Scanner Sombre

A beautiful but short-lived expedition that left me wanting more of its best ideas.

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"Scanner Sombre" is a first-person exploration game set in dark caves. The player uses a laser scanner to create a 3D map of the environment, revealing the surroundings in light points. The game has a tense atmosphere, as you uncover the mystery of a fallen explorer while navigating through the depths.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,954 reviews

story189 positive mentions

optimization6 negative mentions

Unique and innovative gameplay mechanic using LIDAR scanning to explore dark environments.
Stunning visuals and sound design that create an immersive atmosphere.
Short but impactful experience with a haunting story that resonates emotionally.

The story is thin and can feel disjointed, with a predictable ending.
Performance issues can arise, especially towards the end of the game due to rendering many scanned points.
Limited replayability, as the game is very linear and lacks depth in gameplay.

story
714 mentions
26 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The story in "Scanner Sombre" is often described as minimalistic and simplistic, with many players feeling it lacks depth and coherence. While some appreciate the atmospheric and environmental storytelling, others criticize the narrative for being disjointed and predictable, with a conclusion that feels rushed or unsatisfying. Overall, the game is seen more as an exploration experience rather than a story-driven one, with the mechanics and visuals taking precedence over the narrative.
- “The story is minimalistic, but that works for this sort of game, I feel.”
- “The story keeps you on edge and wanting to know more.”
- “Scanner Sombre is a short, story-driven exploration game in the likes of Dear Esther, Gone Home, and Everybody's Gone to the Rapture to name a few.”
- “The story feels very forced and doesn't take time to build pathos for the protagonist, leading the ending feeling underwhelming.”
- “The plot and payoff were lackluster.”
- “The story is a bit of a letdown but for what it is and heck, for this price, it's a steal anyway.”
gameplay
475 mentions
39 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Scanner Sombre" is centered around a unique lidar scanning mechanic that allows players to illuminate their surroundings in a dark cave environment, creating a visually striking experience. While the gameplay is simple and primarily involves exploration with minimal interaction, it effectively conveys a sense of atmosphere and intrigue, though some players feel the mechanic could be further developed with more complex puzzles or narrative depth. Overall, the game is praised for its innovative mechanics and aesthetic appeal, making it a worthwhile experience for those interested in exploration and atmospheric gameplay, despite its brevity and lack of traditional gameplay elements.
- “While the game may be a bit unpolished, the gameplay is really unique and amazing.”
- “The gameplay was simple, but achieved what it set out to do.”
- “Scanner Sombre is an exploration game with a unique twist and gameplay element I've not seen before; the only way to discover your surroundings is to scan the area using the only tool there is in the game.”
- “The gameplay itself isn't complicated, but it can be a bit difficult to figure out where to go in some of the later areas.”
- “The gameplay reminds me a little of Unfinished Swan (one of my all-time favorites), but with a darker aesthetic.”
- “The game barely touches on the mechanics it introduces, and throws perhaps three genuine low-level puzzles at you - so this game shows it could have been a relatively interesting portal-like first-person puzzler, but alas, the developers copped out and tacked on a couple of poorly developed and seemingly unconnected stories.”
atmosphere
262 mentions
64 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively creating a sense of tension and isolation, particularly in VR. Players appreciate the combination of stunning visuals, haunting sound design, and the unique scanner mechanic that enhances the exploration experience. While the game leans more towards atmospheric exploration than traditional horror, it successfully evokes feelings of suspense and intrigue throughout its short runtime.
- “This is a lovely, short horror game that mostly leans on atmosphere and the tension of not being alone in lonely dark.”
- “A beautiful, creepily atmospheric walking sim.”
- “The atmosphere is amazing and the gameplay is also very nice.”
- “The 'horror' was largely atmosphere, and not particularly scary... a couple of jump-scare moments that didn't really add anything for me, but weren't too obnoxious either.”
- “While the game is respectable for maintaining a strong atmosphere, it isn't that hard to accomplish with such a short runtime.”
- “The atmosphere was too oppressive.”
graphics
204 mentions
51 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning and unique aesthetic, utilizing a lidar scanning mechanic that creates immersive visuals despite their simplicity. Many players found the visuals to be a highlight, contributing significantly to the atmosphere and overall experience, although some noted that the novelty can wear off over time. While the graphics are often described as beautiful and innovative, opinions vary on their impact on gameplay, with some feeling that the visuals alone may not justify the game's price.
- “The visuals are beautiful and impressive.”
- “Stunning visuals with an eerie soundtrack make this unique horror game quite an emotional roller coaster.”
- “Incredible visuals and audio, quite scary at times but not full on horror, and didn't overstay its welcome.”
- “Steam Deck performance was meh considering the simplicity of the graphics.”
- “The big problem of this game is that it only has its visuals going for it.”
- “It's a pity - the graphics are quite unique, and in some ways, quite beautiful, but they just make things too confusing.”
music
164 mentions
52 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth, particularly during key moments like the boat ride and cave exploration. However, some players noted that certain tracks felt out of place or overly loud, detracting from the intended mood. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally considered beautiful and effective, there are instances where the music's tone contrasts with the game's horror elements.
- “The moment you start the game, the soundtrack sets the tone as you explore the caves.”
- “The ambiance and music are stellar and fit very well with the cave environment.”
- “The music, level design, sound design, and concept are still incredible, so definitely give it a try.”
- “The soundtrack is pretty mediocre.”
- “The music goes from creepy to fairytale, then back to creepy with zero reason, and I was left wondering why on earth such a weird segment of the game was left in.”
