Penumbra: Requiem

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Penumbra: Requiem is a single player action game. It received neutral reviews from players.

Penumbra: Requiem is a puzzle-focused expansion that challenges players with intricate and immersive brain-teasers set in the eerie universe of Penumbra. It shifts away from traditional horror elements, emphasizing thoughtful puzzle-solving over narrative or combat. This standalone add-on deepens the mental challenge for fans seeking a more cerebral experience.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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52%

Audience ScoreBased on 549 reviews

story45 positive mentions

grinding22 negative mentions

The game features a variety of challenging puzzles that require creative thinking.
The atmosphere remains engaging, providing a sense of unease despite the lack of horror elements.
As a conclusion to the Penumbra series, it offers some closure to Philip's story.

The game lacks any horror elements, with no enemies or tension present throughout.
The story is minimal and feels disconnected from the previous games, leading to a disappointing narrative experience.
Many puzzles can be tedious and frustrating, often requiring backtracking and trial-and-error without clear guidance.

story
326 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
74%
12%
The story in "Penumbra: Requiem" is largely criticized for being minimal and lacking coherence, with many reviewers noting that it fails to build upon the rich narratives established in its predecessors, "Overture" and "Black Plague." While it attempts to provide closure to the protagonist Philip's journey, the fragmented storytelling and absence of horror elements leave players feeling disappointed, as the game shifts focus to puzzle-solving rather than meaningful narrative progression. Overall, it is recommended primarily for dedicated fans of the series who wish to see how the story concludes, but it does not stand strong as a standalone title.
- “Penumbra: Requiem isn’t so much a sequel as it is an echo, a somber afterthought that closes the story of Philip not with screams, but with silence.”
- “The main thing which made me keep moving forward was to find out how the Penumbra story ends.”
- “The story provides closure to the franchise thankfully, but it doesn't add anything more apart from some new dialogue from previous secondary characters.”
- “Penumbra: Requiem is not a horror game, nor is it a continuation of the storyline from the previous games.”
- “Without the fear or the mystery, Requiem feels more like a technical epilogue than a story-driven conclusion.”
- “The story doesn't wrap up well at all, the puzzles are annoying, and the sewer level is badly designed and buggy.”
gameplay
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
82%
7%
The gameplay of "Penumbra: Requiem" is primarily focused on solving a series of puzzles to progress through levels, with no combat or survival mechanics present, leading to a more tedious experience for some players. While the puzzles are described as well-thought-out and creative, they often rely on cryptic mechanics and can become frustrating, resulting in a gameplay experience that feels disconnected from the horror elements of its predecessors. Overall, the game is seen as a shallow puzzle-centric iteration that lacks the depth and engagement of earlier titles in the series.
- “The core gameplay of Requiem consists solely of solving various puzzles.”
- “The gameplay in 'Penumbra: Requiem' revolves around solving complex puzzles to progress through the game.”
- “The puzzles do mesh well with the gameplay, creating some intricate, multi-part puzzles.”
- “But the gameplay here is completely detached from the plot.”
- “The shift towards a more puzzle-centric gameplay style means less emphasis on the heart-pounding moments and atmospheric scares that defined its predecessors.”
- “Puzzles depend too much on cryptic mechanics, clunky physics, annoying platforming, and a lot of backtracking; it feels like a chore most of the time.”
atmosphere
74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
57%
5%
The atmosphere in "Penumbra: Requiem" is often described as dark, eerie, and immersive, effectively conveying a sense of loneliness and exploration within a surreal environment. However, many reviewers note that the shift from horror to puzzle-centric gameplay diminishes the tension and scares that characterized earlier installments, leading to a mixed reception regarding its atmospheric impact. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements and ambient soundtrack, others feel that the lack of logical connections between levels and the absence of threats undermine the overall experience.
- “The atmosphere remains impeccable; the loneliness, the distant echoes, the sense that you’re exploring a mind rather than a place.”
- “The graphics, while not groundbreaking, effectively convey the gloomy and oppressive atmosphere of the underground complex.”
- “From the atmosphere that breathed down my neck, tingling my spine and darkening my thoughts to the gameplay immersing me into the world, this game hits all the right notes.”
- “The atmosphere is a little bit ruined by the fact that the levels have no logical connection to each other and it all feels like a series of random puzzle levels.”
- “There is no tension, there is no atmosphere.”
- “The eerie atmosphere is gone the moment you realize there are no monsters.”
grinding
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is heavily criticized for its tedious and repetitive puzzles, which often lack clear guidance and can lead to frustrating trial-and-error experiences. While some puzzles are creatively designed, many players find them overly complicated and unenjoyable, contributing to a sense of boredom and a lack of thematic coherence. Overall, the game is described as a monotonous series of tasks that detracts from the overall experience.
- “While some puzzles are cleverly designed and offer a sense of accomplishment upon completion, others feel overly obtuse and frustrating, leading to moments of confusion and tedious trial-and-error.”
- “This is not a survival horror game; it is an endless series of tedious 'bring item A to location B' tasks that are more annoying than challenging.”
