Perception

67%
Game Brain Score Based on 237 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
Perception Game Cover
Perception ticks all the boxes for this genre; it is utterly immersive, challenging, frightening, and truly riveting.
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"Perception is a single-player horror action game with a good plot, perfect gameplay, and stunning atmosphere. As a blind woman, Cassie uses sound to explore a haunted mansion and uncover its sordid history while evading a deadly entity. Features include echolocation sight, a hide-and-seek gameplay mechanic, and radical changes to the mansion's setting based on puzzle solutions. This emotional journey spans centuries and uplifts any underdog."

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 237 reviews
story58 positive mentions
stability5 negative mentions
  • Unique gameplay mechanics that allow players to experience the world through echolocation, providing a fresh perspective on horror.
  • Engaging story that unfolds through the exploration of the mansion, with interesting backstories for the characters.
  • Atmospheric sound design and voice acting that enhance the immersive experience, creating a sense of dread and tension.
  • The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 3-5 hours, which may not justify the price for some players.
  • The presence of the antagonist feels underwhelming and lacks consistent threat, diminishing the horror experience.
  • Some plot points are confusing or poorly explained, leading to a lack of emotional connection with the characters and their stories.
  • story214 mentions

    The story of the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it intriguing and well-crafted, particularly appreciating the unique perspective of a blind protagonist navigating a haunted mansion through echolocation. However, many reviews highlight significant issues such as plot holes, disjointed narratives, and a lack of coherence, leading to confusion and frustration. While some elements, like character development and atmosphere, are praised, the overall execution of the story leaves much to be desired, making it a polarizing aspect of the game.

    • “The story is captivating in a way that makes you want to figure out the cringe of what factual character was used.”
    • “The atmosphere and the story are unsettling, and some parts are disturbing, but in the end, it brings a satisfying conclusion.”
    • “Perception is a truly unique game, putting players into the shoes of a blind girl and using that as a means of storytelling and gameplay.”
    • “The story is a disjointed mess that confuses more than it holds your interest, and although the game mechanics are interesting, the gameplay is downright boring.”
    • “The story becomes more cliched and more irrational as you go forward.”
    • “With weak gameplay and weak story, the atmosphere of the game falls apart.”
  • gameplay155 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by its unique echolocation mechanic, allowing players to navigate as a blind character by tapping a cane to visualize the environment through sound. While this concept is intriguing and offers a fresh perspective, many players found the execution lacking, with repetitive mechanics, unclear objectives, and a reliance on standard horror tropes that detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a mix of interesting ideas and frustrating limitations, making it a polarizing aspect of the game.

    • “The player character is a blind woman and she uses echolocation to navigate through the world, which comes as a gameplay mechanic of allowing the player to tap her cane onto objects for a sonar-like effect.”
    • “The echolocating/cane-tapping mechanic is original and feels adequately refreshing in terms of gameplay.”
    • “Perception is a truly unique game, putting players into the shoes of a blind girl and using that as a means of storytelling and gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay can be very tedious due to unclear objectives and easily missable key items; frequently, you will just walk in circles trying to find what you are missing.”
    • “Overall, the gameplay mechanics are shallow, and it is basically a walking simulator with the occasional tap and simple puzzles.”
    • “While it has a really cool concept and unique style that draws you in early on, the gameplay doesn’t hold up long term.”
  • atmosphere39 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unsettling and immersive qualities, often described as creepy and effective in building tension through sound design and environmental storytelling. While many players appreciate the eerie ambiance and moments of genuine fear, some note that the experience can become repetitive or lack a sustained sense of threat. Overall, the game's atmosphere is a standout feature that enhances the horror experience, despite some mixed opinions on its execution.

    • “The atmosphere of this game is amazing, and I recommend it to anyone who likes a good horror game.”
    • “The ambient sounds are often genuinely creepy and the background music is of terrific quality, fitting the atmosphere of the game very well.”
    • “These elements along with the great design of the house and surroundings created an amazing atmosphere I loved to explore.”
    • “With weak gameplay and weak story, the atmosphere of the game falls apart.”
    • “Although there is a creepy atmosphere and a few things that send chills/goosebumps, the overall threat and fear is not there in the game.”
    • “The downside is that much of the creepy atmosphere results from you running around in the dark for fear of making too much noise.”
  • graphics32 mentions

    The graphics in the game are a mixed bag, with some players praising the stunning detail and unique representation of the echolocation mechanic, while others find the visuals bland and uninteresting due to the game's premise of navigating as a blind character. Overall, the art style effectively complements the gameplay, creating an immersive atmosphere, though it may not appeal to those seeking traditional graphical excellence. Despite some technical issues, many reviewers appreciate the artistic approach and atmospheric design.

