SCP: Daybreak

About

An open-ended, SCP-based, atmospheric, exploration-focused, survival-horror game with puzzle elements and replayability.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 270 reviews

story9 positive mentions

stability11 negative mentions

The game has a great atmosphere that effectively creates tension and unease, making it a unique experience in the SCP genre.
There is a lot of potential for the game, with an intriguing story concept and immersive environmental storytelling.
The voice acting and sound design are commendable, adding depth to the overall experience.

The game is currently very buggy, with issues such as broken mechanics, lack of a save system, and unclear objectives that hinder gameplay.
Many players find the game too short and lacking in content, with minimal interaction and no real threats or enemies present.
The graphics and optimization need significant improvement, as players have reported performance issues and visual glitches.

story
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
75%
6%
The game's story is described as intriguing and atmospheric, with potential for further development, particularly in relation to the SCP universe. While some players appreciate the environmental storytelling and the foundation of a compelling narrative, others express frustration with its current execution and the lack of clarity in certain areas. Overall, there is optimism for future updates to enhance the storytelling experience.
- “The story of this game, which is one of the most important things of the SCP-001 WDB (When Day Breaks) file, I can see a universe forming from this, a lot of potential in the story department. Hopefully, more story comes with updates; personally, WDB is one of my all-time favorites in the SCP universe. I constantly make up tales for it, and this is the most WDB game we'll ever get.”
- “Extremely atmospheric game; I was really impressed with the storytelling.”
- “I absolutely love the mixture of pages and voice recordings; it really brings some life into the game with a simple underlying story of the people who either suffered or decided to perish instead.”
- “Unfortunately, the game is no longer going to be about the actual story of SCP Daybreak.”
- “What is here is a walking simulator tech demo with minimal audio, extremely buggy physics (I'm looking at you, doors), and just sort of a one-page anticlimactic 'story', if you can call it that.”
- “Great game, good atmosphere, crisp audio... but the story was confusing and I got lost at some points, mostly when I got curious, went somewhere I shouldn't be and got out of the map, in turn skipping pretty much the whole game and ending up at the bad ending.”
atmosphere
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
34%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its tension and unsettling qualities, effectively creating a spine-tingling experience reminiscent of SCP themes. Many players appreciate the immersive ambiance, enhanced by decent voice acting and visuals, although some note a lack of sound effects and occasional glitches that detract from the overall horror experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a strong point, contributing significantly to its appeal despite some gameplay shortcomings.
- “I love that this game seems to be going for a tense atmosphere instead of relying on jumpscares and chase sequences.”
- “The red atmosphere and color of the parts the sun touches is so good and so accurate, and even the trees not having leaves or only having a few is also accurate. The atmosphere even gives a liminal space vibe to it; you expect there to be people there, or some blobs of flesh, but they aren't there, making you worry about what might be around the corner.”
- “Genuinely terrifies me, the atmosphere is perfect.”
- “Disappointing though to see that there is no audio atmosphere, and not much other sound effects beyond doors and the odd mechanics; it did well with striking unease in me.”
- “Despite it not having any real animate threat yet, I felt chills from the unsettling atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere kind of unsettling.”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
57%
12%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising their quality and potential, especially for an early access title, while others criticize performance issues such as poor framerate, glitches, and outdated textures. Some users highlight the atmospheric visuals, though they note that the level design can feel repetitive and lacking in detail. Overall, while the graphics show promise, significant improvements are needed to enhance playability and address technical flaws.
- “The graphics are phenomenal, but the textures could use a bit of work.”
- “The graphics surprised me for an early access title.”
- “The game is still in heavy development but the graphics are amazing and the game has heavenly potential; can't wait to hear more on the updates.”
- “Even with the lowest graphics settings, the framerate is awful, the walls glitch constantly.”
- “Graphics make me lose fear, as they just don't look like anything plausible; the bugs and graphical problems make me want to live in the SCP universe with an active SCP-001 when day breaks event.”
- “In terms of performance, I will say that I by no means have a top-tier PC, but I'm running relatively new hardware and the game seems to perform rather poorly with a lot of screen tearing and jittering on any configuration of graphics settings, and it ruins the experience immensely.”
gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
68%
14%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the atmosphere and nostalgic elements, while others criticize the mechanics as broken and lacking depth. Notable features include a light-avoidance mechanic and potential for future improvements, but many feel the current gameplay loop is underdeveloped and plagued by bugs. Overall, there is a sense of potential, but significant enhancements are needed for a more engaging experience.
