Sanitarium

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"Sanitarium" is a horrifying single-player role-playing game with intriguing puzzles and a gripping story, set in a creepy asylum. With good graphics, a stellar soundtrack, and a delightful atmosphere, players will question their own sanity in this immersive and captivating adventure. Despite some grinding, the game offers plenty of humor and a wholesome story for both beginners and puzzle-solving experts.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 531 reviews

story167 positive mentions

grinding9 negative mentions

Engaging and twisted storyline that keeps players intrigued throughout the game.
Unique and surreal environments that create a haunting atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience.
Challenging puzzles that require thoughtful exploration and problem-solving, adding depth to the gameplay.

Clunky controls and slow character movement can be frustrating, especially during navigation and action sequences.
Some puzzles can feel obscure or illogical, leading to potential frustration without a walkthrough.
Voice acting quality varies, with some performances being subpar, which can detract from the immersive experience.

story
352 mentions
47 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story of the game is widely praised for its engaging and intricate narrative, often described as surreal, psychological, and deeply immersive. While some players found the plot to be convoluted or predictable at times, many appreciated its ability to evoke strong emotions and provoke thought, with a mix of horror and dark humor. Despite criticisms regarding outdated graphics and frustrating controls, the compelling storytelling and unique atmosphere make it a standout experience in the point-and-click genre.
- “The story is very engaging and the plot is so cool.”
- “The story line is insane, and half of it takes a while to make sense of, but that's part of why I love it.”
- “Sanitarium perfectly combines horror, humor, and disgust to make a compelling story that sticks with you.”
- “The story is confusing and uninteresting.”
- “The overall story was a letdown and the ending felt unsatisfying.”
- “From there on in, the puzzles are no longer challenging, some solutions even seem random, and the story becomes a race to finish before giving up in disappointment.”
graphics
116 mentions
30 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game, while undeniably dated due to its 1998 release, are often described as charming and atmospheric, contributing to the overall eerie experience. Many players appreciate the unique art style and detail, which evoke nostalgia and enhance the storytelling, despite some clunky animations and low resolution. Overall, the visuals are seen as a significant part of the game's identity, appealing to those who can overlook modern graphical standards for a compelling narrative and atmosphere.
- “The graphics and voice acting have a nice charm to them and many moments of unintentional hilarity, and the overall atmosphere is bizarre and pretty unique.”
- “If you like spooky psychological horror visuals without the actual scary jump scares, this has oodles of creativity and great visuals.”
- “The visuals are often unsettling and creepy, and not just because the graphics are so old, though somehow that seems to help make the unsettling parts more horrific rather than less.”
- “There are no updated graphics, no updated cut scenes, nothing.”
- “The graphics are definitely nothing to write home about.”
- “Horrible graphics and clunky, unchangeable controls remind us that this game has not stood the test of time.”
atmosphere
103 mentions
66 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique, unsettling, and immersive qualities, often described as eerie, bizarre, and dreamlike. Players appreciate the combination of compelling storytelling, haunting music, and creative environments that enhance the overall experience, despite some noting the dated graphics and clunky controls. The game successfully creates a sense of isolation and psychological horror, making it a standout in the point-and-click adventure genre.
- “The atmosphere created is one-of-a-kind, eerie, and intriguing, but not so indulgent in the grotesque that one has to spend every second in anticipation of another shock.”
- “The game has mysterious and unsettling atmosphere which just adds to immersion.”
- “Absolutely incredible atmosphere and storytelling.”
- “Each one of Max's hallucinations is its own story that takes you to a weird and disturbing world with a cold, unforgiving atmosphere.”
- “The game has a mysterious and unsettling atmosphere which just adds to immersion.”
- “But this game is genuinely disturbing, constructing an atmosphere successfully with obviously dated graphics and, of course, the power of storytelling.”
music
62 mentions
52 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and haunting qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience of horror and mystery. While some players find the sound chaotic or overwhelming at times, many appreciate how the soundtrack complements the game's unsettling narrative and environments. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's immersive and eerie atmosphere.
