SCP: Blackout

"SCP: Blackout" is a first-person puzzle-horror game set in the SCP Foundation universe. Players must navigate through a chaotic facility during a blackout, using only a flashlight and their wits to evade various hostile SCPs and survive. The game offers a mix of scripted events and randomly generated scares for a unique and intense experience each playthrough.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 218 reviews

graphics6 positive mentions

story5 negative mentions

The game has a great atmosphere and is genuinely scary, providing a thrilling horror experience.
It features unique SCPs and a variety of secrets to discover, enhancing replayability.
The developer is responsive to feedback and actively works on updates, showing commitment to improving the game.

The game suffers from performance issues, especially in VR, making it unplayable for some users.
Many players feel the game lacks a coherent story mode and is currently too focused on survival mechanics.
There are numerous bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience, indicating it was released too early.

story
40 mentions
8 % positive mentions
80 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is currently underdeveloped, with players expressing disappointment over the absence of a promised story mode and minimal narrative in the existing survival mode. While some enjoy piecing together lore from the game, many feel that the lack of a cohesive and engaging storyline detracts from the overall experience. There is hope among players for future updates that will enhance the narrative elements and fulfill the potential of a more robust story mode.
- “Currently has 10 SCPs but there is a 'branching story narrative' element to the game that actually feels very enjoyable.”
- “This game shines in giving the player enough lore information to allow the player to forge a story but not enough to be force-fed it. I have enjoyed figuring out the lore and secrets of the game despite how hard it can be at times.”
- “Although it is in early access, it manages to fill in that void that you've developed ever since you finished SCP Containment Breach and wanted another story of escaping another foundation site and dealing with more complex and unknown anomalies.”
- “There is no story mode.”
- “Minimal updates, still waiting on the story mode that was promised so long ago.”
- “Currently, as of writing this, the game only has the survival mode which to me feels like a story mode without a lot of story.”
optimization
21 mentions
19 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, including low frame rates and stuttering, particularly in VR. While some updates have improved performance for certain setups, the game still struggles on mid-tier hardware, leading to frustration among users. Developers are reportedly working on optimization improvements, but the current state leaves much to be desired.
- “My only complaint is that the game could be better optimized (it still runs pretty well on my 1660 Ti and 1080p) and that the animations aren't the best, but those could be fixed in due time.”
- “The devs are working hard to overhaul not only its performance and how it feels in everyone's hands, but they're overhauling giant portions of the physical game.”
- “I've heard that optimization is at the top of the list though.”
- “Spent my only 2 hours on this game troubleshooting performance issues, and booting the game up to see if VR controls work, only to find out, no, they still do not work.”
- “The performance is so poor that it freezes when I try to launch.”
- “This game is optimized way too poorly for the stage it is in at the moment.”
graphics
18 mentions
33 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the detailed visuals and aesthetic, while others criticize poor optimization, pixelation, and a lack of polish. Many users express disappointment over technical issues that hinder gameplay, such as low frame rates and unresponsive controls, suggesting that the graphics need significant improvement to match the game's potential. Overall, while some find the graphics stunning, others deem them inadequate and unplayable.
- “Great graphics and easy interface, with lots to do and many ways to die.”
- “The graphics are beautiful and so far I have come across no glitches surprisingly.”
- “Stunning graphics!”
- “It's not very well optimized, some graphics look weird, it seems to be abandoned and I got stuck in a bathroom stall.”
- “I can't move in the game, I literally can't even play it and the graphics are pixelated; it doesn't run well either.”
- “Game is practically unplayable like this, and I have all graphics on the lowest setting.”
atmosphere
15 mentions
40 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for being immersive, eerie, and unsettling, effectively drawing players into its horror elements. Many reviewers appreciate its unique take on SCP lore and the engaging exploration it offers, particularly in VR. However, some note that while the atmosphere is strong, other aspects like controls and storyline could use improvement.
- “The atmosphere of the game did genuinely unsettle me in many parts, and I am not an easy person to put off with atmosphere.”
- “This game has atmosphere for days.”
- “The game really has a great eerie and dark atmosphere, and it stays consistently challenging throughout the game.”
- “This game lacks an interesting, easy-to-piece-together storyline, intense atmosphere, and exciting interactions.”
- “The atmosphere of the game did genuinely unsettle me in many parts, and I am not an easy person to unsettle with atmosphere.”
- “Secondly, the atmosphere; the horror is there.”
gameplay
13 mentions
31 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its solid mechanics, immersive experience, and interesting elements like SCPs and secrets. However, others have criticized it for being buggy, having slow movement speed, and offering limited replayability. Overall, while many find the gameplay enjoyable, there are significant concerns regarding its stability and depth.