- “Having to stay out of the light is quite a cool mechanic, and I think adding in something like rotating fans that the player has to navigate under to stay out of the sun could add some interesting gameplay.”
- “I enjoy the gameplay, and how Blue Feather plays in the beginning, giving off a nostalgic feel.”
- “As it is 'just' an early access game, the gameplay is good and I didn't encounter any bugs. I see a lot of potential in it.”
- “The only gameplay is trying to use a broken, poorly programmed numpad to unlock one of the doors.”
- “Great atmosphere, just lacking in gameplay.”
- “If there was more of an actual gameplay loop or more of a story other than the standard 'when day breaks' tropes, I'd upvote this.”
stability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is currently experiencing significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches affecting gameplay, particularly in physics and performance. While players acknowledge these problems as typical for an early access title, many express hope for future improvements and recognize the game's potential despite its current state. Overall, the stability concerns detract from the experience, but some find enjoyment in the game's atmosphere and concept.
- “It's been long enough; it shouldn't be this much of a buggy mess.”
- “What is here is a walking simulator tech demo with minimal audio, extremely buggy physics (I'm looking at you, doors), and just sort of a one-page anticlimactic 'story', if you can call it that.”
- “The atmosphere is great, but with all the glitches and shoddy voice acting, it really takes away the horror, and honestly is more hilarious if anything.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
The music in the game is highly praised for its immersive quality and ability to enhance tension without relying on jumpscares, with many users rating it 10/10. However, some players noted issues with the music cutting out at times and the placement of sound cues, suggesting that while the soundtrack is excellent, its integration could be improved. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the atmosphere, despite some criticisms regarding the game's visuals and level design.
- “The music is great, but the visuals and level design aren't particularly interesting (a lot of empty copy-pasted rooms).”
- “The music 10/10.”
- “Very immersive, great soundtrack, got me constantly on the edge without the use of jumpscares.”
- “The music cues were oddly placed, the paperwork repeated, and some doors opened while others didn't (whether they were relevant or not).”
- “The music is top-notch (I've searched for it online to no avail), and the world-building is excellent!”
- “Ambience fits well while roaming the facility available to you, the use of some sounds/music from SCP: Containment Breach serves the game well.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that it can be excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring them to backtrack and redo tasks due to bugs. The sentiment suggests that the grinding experience is so demanding that it feels like players need an extra life to manage it effectively.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Now that wouldn't be a problem with a short game like this if the bugs weren't happening and blocking progress, because it now means I have to walk all the way back there and redo everything, which is just tedious.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues such as screen tearing, jittering, and low frame rates, even on relatively new hardware. Additionally, the presence of a disorienting head bob and a broken save system further detracts from the overall experience, making it difficult to play.
- “The poor optimization, nauseating side-to-side head bob, and broken save system make this game very hard to play.”
- “In terms of performance, I will say that I by no means have a top-tier PC, but I'm running relatively new hardware and the game seems to perform rather poorly with a lot of screen tearing and jittering on any configuration of graphics settings, and it ruins the experience immensely.”
- “By the way, the FPS and optimization are total garbage, and the controls are clunky.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the humor in the game to be a highlight, appreciating quirky elements like amusing character designs and clever text prompts. While some glitches and voice acting detract from the intended horror, they often enhance the comedic experience, making the game more entertaining. Overall, the potential for multiplayer is seen as a missed opportunity for even more laughs.
- “I enjoyed the little touches of humor like the amogus guy and the text at the top right of the pause menu; they added charm.”
- “The atmosphere is great, but with all the glitches and shoddy voice acting, it really takes away the horror, and honestly is more hilarious if anything.”
- “If it had multiplayer, it would be funny as hell.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a deeply emotional experience, with some expressing that the game evoked strong feelings, including tears, and created a sense of being in a purgatorial state.
- “I cried.”
- “The game really made me feel like I was in purgatory.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users suggest that improving graphics options for lower-end computers could enhance the game's replayability, as it would make the game more accessible to a wider audience.
- “The game lacks variety, making it hard to find motivation for a second playthrough.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to return.”
- “The limited choices and outcomes mean that replaying feels more like a chore than an adventure.”