- “The soundtrack is wonderfully atmospheric, especially in chapters 2 and 4.”
- “The music is atmospheric and variously maddening, creepy, beautiful, and haunting.”
- “The music and sound effects are equally captivating, and they really help to submerge the gamer into the realm of the title.”
- “The sounds and music are a bit chaotic sometimes, and the controls are a bit clunky, but I didn't encounter any bugs like some of the others.”
- “Sound can be aggressive for your ears, and some music is quite unnerving; tweak this in the menu.”
- “Because the game tries to make you feel a sense of madness, there's a lot of loud music that wraps itself around your brain and numbs your eardrums...”
gameplay
46 mentions
20 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by clunky mechanics and frustrating navigation, particularly with movement controls that can lead to accidental actions, such as walking down stairs unintentionally. While the puzzles can be hit or miss and may require backtracking, many players find the engaging story and atmospheric presentation to be worth the effort, despite the dated gameplay experience. Overall, it offers a nostalgic point-and-click adventure that captivates with its narrative, even if the mechanics feel outdated and occasionally tedious.
- “The story is terrific, gameplay is excellent (except for the last few levels).”
- “Great puzzles, clever psychological horror, creepy themes, and fun gameplay.”
- “At first I struggled to get into this game, but after a few chapters I got used to the gameplay and began to really enjoy the puzzles.”
- “There are also some 'fighting' and 'navigation?' mechanics that are very hit and miss.”
- “The gameplay itself is pretty clunky as most old adventure games are... you'll probably need a walkthrough, but it's worth uncovering the horrors of this nightmare just for the visuals and presentation alone!”
- “The archaic, somehow inexplicably byzantine interface makes it painfully evident how much video games of this genre have evolved in the last two decades... and the decision to make some crucial gameplay sequences depend on the most frustrating movement controls I have ever seen left me baffled and perplexed.”
humor
18 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a unique blend of dark and quirky, often juxtaposed with its creepy atmosphere and horror elements. Players appreciate the clever integration of funny moments within the narrative, which enhances the overall experience without detracting from the emotional weight of the story. The game effectively combines humor with unsettling themes, creating a compelling and memorable experience.
- “It's got both a chilling edge and a sense of humor at points, and I do love the pre-rendered art a lot.”
- “Sanitarium perfectly combines horror, humor, and disgust to make a compelling story that sticks with you.”
- “Building entire psychotic worlds over the depressing backdrop, Sanitarium manages to tap into the grotesque, eccentric, and sometimes funny subconscious of its protagonist, Max, without losing focus of the meta narrative.”
grinding
9 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and chore-like, often exacerbated by slow movement and excessive backtracking. While the story remains engaging, the drawn-out nature of certain chapters and the requirement to interact with numerous characters can lead to frustration and a sense of monotony. Overall, the gameplay mechanics detract from the experience, making it feel laborious at times.
- “It feels tedious and like a chore.”
- “Requiring to talk to every single character and going through the dialog was very tedious, and the need to walk slowly all over the place made it even more so.”
- “Without Tales of Monkey Island’s keyboard alternative, the gameplay becomes extremely tedious after several hours; the frustration is exacerbated by the vast amount of walking back and forth done in some chapters, resulting in walking up and down the same flight of stairs multiple times before you can convince your character to walk past it, not to mention the poor placement of NPCs who unintentionally block potential shortcuts.”
emotional
9 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game effectively combines horror with an emotionally resonant narrative, often evoking strong feelings and connections to its characters, leading some players to tears. While it features heartfelt moments addressing themes like mental illness and loss, certain puzzles detract from the overall emotional impact, leaving parts of the story feeling simplistic. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a point-and-click adventure that offers both depth and emotional engagement.
- “It's a game I'd recommend for someone looking for a point-and-click horror; it does a good job being both creepy and emotionally poignant with its story.”
- “Also, a heart-touching story that may bring tears to your eyes!”