- “I was initially going to leave a positive recommendation for Penumbra: Requiem, but that changed about halfway through the game as I was met with tedious and laborious puzzles consisting of platforming and pressure plates, constant glitches with the physics engine, and long stretches of dull silence due to the limited dialogue.”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many noting that while they are dated, they effectively create a strong atmosphere that aligns with the game's themes. Some players appreciate the aesthetic and immersive environment, while others criticize the visuals as subpar and in need of a remaster. Overall, the graphics contribute to the experience but may not meet the expectations of those seeking modern standards.
- “The graphics, while not groundbreaking, effectively convey the gloomy and oppressive atmosphere of the underground complex.”
- “The atmosphere is still strong, the graphics and sound are on point for the series’ standards, and some of the more creative puzzles can be fun to solve at times.”
- “Old and dated graphics aside, the environment is extremely immersive, very well paced and very worthwhile challenge.”
- “Crap graphics and story is nothing.”
- “Visuals 4/10”
- “If anything, the graphics are a bit outdated and a remaster could make it really awesome.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The music in the game is characterized by drone ambient tracks that enhance the dark and mysterious atmosphere, effectively creating tension and unease in the claustrophobic environments. While some players appreciate the sound design and its contribution to the overall ambiance, others feel indifferent or critical, suggesting that the music does not significantly enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a mixed bag, with some finding it atmospheric while others believe it detracts from the game's enjoyment.
- “The rooms preserve their dark and mysterious atmosphere, which is accompanied by drone ambient music from the original soundtrack.”
- “The dimly lit, claustrophobic environments, combined with unsettling sound design and ambient music, effectively create a sense of tension and unease.”
- “I was warned it would be a pure puzzle game, but the soundtrack and atmosphere of the first two parts is still present in some way.”
- “The music was ambiance and set the tone, but I will tell you this: throughout all three games, I didn't care about the audio.”
- “And a needlessly creepy soundtrack accompanies you during tedious puzzle solving.”
- “The lighting is atmospheric, and there is an eerie soundtrack layered over the top, but all of this atmosphere-building is for naught if the player never feels under threat.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
90%
The stability of the game has been criticized for being inconsistent, with numerous users reporting glitches and bugs that detract from the overall experience. While some players noted that the physics are generally consistent, many encountered significant issues, particularly with the physics engine, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience. Overall, the game is described as having a mix of solid elements overshadowed by stability problems.
- “It's not buggy and the physics are consistent.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
- “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it never feels like it's going to fall apart.”
- “It's rather buggy, but the puzzles make you feel smart until you look up a guide on GameFAQs.”
- “This seems like a buggy joke, that they thought it was a cool idea to go from horror adventure puzzle to engine-based physics puzzles where the physics are so damn buggy to begin with.”
- “Fifth, the game is laggy and full of glitches and bugs.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it hilarious and reminiscent of Portal's style, others feel it falls flat, coming off as awkward or off-putting. Overall, the humor attempts to enhance the puzzle experience but may not resonate with all players.
- “There are no monsters, no horror, just puzzles and a bit of a story and funny narrations.”
- “That's hilarious.”
- “Requiem is a puzzle game, first and foremost, with a very Portal feel and a lot of the same kind of humor.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that while the game reaches an emotionally satisfying conclusion, it lacks the strong emotional and narrative drive that characterized earlier titles in the series. Players express a sense of emotional investment, but some caution against enduring the experience if it doesn't resonate with them. Overall, the emotional depth appears inconsistent, with some gameplay elements feeling disconnected from the narrative.
- “Still, the game does eventually come to an emotionally satisfying conclusion.”
- “I did because I was already emotionally invested, but don't put yourself through that if you don't have to.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviews indicate a mixed perception of replayability, with some users noting a lack of replay value, while others highlight the potential for infinite replayability. This suggests that the game's design may cater to different player preferences, offering both limited and extensive replay options depending on individual experiences.
- “The game offers infinite replayability, with each playthrough feeling fresh and engaging.”
- “I love how every decision I make leads to different outcomes, making me want to replay it over and over.”
- “The variety of characters and story paths ensures that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
- “No replay value.”
- “The game lacks any incentive to play again.”
- “Once you've completed it, there's nothing left to draw you back.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
50%
Overall, the game is well-optimized, providing a smooth experience for most players. However, users with NVIDIA GPUs may encounter a specific bug causing low frame rates, which can be resolved by disabling "threaded optimization."
- “Well optimized and it feels very smooth.”
- “If you have the 10 FPS issue while looking in a certain direction and own an NVIDIA GPU, disable 'Threaded Optimization' for your performance.”
- “If you have the 10 FPS while looking in a certain direction bug and own an NVIDIA GPU, disable 'Threaded Optimization' for your performance.”