Rise of Insanity

Rise of Insanity is a complete mess of a horror game that shows little care to its genre, its players, and those who suffer from a mental illness.

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"Rise of Insanity" is a psychological horror game that takes players on a journey through the mind of a disturbed psychiatrist. The game is set in the 1970s and features a gripping storyline, unsettling atmospheres, and various puzzles to solve. Players must uncover the dark truth behind the psychiatrist's experiments while avoiding grotesque creatures and other obstacles.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

56%

Audience ScoreBased on 282 reviews

story70 positive mentions

stability6 negative mentions

The game features a captivating atmosphere with good graphics and sound design, enhancing the horror experience.
The story, while somewhat predictable, is engaging and keeps players interested throughout the short playtime.
There are effective jump scares that contribute to the overall tension without relying too heavily on them.

The game is very short, lasting around 1.5 to 2 hours, which may not justify the price for some players.
The gameplay can feel repetitive, with simple puzzles and a lack of meaningful interaction.
There are numerous technical issues, including bugs, poor optimization, and awkward controls that detract from the experience.

story
176 mentions
40 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game's story receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its intriguing and emotional narrative, while others criticize it for being predictable and clichéd. Many found the storytelling to be engaging, despite issues with execution and pacing, and noted that the reliance on jump scares detracted from the overall experience. Overall, while the story has potential and some compelling elements, it often falls short of originality and depth, leaving players divided on its effectiveness.
- “Great story that is both horrific and sad, and lots of good jumpscares.”
- “Creepy and horrifying, amazing story with lots of suspense and twists :) I enjoyed every minute of it.”
- “The story is great with insane twists.”
- “The story is just not interesting and the horror is based on the occasional jumpscare and insanity effect that fails to create any sense of real dread or fear.”
- “Unfortunately, we've all seen and played through this story many times by now, and I found very little surprise or gripping narrative to keep me invested.”
- “Puzzles are uninspiring, the story is dull as well as predictable, the jump scares are a cheap attempt at inciting an emotional response and the whole thing is fueled by unimaginative game design.”
graphics
56 mentions
66 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the visuals are generally pleasing and atmospheric, they often fall short of high standards, especially for an indie title. Some players appreciate the detailed environments and strong atmosphere, while others criticize the inconsistency and occasional blurriness. Overall, the graphics are considered good but not exceptional, with room for improvement in optimization and detail.
- “The graphics are detailed, dark, and atmospheric with strong sound supporting the package.”
- “It's a very good walking simulator game, the visuals look great and the story is well told.”
- “Amazing game with amazing graphics.”
- “Mediocre graphics.”
- “The graphics are uneven.”
- “Most of the game looks fine, but then there are these dream states where the graphics are degraded to look like PS1 era level graphics.”
atmosphere
56 mentions
61 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its creepy and immersive qualities, enhanced by strong sound design and visually appealing graphics. Many reviewers appreciate the balance between atmospheric tension and jump scares, noting that the game effectively builds suspense without relying solely on cheap tactics. However, some players feel that certain areas lack depth and variety, which slightly detracts from the overall experience.
- “The soundtrack is fantastic and the overall atmosphere is very well done.”
- “The atmosphere has a nice creepy feel to it, the sound effects are solid (wear headphones) and the storyline, while not the most original, is interesting enough to keep you motivated.”
- “Firstly, the atmosphere in this game is absolutely stunning.”
- “Nonsensical story, bland atmosphere, mindlessly easy puzzles, far less than 2 hours long, no real horror except cheap jump scares.”
- “I feel like there is still something missing to the atmosphere, but overall very well made.”
- “Looks very nice in general, lacks a bit of atmosphere.”
gameplay
45 mentions
16 % positive mentions
78 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily characterized as simplistic and repetitive, often likened to an interactive walking simulator with minimal mechanics and basic puzzles. While some players appreciate the storytelling and atmospheric elements, many criticize the lack of depth and engagement, noting that the game feels more like an art project than a fully realized experience. Overall, it offers a short playtime with limited gameplay variety, making it less appealing for those seeking substantial interaction or challenge.
- “Graphics are fantastic, gameplay is amazing, and they don't rely on strict jump scares to cause you discomfort.”
- “Great story, great gameplay, a bit laggy at times but I can definitely forgive that when the game is this good.”
- “Many interesting ideas, gameplay is a cross between a scarier Gone Home and Layers of Fear.”
- “Not a lot of gameplay mechanics (only a few very basic puzzles), it's more of an interactive walking simulator.”
- “Gameplay is very repetitive, but I liked the storytelling.”
- “There isn't a whole lot of gameplay to be had here.”
music
21 mentions
76 % positive mentions
10 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising the soundtrack as excellent and atmospheric, effectively enhancing the overall experience. While some noted a lack of music during gameplay, the final part features standout tracks that contribute significantly to the game's ambiance. Overall, the sound design, including music and sound effects, is considered a highlight, adding depth to the storytelling and tension.
- “The soundtrack is fantastic and the overall atmosphere is very well done.”
- “The music is awesome, the creepy factor of the atmosphere is on point, and overall I just really enjoyed it.”
