and so basic solution to the story and nothing surprising moment.”
- “The game played for around 20 mins, then won’t move further along in the story, tried it twice and both times at the door opening part where you stare into the dark, it soft locks, I can walk around, still hear banging and the TV, but the story doesn’t move on, making this game no longer playable.”
atmosphere
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
52%
8%
The atmosphere is consistently praised for its immersive, tense, and unsettling qualities, relying on subtle environmental storytelling, sound design, and dread rather than cheap jump scares. Players find the confined settings and persistent tension effectively create a haunting and oppressive mood that keeps them engaged and on edge. While some note pacing issues later in the game, overall the atmosphere is regarded as a standout feature that enhances the horror experience and replayability.
- “It is one of those tightly crafted experiences that focuses less on jump scares and more on atmosphere, building its tension through subtle environmental storytelling and an expertly sustained sense of anticipation.”
- “As you navigate the protagonist’s claustrophobic home, you are haunted by persistent phone calls asking, “is Simon there?” The unsettling atmosphere is masterfully crafted, with the environment itself contributing to the tension—tall potted plants become unexpected sources of jump scares, and the sense of something lurking in the dark keeps you on edge.”
- “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.”
- “It's easy to overlook important details when the atmosphere is so intense that staying in one spot feels daunting.”
- “The atmosphere is really oppressive, using a small space to its fullest.”
- “Instead, Simon there creates an atmosphere of confusion and fear.”
gameplay
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
74%
13%
The gameplay centers on first-person exploration with light puzzles and environmental interaction, emphasizing atmosphere and narrative over complex mechanics. While some find the gameplay loop minimal and occasionally repetitive, it effectively creates a tense, immersive experience with multiple endings encouraging replay. The lack of combat and straightforward design make it accessible, though some players miss deeper mechanics like photographing paranormal events from previous titles.
- “The gameplay revolves around first-person exploration, light puzzle solving, and environmental interaction.”
- “The puzzles themselves are minimal, often relying on observation or timing rather than complex logic, which keeps the pacing tight and ensures that the focus remains on atmosphere rather than mechanical challenge.”
- “It was a lot of walking around to trigger events, but the atmosphere was good and I liked the different endings on these short games, which makes me want to come back to play it again to find the other ways to end the game, adding to the gameplay time and making it worth the money spent.”
- “Was also not a big fan of the back and forth through the house trigger gameplay, with little guidance.”
- “The limited interactivity also means that replay value comes primarily from discovering alternate endings rather than dramatically different gameplay outcomes.”
- “There is about an hour worth of gameplay.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The game's graphics are generally praised for being good, smooth, and detailed, contributing to an immersive experience. However, some users note that the graphics are basic and occasionally suffer from excessive bloom that washes out visuals. Overall, the graphics complement the gameplay well but leave room for slight improvement.
- “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 are smooth.”
- “The graphics and performance are good.”
- “And for some reason, there is an insane amount of bloom that washes out the graphics pretty badly.”
- “The graphics are basic and lack detail.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a deeply unsettling psychological horror experience that evokes strong emotional responses, particularly through its use of human grief and subtle voice acting. Its recurring motifs and multiple endings provide nuanced emotional depth and resonance, making the story impactful despite its short length. Players note that its emotional precision rivals longer, more complex titles, often eliciting a profound and heartfelt reaction.
- “Developed by Stanislaw Truchowski and published by Turnvex, this short but unsettling psychological horror game transforms a seemingly ordinary domestic setting into a place of quiet dread and emotional unease.”
- “The game achieves a level of emotional precision within its small frame that many longer titles struggle to reach.”
- “The way the game uses the recurring question, 'Is Simon there?' as both literal and symbolic, becomes the emotional anchor.”
replayability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game offers good replayability primarily through multiple endings and achievements, encouraging players to explore different narrative paths and secrets. While the gameplay changes are limited, the presence of checkpoints and alternate endings provide enjoyable reasons to revisit the experience. Overall, replay value is considered a strong aspect, enhancing the game's appeal.
- “Multiple endings and achievements add replayability, encouraging players to explore different narrative paths and uncover all its secrets.”
- “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.”
- “Great scares, interesting story, I love that it is replayable with multiple possible endings!”
- “The limited interactivity means that replay value comes primarily from discovering alternate endings rather than dramatically different gameplay outcomes.”
- “The replayability is a tad bit limited.”
- “[h3] length and replayability [/h3]”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by entertaining Easter eggs and well-timed, funny jump scares that add to the overall enjoyable experience.
- “Funny easter egg as well.”
- “Amazing game, good pace with the jump scares and had some pretty funny ones as well!”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization is generally poor, despite good graphics and performance. Users note that while the visuals run well, overall optimization issues detract from the experience.
- “Decent horror, mediocre story, cool easter egg but really poor optimization”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's music is minimal and purposeful, enhancing immersion by creating an authentic and atmospheric experience typical of the best horror titles.
- “There isn't unnecessary music, and it immerses you into the game.”
- “The best horror games lack a soundtrack and make you feel as if you are actually there in the game.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game is extensive and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort or additional resources to progress.