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PROXIMATE

96%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
graphics, grinding
96% User Score Based on 408 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindowsLinuxLinuxMac OSMac OS
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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 408 reviews
story74 positive mentions
graphics3 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique premise that effectively combines horror with a compelling narrative, creating an immersive experience.
  • The writing is praised for its realism and relatability, with characters that feel genuine and evoke a range of emotions.
  • The sound design and atmosphere contribute significantly to the tension, enhancing the overall horror experience without relying on cheap jump scares.
  • Some players found the gameplay mechanics frustrating, particularly the navigation and control system, which can lead to confusion and disorientation.
  • The story may not resonate with everyone, as some felt it was bogged down by unnecessary dialogue or lacked depth in character development.
  • A few reviews mentioned that the game felt too short for its price, leaving players wanting more content and exploration.
  • story
    112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is a compelling blend of cosmic horror and personal narrative, delivered through engaging text logs and environmental storytelling that evoke a sense of dread and emotional depth. While many players appreciate its unique approach and poignant themes, some critique the limited character development and world-building. Overall, it is highly recommended for those who enjoy story-driven experiences, though it may not appeal to players who prefer action over narrative.

    • “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 gave 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.”
    • “I will note here that a lot of the negative reviews came from individuals whom the story and characters rubbed the wrong way.”
  • gameplay
    72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by a unique and innovative mechanic that enhances the horror experience, effectively utilizing sound design and storytelling to create an engaging atmosphere. While some players found the gameplay limited and simple, the short length of the game prevents the mechanics from becoming stale, and many appreciated the balance between gameplay and narrative. Overall, the game offers a captivating experience that combines minimalistic gameplay with thought-provoking themes and strong writing.

    • “The gameplay is innovative, the sound design is excellent, and the story is very enjoyable.”
    • “The story is really good and the gameplay is unique, thought-provoking, and generally amazing.”
    • “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
    68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is described as engaging, charming, and often darkly funny, effectively balancing moments of horror with relatable and witty writing. Players appreciate the clever use of gallows humor and running gags, which enhance the emotional depth of the narrative while keeping the experience entertaining. Overall, the humor is seen as a significant strength, adding a unique layer to the game's unsettling atmosphere.

    • “The writing is funny and sweet, and maybe a little on the nose, but certainly engaging.”
    • “Deeply disturbing, atmospheric, yet somehow just as funny.”
    • “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
    40 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 horror, and successfully builds tension despite limited gameplay mechanics. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience and making it worth exploring.

    • “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.”
  • emotional
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game elicits strong emotional responses from players, often described as gut-wrenching and deeply impactful, with many expressing a desire to cry due to its powerful storytelling and writing. Despite its short runtime of just an hour and a half, it effectively combines humor with heartfelt moments, creating a unique and engaging experience that resonates with players on a personal level. Overall, it is praised for its inventive approach and emotional depth, making it a must-play for those seeking a profound narrative experience.

    • “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
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics are intentionally simple, enhancing the immersive horror experience rather than detracting from it. While the visuals may appear minimalistic, they effectively contribute to a tense atmosphere, especially when paired with audio cues and limited navigation tools. Players recommend adjusting the resolution to 1080p for an optimal experience, but the core unsettling nature of the visuals remains intact.

    • “The visuals are very simple but within the context of the game immerse you perfectly.”
    • “Moving the window to a 2nd 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 like to have a taste of a kind of horror when 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
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

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

    • “A little tedious though.”

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