PROXIMATE

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

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 29 reviews

story5 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features excellent writing and storytelling, with relatable character interactions and emotional depth.
Unique gameplay mechanics and sound design create a tense and immersive atmosphere, enhancing the horror experience.
The blend of humor and horror, along with a compelling narrative, makes for an engaging and memorable short game.

Some players found the controls and UI disorienting, which could detract from the overall experience.
Certain gameplay elements, like the bioprinter, can be confusing and may require additional guidance to navigate effectively.
While the game is praised for its brevity, some players wished for a deeper exploration of horror elements.

story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
The game's story is highly praised for its engaging narrative about humanity's destruction due to greed, complemented by heartfelt storytelling and excellent writing. While the gameplay is unique and enjoyable, it is the compelling story that truly captivates players, making it a recommended experience for those who appreciate strong narratives in games.
- “Excellent puzzle game with an interesting story about the destruction of humanity through greed (a tale as old as time).”
- “While the gameplay concept is unique and fun to work out on its own, the story is why you're here, and it's good.”
- “It blends super inventive and unique traversal with stellar writing and genuinely heartfelt storytelling.”
- “The storytelling was reminiscent of Tacoma.”
- “The core gameplay loop is a bit like stumbling around in an unlit room, but you'll pretty quickly learn the layout of the rooms as you traverse them, which turns out to be very handy as the story unfolds.”
- “I wasn't sure about it at first, but the unique UI/movement did grow on me after a while (though I really do wish you kept the map!) so I'd still recommend it, if only because of how interesting it is (but I did also like the story!)”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The gameplay is characterized by a unique concept that combines engaging mechanics with a strong narrative, creating an entertaining pacing reminiscent of old-school games. Players navigate through environments that initially feel disorienting but become familiar as the story progresses, enhancing the overall experience. The clever integration of gameplay and writing keeps players invested, balancing humor and horror effectively.
- “The way the pacing is dictated through the gameplay is entertaining and a bit old school.”
- “The core gameplay loop is a bit like stumbling around in an unlit room, but you'll pretty quickly learn the layout of the rooms as you traverse them, which turns out to be very handy as the story unfolds.”
- “Great writing and an interesting gameplay idea.”
- “The core gameplay loop is a bit like stumbling around in an unlit room, but you'll quickly learn the layout of the rooms as you traverse them, which turns out to be very handy as the story unfolds.”
- “Many works try to awkwardly, spinelessly make this link, but in this case, it's a foregone conclusion which lets you get to the real meat of it, and its mechanics cleverly keep you engaged as the excellent, confident writing deftly goes from hilarious to haunting.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Proximate" is both clever and engaging, seamlessly blending heartfelt moments with a creepy atmosphere. Players appreciate the relatable text logs and the confident writing that transitions from hilarious to haunting, resulting in a game that successfully balances humor with its deeper themes. Overall, it is described as very enjoyable and often funny.
- “Humor is hard to nail in video games, but Proximate had me chuckling on multiple occasions, with the text logs feeling all too relatable and real.”
- “Many works try to awkwardly, spinelessly make this link, but in Proximate it's a foregone conclusion which lets you get to the real meat (ha ha) of it, and its mechanics cleverly keep you engaged as the excellent, confident writing deftly goes from hilarious to haunting.”
- “Very enjoyable, sometimes very funny.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of humor and heartfelt moments, creating a unique atmosphere that is both claustrophobic and creepy. Players appreciate the inventive traversal mechanics alongside stellar writing that contributes to genuinely touching storytelling.
- “It's humorous and heartfelt while also being claustrophobic and creepy.”
- “It blends super inventive and unique traversal with stellar writing and genuinely heartfelt storytelling.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
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, to be honest.”
- “The grinding feels repetitive and uninspired.”
- “I found the grinding to be excessively time-consuming.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find that uncovering the game's background information gradually enhances the overall atmosphere, suggesting that experiencing the game without prior knowledge can lead to a more immersive experience.
- “I saw some dev updates, so I didn't go in completely blind, but I think that's what I would recommend. I didn't read the store page until writing this, and discovering the background information over time really added to the atmosphere!”
- “The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're truly part of the world.”
- “Every sound and visual detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”