- “Some of the music choices are questionable, because they are very much at odds with the mood.”
emotional
34 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a powerful and touching experience, with many players expressing that it evoked strong feelings, including tears and heartwarming moments. While some found the narrative lacking in depth or emotional investment, others praised its ability to create a profound connection through sound design and immersive visuals, particularly in VR. Overall, the game is seen as a unique emotional journey, though opinions vary on the effectiveness of its storytelling.
- “This game made me emotional; it's beautiful, and the mechanics are solid and well-designed.”
- “The plot twist and ending were just heartbreaking.”
- “It was the end of a fascinating journey that started with a gimmick (the 3D laser scanner) and ended with an emotional punch in the gut.”
optimization
32 mentions
16 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, particularly in the later stages of the game. Frame rates can drop below 90 fps, leading to stuttering and sluggishness, especially when the map becomes cluttered with scanned elements. While some players enjoyed the gameplay despite these issues, the optimization could benefit from improvements to enhance the overall experience.
- “Scanning as much as I can without worrying about performance feels so good; it's satisfying to see the entire map at the end.”
- “Overall, I'd say that it's a solid game still, even if it could've gone a little further at times or fixed its performance a bit better.”
- “Performance is a bit hit and miss towards the end, but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride.”
- “Steam Deck performance was meh considering the simplicity of the graphics.”
- “Performance suffers as the game continues; because there is a persistent map that never goes away, the more you explore, the bigger that map is and the harder it is for my (admittedly aged and struggling) hardware to perform.”
- “There were also major stuttering and freeze frame issues towards the end of the game.”
replayability
31 mentions
10 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
32 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been criticized for its minimal replayability, with many players noting that it can be completed in under two hours and lacks compelling reasons to revisit. While some appreciate the unique experience and may consider a second playthrough for the "new game+" feature, the general consensus is that the game offers little incentive for repeated play.
- “This game has a lot of replay value, and I will most definitely be playing through this game several times again.”
- “A lot of interesting detail pops up on a plus-playthrough, so there is some replayability (although perhaps not more than one replay).”
- “And if you are like me, and want to explore, gather the world and details, there is a replayability factor as well.”
- “The only thing to be aware of is that you will probably finish the game within an hour, and there's not much replayability.”
- “The game is over in an hour or two and there's no replay value once you complete it.”
- “Short story (a few lines of text), very limited replay value despite the presence of a 'new game+'.”
stability
25 mentions
8 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
92 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with many users reporting significant bugs and glitches that affect both visuals and audio, leading to a frustrating experience. While some players find moments of enjoyment amidst the chaos, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from a lack of polish, with issues ranging from unresponsive controls to severe performance drops on modern hardware. Despite its engaging elements, the game's technical problems detract from its potential, making it feel more like an experimental build than a finished product.
- “The game is stable, providing a smooth experience overall.”
- “Runs great; I have not encountered any performance spikes.”
- “Unfortunately, the game is a bit buggy and broken on modern hardware, and it took a long time to get it to launch, and then even longer for it to recognize my controller.”
- “The player's movement physics seemed kind of buggy and unpolished; it's very easy to get in a situation where collision handling will ping you back and forth every frame, making very loud noises as the player hits the two surfaces over and over again.”
- “This is a very buggy game; it goes from baby smooth grinding to a shuddering halt reliably.”
humor
13 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with players finding amusement in unexpected moments, such as t-posed models and absurd situations that lead to comical deaths. While some elements, like jumpscares, unintentionally become sources of laughter, others feel out of place, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the game offers a blend of humor and horror that can be entertaining, though it may not resonate with everyone.
- “Also, whatever is lurking in the water, it's laughing at my boating skills.”
- “I died of fall damage and my light progress was lost but it was so funny.”
- “I legitimately had to pause because I was in stitches laughing at the t-posing model that slides to face you.”
grinding
10 mentions
0 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding in the game can be both engaging and tedious, with some players finding it manageable within a 2-3 hour playtime, while others feel it requires excessive time investment. The experience can vary significantly, with reports of smooth gameplay interrupted by frustrating bugs that disrupt the grinding process. Overall, while some players appreciate the grind, others find it overly tedious and exhausting.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “This is a very buggy game; it goes from baby smooth grinding to a shuddering halt reliably.”
- “This game was so tedious that I nearly fell asleep once, and that is a literal fact!”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for intrusive advertising, as players are confronted with a promotional webpage upon exiting, despite having already purchased the game. This detracts from the overall experience, especially in a game that combines exploration with psychological horror elements.
- “To add insult to injury, once I finally managed to wrangle the controls enough to exit the game properly, it opened a web page on exit that was essentially a glorified advertisement for the game I've already purchased.”
character development
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Character development is noted to be somewhat hindered by off-putting design choices, which are primarily visible at the beginning and end of the game, potentially detracting from the overall experience.
- “The character design is a little off-putting, but you only see it at the end (and the beginning, if you look closely), thankfully.”