Sanguine Sanctum

About

"Sanguine Sanctum" is a dark, atmospheric horror game where players must navigate a labyrinthine castle while avoiding deadly traps and solving puzzles. The game features a unique sanity mechanic that affects the player's vision and perception, adding an extra layer of tension and fear. With multiple endings and a rich, immersive story, "Sanguine Sanctum" offers a challenging and thrilling horror experience. Reference: steamid: 892780

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 100 reviews

atmosphere10 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features a captivating and unsettling atmosphere, enhanced by dynamic visual effects and a distinct art direction reminiscent of early PS1 games.
Players appreciate the immersive sound design and the overall aesthetic, which creates a unique and memorable experience.
The exploration of bizarre worlds and the psychological horror elements provide a fun and strange gameplay experience.

The game can be confusing and lacks clear direction, leading to frustration for some players who are unsure of what to do.
While the PS1 aesthetics are nostalgic, some feel the execution is lazy and lacks depth, making it feel more like a free title than a polished commercial product.
The game is relatively short, which may leave players wanting more and feeling that it doesn't offer enough content for its price.

atmosphere
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
46%
13%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its surreal, unsettling quality reminiscent of early PS1 aesthetics, effectively drawing players into its creepy, immersive environments. Dynamic visual effects and a dark ambient soundscape enhance the experience, making exploration both enjoyable and unnerving. While nostalgia for retro graphics may enhance appreciation, the game's atmospheric design is compelling enough to engage a broad audience.
- “A surreal game that resembles the wonderful aesthetics of early PS1 games; it is viscerally enjoyable and shows Modus' level of experience in creating atmospheric environments that call out to be explored.”
- “The game features an impressively crafted, unsettling atmosphere enhanced by dynamic visual effects, including shifting textures and fluid movements throughout the environment.”
- “In general, Sanguine Sanctum is a relatively simple game where you walk around bizarre locations, sometimes solving very basic puzzles, but mostly just enjoying the creepy, uneasy, and often horror-filled atmosphere.”
- “In general, Sanguine Sanctum is a relatively simple game where you walk around bizarre locations, sometimes solving very basic puzzles, but mostly just enjoying the creepy, uneasy, and often delving into horror atmosphere.”
- “I think it really nailed the ambient atmosphere of those games, but you definitely need a little bit of nostalgia to fully appreciate it.”
- “However, there is something very infectious about the atmosphere which managed to keep my interest.”
graphics
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
46%
13%
The graphics of the game are heavily inspired by early PlayStation 1 aesthetics, creating a surreal and atmospheric experience that many players find enjoyable and immersive. While some critiques mention a sense of laziness in the execution, the overall visual style effectively complements the game's exploration and horror elements. Fans of retro graphics and dark ambient atmospheres are likely to appreciate the game's distinct visual approach.
- “A surreal game that resembles the wonderful aesthetics of early PS1 games; it is viscerally enjoyable and shows Modus' level of experience in creating atmospheric environments that call out to be explored.”
- “The graphical nature of the game works in the game's favor, and I was sucked into the atmosphere when playing with my headphones on.”
- “If you like old graphics, dark ambient atmosphere, and exploration, then you should buy this game.”
- “I love the PS1 aesthetics, but this one seems just lazy.”
- “Sanguine Sanctum is a new (and first commercial) project by Modus Interactive, a developer focused on creating short surreal minimalist exploration titles with a very distinct approach to visuals, rather effectively emulating the looks of a PlayStation 1 game.”
- “Even if you're a bit tired of PS1-aesthetics walking sim horror kind of games, I really recommend playing through this one if you're into this kind of experience at all.”
story
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game lacks a substantial storyline, with players noting that it primarily involves navigating through four portals to complete simple tasks rather than engaging in a narrative. The gameplay can be completed in about two hours, but there is little depth or story development to enhance the experience.
- “If you're looking for a story, well, this game simply doesn't really have one.”
- “This game has no storyline: just go to the 4 portals to find the offering and bring it to the pit (middle), then go back again to the 4 portals to find the keys which are hidden.”
- “I was able to finish the story in about 2 hours, although I did not find all of the hidden achievements.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The music in the game is consistently praised as being good, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- “The music in this game is fantastic!”
- “The soundtrack is incredibly well-composed and enhances the overall experience.”
- “I love how the music sets the mood and immerses you in the game world.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay offers approximately one hour of content for $5, primarily catering to players who excel at quickly figuring out objectives.
- “If you're very good at figuring out what to do, you can enjoy about an hour of gameplay for just $5.”
- “If you are very good at figuring out what to do, you will have about an hour of gameplay for $5.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game is noted for its relatively linear experience, which limits its replayability compared to more open-ended titles like the dream emulator. Players may find fewer incentives to revisit the game after completing it.
- “Compared to the dream emulator, it is a relatively linear experience, so it won't provide a lot of replay value.”