    • “The graphic detailing is absolutely stunning.”
    • “I really love the concept; it has great voice acting, immersive graphics, and artwork. It's 9/10 from me, thank you!”
    • “Very appealing graphics style - the way that everything is lit up and revealed by sound looks neat, especially when the wind is blowing.”
    • “So do not expect a graphical marvel.”
    • “On the one hand, it has a bland and confusing story, and lackluster graphics.”
    • “As soon as you get over the first impression of Perception's graphics, the graphics will look bland and uninteresting for the rest of the game, which is unfortunate.”
  • music14 mentions

    The music in the game is characterized by a sparse yet impactful use of choral pieces and melancholic piano, enhancing the eerie atmosphere. While some players appreciate the quality of the soundtrack and its ability to create tension, others feel that the minimalistic approach may leave a desire for more ambient music. Overall, the sound design effectively contributes to the game's immersive experience, though opinions on its execution vary.

    • “The soundtrack, however, is one of [i]perception[/i]'s strong points.”
    • “The ambient sounds are often genuinely creepy and the background music is of terrific quality, fitting the atmosphere of the game very well.”
    • “There are a couple of full-fledged songs in the game, performed by a band called Dearest Pinky, a band I'd never heard of but whose style reminded me a bit of atmospheric metal by bands like Therion and After Forever.”
    • “With a lot of emphasis on the visual aspect, there is no noticeable accompanying background music playing except for oldie songs or audio recordings played through objects in the environment.”
    • “Even the soundtrack is terrible: just loud noises every once and again trying to cheaply jumpscare you.”
    • “There’s not much in the way of music - this might be due to design choice of really putting you in the shoes of the protagonist alone in the mansion, however some eerie music may be missed by some.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game has been reported to have significant stability issues, including game-breaking glitches that can lock players out of progressing, such as a door being inaccessible due to a triggered event. While some players find enjoyment despite these bugs, the overall experience is marred by frequent and frustrating technical problems.

    • “One example that really sticks out to me is a time when the Delphi glitched out.”
    • “To plot-halting glitches where the door to the next area (Chapter 2) was locked because I turned on a speaker.”
    • “The game is still filled with bugs and glitches.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to major performance problems even on systems that exceed the minimum specifications. Despite an intriguing concept and a well-developed protagonist, players find the experience hindered by these technical shortcomings.

    • “A strong character - in personality and performance - by someone who's just as confused by the situation.”
    • “Major performance issues despite much better specs than the minimum.”
    • “The game concept was very interesting, but sadly it is so poorly optimized that I was unable to play it properly.”
    • “They go through all the trouble of setting up this interesting protagonist with a special ability perfectly suited to this sort of game, and then she winds up playing second fiddle in her own performance.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to unclear objectives and easily missable items, leading to repetitive exploration. The lack of convenient features, such as saving on exit and the ability to listen to phone calls while moving, further exacerbates the frustration, making the experience feel more laborious than engaging.

    • “The concept is really interesting and the game is scary; however, the gameplay can be very tedious due to unclear objectives and easily missable key items. Frequently, you will just walk in circles trying to find what you are missing.”
    • “If you are going for the achievements, good luck, as at least one of these seems very tedious.”
    • “Couple the above issues with no 'save on exit' and 'no listening to phone while walking,' and I found myself with a game that's tedious rather than spooky.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, with some users expressing doubts about its value for multiple playthroughs. However, the presence of achievements offers a slight incentive for replaying the game.

    • “It is a much shorter game, and I'm not too sure about the replay value.”
    • “No replay value whatsoever.”
    • “With all the achievements, it has some replay value too.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a touching story that culminates in a satisfying revelation, despite the absence of alternate endings. Players resonate with the heartfelt narrative, particularly the poignant struggles of characters like Betty, and appreciate the depth added through item interactions that enrich the setting's history.

    • “It was heartbreaking to hear Betty try to join the war effort only to have letter after letter telling her to calm her pretty head and join a bake sale instead.”
    • “Another big bright move for me was the story ending on a touching revelation; though it had no alternate ending, I was very satisfied when finishing Perception.”
    • “[Heartfelt story of soul-searching; exposition through item interaction adds color to the setting's history.]”
  • character development3 mentions

    The game features a multi-faceted approach to character development, with an emphasis on organic storytelling that enhances the narrative. However, some reviewers note a lack of depth in the overall narrative, suggesting that while the performances are commendable for an indie title, the character arcs could benefit from more substantial development.

    • “It's seldom that I meet a game that is so multi-faceted in character development and storyline.”
    • “If you're doing it right, any such message ought to emerge organically from the character development and flow of events.”
    • “There isn't really a worthy narrative with lots of character development for the actors to draw from, but they deliver the lines professionally and well above par for an indie game like this.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, which detracted from the overall experience.”
    • “There is little to no growth in the characters throughout the game, leaving them feeling static and uninteresting.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is effectively woven into the narrative, complementing its emotional depth and enhancing the overall experience by balancing moments of fear and compassion with comedic elements.

    • “The story is excellent and strikes emotion in the player, combining scares, humor, and compassion.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

62% average critic score

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
3-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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