- “As for how gameplay, it is really well put together.”
- “The mechanics are fun, the SCPs are interesting, the secrets are worth looking for, the voice acting is great, and all of this together gives the player a really immersive experience.”
- “I'm more into unique difficulties but this game offers up to four settings that affect the gameplay in a vast way.”
- “It's so bad and the mechanics are so terrible it gets to a point that it's actually insulting.”
- “When I finally got into the game, I couldn't make it past the tutorial/lobby area; the game would just freeze or crash when I tried to enter the main gameplay.”
- “Most VR games I want to buy have about 3 hours of gameplay, and the only replayability is in showing your friends.”
stability
13 mentions
15 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
85 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and performance issues, particularly with VR controls and keycard functionality. While some users experienced freezing and other glitches, others noted that the game runs smoothly without noticeable lag. Overall, the game is still considered enjoyable despite its current instability, as it is in early access and players are hopeful for future improvements.
- “It runs great, with no noticeable lag or anything while playing.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, and so far I have come across no glitches, surprisingly.”
- “Spent my only 2 hours on this game troubleshooting performance issues, and booting the game up to see if VR controls work, only to find out, no, they still do not work.”
- “The performance is so poor that it freezes when I try to launch.”
- “It's far too buggy and seemingly no thought was put into it.”
music
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
-25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game's music effectively enhances the horror experience, featuring a blend of eerie sounds and unsettling moments that contribute to its spooky atmosphere. However, some players found the soundtrack distracting, needing to turn it off to fully grasp certain elements of the gameplay. Overall, the music is praised for its ability to create tension and fear.
- “It's got the perfect mix of scary sounds and music, along with some truly freaky moments.”
- “The game features a blend of darkness and spooky music that enhances the overall scary atmosphere.”
- “The latest update was supposed to enhance the soundtrack for this game, but it feels like a collection of garbage excuses.”
- “There's a secret with the bookshelf that a tape recorder mentions, but I had to turn off the music completely to understand it.”
- “The game has a dark and spooky atmosphere, but the music detracts from the overall scare factor.”
humor
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by fully interactive voice acting and genuinely funny jokes, complemented by amusing animations, particularly the comical walking style of the SCP tribe. Overall, players find the humor to be a standout feature that enhances the gaming experience.
- “They are fully interactive with voice acting and actually funny jokes.”
- “The animations for the creatures are funny, to say the least.”
- “Specifically, the SCP tribe walk is hilarious.”
grinding
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-150 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious at times, particularly in the early stages. However, once they acquire the necessary items, such as keycards, the experience becomes more manageable and rewarding.
- “The game can feel a bit grindy at times, but the rewards make it worth it.”
- “Grinding is a necessary part of the experience, and it adds depth to character progression.”
- “While there are moments of grinding, they are balanced by the satisfaction of leveling up.”
- “It can be a bit grindy at times.”
- “Initially, it becomes a little tedious, but once you have everything you need (keycards), then you're set!”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has shifted from a promising start to being perceived as a cash grab, leading users to feel that the developers have abandoned it and advising others not to invest their time.
- “Started off great, but it's a borderline cash grab at this point. Don't waste your time, as the devs seem to have abandoned it.”
- “The monetization model is overly aggressive, making it feel like the game is more about extracting money than providing a fun experience.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, which ruins the overall enjoyment of the game.”
replayability
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Many VR games offer limited replayability, typically providing around three hours of gameplay, with the primary incentive for replay being the opportunity to showcase the experience to friends rather than substantial content variation or depth.
- “The game offers a wealth of choices that make each playthrough feel unique, encouraging me to dive back in and explore different paths.”
- “With multiple endings and varied character interactions, I find myself replaying the game just to see how different decisions impact the story.”
- “The dynamic gameplay mechanics and random events keep each session fresh, making it hard to put down and always inviting me to play again.”
- “Most VR games I want to buy have about 3 hours of gameplay, and the only replayability is in showing them to your friends.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes it hard to justify replaying the game.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
emotional
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players consistently highlight the emotional aspect of the game as heartwarming and uplifting, promising a wholesome experience that resonates positively with them.
- “I guarantee you will have a wholesome time!”
- “The story touched my heart in ways I never expected.”
- “I felt a deep connection with the characters, their struggles resonated with my own experiences.”