Midnight Scenes: A Safe Place
- March 19, 2024
- White Blanket Games
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Midnight Scenes: A Safe Place" is a Horror Fiction Adventure game that explores themes of isolation and loneliness. Players take on the role of Phil, a young man plagued by nightmares, as he confronts terrifying truths buried within him. The game features adventure elements, encouraging players to explore and interact with their surroundings in this dark and intense tale.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a gripping and surprising story that keeps players engaged from start to finish.
- The pixel art and sound design are praised for their quality, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
- It offers a nuanced portrayal of mental illness, making it a compelling experience for players who appreciate deep storytelling.
- The game is more of a visual novel with limited interactivity, which may disappoint players expecting traditional adventure gameplay.
- Some players found the pacing slow, with lengthy reading sections that detracted from the overall experience.
- The protagonist's unlikable traits and confusing plot elements left some players feeling dissatisfied with the narrative resolution.
- story50 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as a gripping and immersive experience, blending horror with themes of mental illness, loneliness, and emotional struggle. While it takes time to build momentum, the well-paced narrative and unique resolution keep players engaged, making it a standout entry in the "Midnight Scenes" anthology. The combination of excellent writing, beautiful pixel art, and a haunting atmosphere contributes to a compelling storytelling experience that resonates deeply with players.
“A beautifully told horror story with excellent pixel art animation, a clever concept, and an ending that packs one hell of a punch.”
“Midnight Scenes: A Safe Place spends the majority of its runtime telling a queasy and uncomfortable story of someone struggling with their mental health, before flipping the script in jarring fashion.”
“Overall, I loved the entire story, and it definitely teaches players to become more open-minded towards people who are going through loss, depression, or suicidal thoughts.”
“Also, the story takes a long time to pick up steam.”
“If you're like me and love a clear and understandable plot that doesn't scam you with an anticlimactic ending, then you don't want this game. In the start, Phil was hiding in his room for months from his abusive family, and it goes through that he's 'dating' Noelle, but she starts to get feelings for her stalky neighbor Brian. As time goes on, the parents aren't listening to him or his sister about getting mental help, and his dad canceled his bank account to try to get him out. Then the mom later brought a priest to help instead of a 'shrink', as they call it.”
“I do take issue with some of the cheaper jumpscares, and there are bits of foreshadowing that lead nowhere, including several explicit references to the previous games, which may raise a few too many expectations over the trajectory of the story: which is a lot quieter and sadder than said expectations.”
- graphics8 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics are highly praised for their excellent pixel art style, which achieves a detailed and immersive experience without relying on cheap horror tactics. Reviewers commend the visuals for being visually pleasing and effectively contributing to the game's eerie atmosphere, enhancing the storytelling and overall experience.
“Still, it's an easy recommendation to any horror adventure fan - both writing and visuals are superb, managing to remain creepy without resorting to cheap tricks like jumpscares.”
“Excellent pixel graphics, getting detailed when they need to, to an almost uncanny valley level.”
“The graphical style is really visually pleasing too.”
“Graphics: retro”
- music7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised for its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, complementing the pixel art and overall aesthetic. Reviewers highlight its effectiveness in creating tension and contributing to the storytelling, with many considering it a standout feature worth appreciating. Overall, the sound design, including music and effects, is described as excellent and integral to the game's experience.
“Music, sounds, and art style are worth praising as well!”
“The music is classy and overall well worth a fiver.”
“Why you gotta play that song so loud?”
“The music is class and overall well worth a fiver.”
“The pixel art and music continue to go from strength to strength, coupled with writing that weaves effortlessly between brooding tension and full boil terror.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Midnight Scenes is characterized by its simplicity and minimal interactivity, primarily consisting of clicking through dialogue with few easy puzzles. While some players appreciate the effective narrative and aesthetic elements, others find it less engaging than expected due to the limited gameplay mechanics.
“I'm new to gaming and already was a big Midnight Scenes fan from watching gameplay on YouTube, so I was excited to try this newest game out.”
“The gameplay is simple but incredibly effective.”
“Midnight Scenes are short narrative games with minimal gameplay that has some lovely pixel art and horror vibes.”
“Far less interactive than I'd hoped, and most of the gameplay is just clicking through dialogue.”
“Gameplay: decent”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 83 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its exceptional writing, sound design, and art, which collectively create an engaging and anxiety-inducing experience. Reviewers note that the immersive sound effects and music enhance the emotional connection to the characters and the overall narrative. Overall, the atmosphere is described as captivating and well-crafted, contributing significantly to the game's impact.
“The sound design, atmosphere, and story were spot on, once again.”
“The art is great; sound effects and music add to the atmosphere with perfection. Excellent writing and story, very good animation.”
“The anxiety-inducing atmosphere stressed me out throughout, and I became very attached to the characters.”
“The game’s atmosphere felt flat and uninspired, making it hard to immerse myself in the world.”
“Despite the potential for a rich environment, the atmosphere was dull and lacked any real tension.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game delivers a surprisingly deep emotional experience, diverging from the developer's previous lighter titles to explore heavy psychological themes that resonate personally with players. Its memorable and impactful narrative, combined with organic character interactions and a unique resolution, creates a compelling emotional journey that stands out in the horror genre.
“The end result is one of the more memorable and emotionally impactful horror games I’ve played in a very long time.”
“I loved the ending and I loved how emotionally charged it was leading up to it.”
“The interactions with the characters felt very organic and wholesome; there is a nice balance of humor, rage, and many moments of tension.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mixed bag; while character interactions are organic and well-balanced with moments of tension, some comedic attempts, like the genealogy scene, fall flat. Additionally, certain dialogue choices may feel awkward or inauthentic, suggesting a need for refinement. Overall, the writing is praised for its depth, but the humor occasionally misses the mark.
“The interactions with the characters felt very organic and wholesome, there is a nice balance of humor, rage, and many moments of tension.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its uniqueness and depth, with distinct designs and meaningful motivations that enhance the narrative rather than merely serve the plot.
“I love how unique all the character designs feel; even small details add to the world, and people's motivations make sense and feel real instead of just aiding the plot.”
“The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character's journey and growth.”
“Each character has a distinct backstory that influences their actions and relationships, making every interaction meaningful.”