- “The music and ambience of the game is perfect, the lighting is great and although it is trackpad movement it was a pleasure to explore the locations in great detail.”
- “The price is too high as the duration of the game is around 2 hours and the soundtrack is non-existent except for the final part.”
- “The music, sound design, and visuals are quite nice, but the voice acting is definitely not a highlight.”
- “Lots of jump-scares though, which I guess were effective because it does a good job of building suspense with the atmosphere and music.”
optimization
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is inconsistent, with some players experiencing smooth performance and decent graphics, while others report issues such as stuttering and blurriness, particularly on VR platforms. Overall, it appears that the game suffers from poor optimization, likely exacerbated by its use of the Unity engine.
- “And runs smoothly so far.”
- “I had no problems with performance, and the textures and lighting are actually pretty decent.”
- “The graphics are nice but need to be optimized for the Vive because they are pretty blurry.”
- “It is not optimized; the story is poorly written, and the level design is just a bunch of different scenes and jump scares thrown together.”
- “I’m not surprised as the game uses the Unity engine, and in my experience, a lot of games have weird issues with drops in performance.”
- “It's just a poorly optimized, janky piece of junk.”
stability
8 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report smooth gameplay with minimal glitches, others have encountered various technical issues, including odd object interactions and achievement-related bugs. The Linux version appears to perform well on higher-end systems, but the Steam version has been noted for its glitches. Despite these issues, many players still find the game enjoyable and worth playing.
- “Smooth gameplay - no glitches”
- “The Linux version runs great on my RTX 2060 with maxed out settings.”
- “The Steam version, though, seems to have some weird glitches that I experienced.”
- “Other glitches that happened involved the achievements.”
- “Encountered a few glitches where object borders were further out than they should be.”
emotional
4 mentions
75 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game received mixed reviews; while some players appreciated the well-crafted emotional story and effective jump scares, others found the narrative dull and predictable, criticizing the reliance on cheap scares and uninspired puzzles. Overall, the emotional impact varied significantly among players, with some feeling engaged and others left disappointed.
- “I enjoyed it; some jump scares actually spooked me, and a very emotional story was laid out so well.”
- “The story is boring and relies on cheap jump scares, which detracts from any emotional impact.”
- “The localization is quite awful, making it hard to connect with the characters and their emotions.”
- “There are a few bugs that disrupt the experience, further diminishing any emotional engagement.”
humor
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is primarily derived from its "hilariously bad" voice acting and poor writing, which often results in unintentionally comedic moments. Players find the contrast between the game's serious elements and its awkward delivery amusing, enhancing the overall experience.
- “The hilariously bad voice acting adds a unique charm to the game.”
- “Even though the actors themselves are passable, the scenes with voice acting are often more funny than anything else because of the bad writing.”
- “I found it funny because I first played this game right after a 3-hour long session of another game, so I could compare it with fresh memory.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the game's monetization approach, noting that it reflects genuine effort and care rather than being a mere cash grab or quick asset flip.
replayability
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game offers solid replayability, providing players with over an hour of engaging content through its walking sim mechanics, object discovery, and narrative elements. With a compelling story, good voice acting, and atmospheric sound design, players may find value in revisiting the experience, especially during sales.
- “This game offers a solid hour or more of gameplay, but its true strength lies in its replay value. With a captivating story, engaging voice acting, and a variety of objects to find, each playthrough feels fresh and rewarding.”
- “As a walking simulator with light adventure elements, this game encourages exploration and discovery, making it enjoyable to revisit. The combination of good graphics, sound, and music enhances the experience, ensuring that players will want to dive back in.”
- “Despite being released in 2018, the game still holds up well and provides a unique experience with each playthrough. The inclusion of jump scares and varied sound effects adds to the excitement, making it a title worth replaying.”
- “The game is enjoyable, but after completing it once, there's little incentive to replay it. The lack of varied outcomes or branching paths makes it feel more like a one-time experience.”
- “While the story and graphics are impressive, the replayability is severely lacking. Once you've seen everything, there's not much left to draw you back in.”
- “I found the game to be a great experience, but once I finished it, I had no desire to play through it again. The linear nature of the gameplay really limits its replay value.”
grinding
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly criticizing the controls in the walking simulator, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and monotonous, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I found myself repeating the same tasks over and over, which quickly became frustrating.”
- “The amount of time required to level up is excessive, turning the game into a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.”
character development
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Character development is minimal, with little to no narrative progression beyond clues found in documents, leaving players with unanswered questions, such as the significance of the rubber ducks.
- “There wasn't really anything of a story or character development besides the clues left behind in the documents you collect.”
- “The character development feels shallow and unengaging, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
- “I expected more depth in the characters, but they all felt one-dimensional and lacked meaningful growth.”