- “My heart ached; I deeply connected and feared for the fate of the characters. To be honest, in some more emotional moments, I was on the verge of tears.”
stability
7 mentions
29 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
71 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is mixed, with some users reporting significant bugs and issues that hinder progress, particularly in chapter 3, while others experience smooth performance without crashes or major glitches. Camera panning is frequently criticized for being problematic, and players are advised to save often due to potential lock-ups. Overall, while some find it runs well, many highlight persistent bugs that affect gameplay.
- “Runs great out of the box.”
- “Great game that runs great.”
- “Very buggy, can't progress past chapter 3 because of that.”
- “The camera/viewport panning is often terrible in following the character, and glitches out now and then.”
- “Too bad it runs so badly on modern Windows... very buggy and many lock-ups, so save often.”
replayability
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is limited due to its linear structure and single ending, with most players only returning for achievement hunting or to experience the compelling story again. While some find value in replaying for the narrative, the lack of significant choices and a short playtime diminishes the incentive for multiple playthroughs. However, the engaging storytelling does encourage some players to revisit the game.
- “Despite its lack of story choices, single ending, and short play time (11 hours), I feel Sanitarium has a lot of replay value because the story is compelling, well written, and fun to come back to.”
- “That's when we come to the great thing about Sanitarium, which is really uncommon in adventure games - replayability.”
- “After finishing the story, there's little to no replay value, unless you want to go for 100% achievements (as there are a few missable ones; the quickest way to get them all is by loading up a save game, so that you don't have to play through the entire story all over again).”
- “Sadly, it's quite linear, so replay value is limited, but the story more than makes up for it.”
- “Even now, the replay value is almost like playing the game for the first time.”
character development
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised for its seamless integration with gameplay elements, such as puzzles and randomness, creating a balanced experience that immerses players to the point of forgetting they are playing a point-and-click adventure.
- “The puzzles, the randomness, and the character development are so perfectly balanced that you will probably even forget you're playing a point-and-click adventure.”
- “Great character development.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate concerns about misleading advertisements related to monetization, suggesting that players feel the promotional content does not accurately represent the game's features or in-game purchases. This has led to frustration among users who expected a different experience based on the ads.
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, with constant prompts to spend money.”
- “I was disappointed by the aggressive in-game purchases that overshadow the gameplay experience.”
- “The game is fun, but the paywall is frustrating and makes it hard to enjoy without spending real money.”
optimization
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game faces notable optimization issues, including cut scenes that skip and a critical bug in chapter 3 that requires online guidance to resolve. While some dated graphics and controls are to be expected from a late 90s title, these technical shortcomings detract from the overall experience.
- “Despite some minor issues like dated graphics and controls, the game does have optimization challenges, such as cut scenes skipping and a game-breaking bug in chapter 3 that requires an online guide to resolve. However, these issues are somewhat expected for a game of this era.”
- “The game features some optimization problems, including occasional cut scene skips and a significant bug in chapter 3 that necessitates consulting a guide. While these issues can detract from the experience, they are not entirely unexpected.”
- “While the game has its share of optimization issues, such as cut scenes that skip and a critical bug in chapter 3, these are typical for titles from this period and can be managed with some online assistance.”
- “Putting aside minor issues like dated graphics and controls (this was the late 90s), this game suffers from some optimization issues, such as cut scenes skipping and a game-breaking bug in chapter 3 unless you go online and follow a guide. This is to be expected, but the game also suffers from an underwhelming ending and clunky, unnecessary combat sequences.”
- “The optimization in this game is severely lacking. Frequent frame drops and long loading times make the experience frustrating, especially during critical moments.”
- “I encountered multiple optimization problems, including inconsistent frame rates and texture pop-ins that detracted from the overall immersion of the game.”