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PROXIMATE

96%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
graphics, grinding
96% User Score Based on 204 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindowsLinuxLinuxMac OSMac OS
Buy Nowfrom $5.99
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About

the optimist says it’s half human the pessimist says it’s half monster and the project manager says, “when can we ship it?” PROXIMATE is a dread-driven narrative game where you investigate a deep sea laboratory and piece together the events that lead to the research team’s demise. You'll be required to wear an image recognition visor that only tells you the bare minimum informati…

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
PROXIMATE screenshot

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 204 reviews
story37 positive mentions
graphics3 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique premise that effectively combines horror with a compelling narrative, utilizing a visor mechanic that enhances the sense of dread and immersion.
  • The writing is exceptional, with relatable characters and a mix of humor and emotional depth that resonates with players, making the experience both engaging and memorable.
  • The sound design and atmosphere are top-notch, creating a tense environment that keeps players on edge throughout the short playtime.
  • Some players found the gameplay mechanics frustrating, particularly the navigation and control system, which can lead to confusion and hinder the overall experience.
  • The game is relatively short, which some reviewers felt left them wanting more in terms of story and character development, leading to a sense of abruptness.
  • Certain aspects of the writing and character interactions may not resonate with all players, as some found the humor and dialogue to be overly niche or unrelatable.
  • story
    56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is a compelling blend of cosmic horror and personal narrative, effectively creating a sense of dread while engaging players through unique storytelling methods, primarily via text logs and environmental descriptions. While many players found the writing poignant and immersive, some expressed a desire for deeper character development and world-building. Overall, the narrative is praised for its emotional depth and relevance, making it a standout feature for those who appreciate story-driven experiences.

    • “The story is poignant, the gameplay is unique & engaging, and the delivery is flawless.”
    • “A wonderful story that carries a looming sense of dread as you explore the abandoned labs.”
    • “The execution of storytelling via text was superbly done: you trudge seemingly blindly through a strange territory and your surroundings gradually start to make sense as you piece together the narrative.”
    • “I just wish the story expanded more on the other characters, and especially give more attention to the overall world-building, in which the game certainly scratched an itch even with the very little information written in a span of a few entries.”
    • “The story was definitely not my favorite.”
    • “If you usually skip the story, smash past text or dialogue, or don't like reading in general, you will not have fun playing this game.”
  • gameplay
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by its unique and innovative mechanics, particularly the use of a visor that enhances the horror experience and storytelling. While some players found the gameplay limited and simple, the overall execution, sound design, and integration with the narrative were praised, creating an engaging atmosphere. The game is short enough that the mechanics remain fresh, making it a compelling experience for those who appreciate creative gameplay in a story-driven context.

    • “The gameplay is innovative, the sound design is excellent, and the story is very enjoyable.”
    • “The story is poignant, the gameplay is unique and engaging, and the delivery is flawless.”
    • “The main mechanic is very creative and does wonders for letting your imagination go wild in scary ways for a horror game.”
    • “Not scary, not creepy, insufferable characters (on purpose), clunky gameplay.”
    • “What happens in the first two minutes is basically as far as the game goes with exploring the AI visor mechanic.”
    • “Go in knowing that it's closer to a visual novel than a puzzle game - the majority of the gameplay centers around your ability to navigate in the dark, but there's no point-and-click inventory or logic puzzles.”
  • humor
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is described as engaging, charming, and often darkly comedic, effectively balancing moments of horror with relatable and witty writing. Players appreciate the clever use of humor that enhances the emotional depth of the narrative, making it both funny and unsettling. Overall, the game's humor resonates well with players, providing memorable quotes and relatable experiences that contribute to its unique atmosphere.

    • “The writing is funny and sweet and maybe a little on the nose but certainly engaging.”
    • “The writing is very charming and it feels realistic even in a sci-fi setting with tongue-in-cheek humor.”
    • “Humor is hard to nail in video games, but Proximate had me chuckling on multiple occasions, with the work text logs feeling all too relatable and real.”
  • atmosphere
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and oppressive qualities, effectively created through sound design and well-crafted writing. Reviewers note that it maintains a deeply unsettling tone throughout, blending humor with tension, and successfully cultivates a sense of place despite limited visuals. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience and engagement with the game.

    • “The atmosphere of the game was outstanding; the devil was most definitely in the details.”
    • “This game's atmosphere is incredible; the dev has a real talent for cultivating an immersive sense of place just from a few sound effects and onscreen text.”
    • “No jump scares, but it has a very uneasy atmosphere the entire way through.”
    • “I must also mention the sound design which in my opinion really sells the oppressive atmosphere of the experience.”
    • “Sound plays a very important role too, similar to text in the sense that it creates an atmosphere that helps paint the picture and it's full of sound cues that serve as landmarks too.”
  • emotional
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players consistently highlight the game's emotional impact, describing it as gut-wrenching and capable of evoking tears within a short playtime. The writing is praised for its powerful lines that resonate deeply, blending humor with heartfelt moments, and creating a unique, engaging narrative experience. Overall, the game is recognized for its ability to elicit strong emotional responses while maintaining an inventive and captivating story.

    • “The writing captured my imagination, and there were a few extra powerful lines in there that really made me feel some things.”
    • “It somehow made me cry in its short run time of just an hour and a half!”
    • “Deeply weird but equally heartfelt, more people should play this.”
  • graphics
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics are intentionally minimalistic, enhancing the game's immersive horror experience rather than detracting from it. While simple visuals may initially seem limiting, they effectively contribute to a tense atmosphere, especially when paired with audio cues and navigation challenges. Players are encouraged to adjust their display settings for optimal clarity, which further supports the unsettling tone of the game.

    • “The visuals are very simple, but within the context of the game, they immerse you perfectly.”
    • “Moving the window to a second monitor that runs at 1080p, or forcing your monitor's resolution to 1080p, fixes this issue, and the visuals, simple as they are, do not suffer for it.”
    • “A grisly sci-fi horror short with implications as bleak and dark as its visuals.”
    • “Deeply unsettling - the lack of visuals combined with audio cues, your own lack of trust in the visor's ability to identify things, and blind navigation make this game constantly tense and eerie over its relatively short run.”
    • “But I would recommend it if you want to experience a kind of horror where the only visuals you're granted are words (and not in the usual text-based adventure format!), with nothing but a map and a compass to work with.”
  • grinding
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, suggesting that it may become repetitive or monotonous over time.

    • “It's a bit tedious, though.”
    • “The grinding feels repetitive and uninspired.”
    • “I found the grinding to be excessively time-consuming and not rewarding.”

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