SCP: Secret Files

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SCP: Secret Files is a first-person horror/puzzle game set in the SCP Foundation universe. As a new agent, you must explore the secret facilities, encountering various anomalous objects and solving puzzles to contain them. With a strong emphasis on narrative and exploration, the game provides a chilling and immersive experience for fans of the SCP series.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,338 reviews

story212 positive mentions

grinding21 negative mentions

The game features a unique storytelling approach, showcasing lesser-known SCPs with varied gameplay styles and art directions.
The graphics and overall presentation are stunning, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the experience.
The emotional depth of certain stories, particularly the 'Here Be Dragons' segment, resonates well with players, making it a memorable experience.

The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 4-5 hours, leaving players wanting more content.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as chase sequences, can feel clunky and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.
There are instances of unskippable dialogue and slow text display, which can disrupt the pacing and engagement of the game.

story
575 mentions
37 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game's story is a collection of unique narratives centered around various SCPs, each presented with distinct art styles and gameplay mechanics, which many players found engaging and immersive. While some stories, like the "Here Be Dragons" segment, elicited strong emotional responses, others were criticized for being slow-paced or lacking depth, leading to mixed feelings about the overall narrative experience. Despite its shortcomings in gameplay, the storytelling and atmospheric elements were praised, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the SCP universe.
- “The storytelling was fantastic and clearly covered the anomalies even if you missed a few of the lore pieces scattered about.”
- “This game is everything a storytelling game should be; it's really immersive and brings you into the world it is telling you about!”
- “The story is deep, it's accurate to the source material and gives a whole new angle to the SCP Foundation.”
- “The last missions were okay, but the whole horror aspect was only present at the beginning of the game, which I thought was a shame.”
- “Save yourself some time and money and watch the plot on YouTube, this game wasn't worth it.”
- “The story just feels like it's dragging you along, exposition dumping you like it's waiting for the climax.”
gameplay
300 mentions
24 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it is heavily narrative-driven and often feels more like a visual novel than a traditional game. While some appreciate the variety of gameplay styles and unique mechanics associated with different SCP stories, others criticize the lack of engaging gameplay, excessive cutscenes, and minimal interactivity, leading to a sense of boredom and frustration. Overall, the game excels in storytelling and artistic presentation but falls short in delivering a satisfying gameplay experience.
- “Amazing storytelling and simple yet hooking gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is neat with every SCP getting its own mechanics and sometimes feeling like its own game within a game.”
- “The various different gameplay genres and art styles add some nice diversity to the game as you play with interesting stories in each of them.”
- “There is very little gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is slow with an overuse of cutscenes and dumb quick time events.”
- “The gameplay consists of walking from one prerecorded dialogue to the next.”
graphics
207 mentions
54 % positive mentions
44 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and diverse art styles, which enhance the storytelling and atmosphere. Players appreciate the unique artistic direction for each SCP story, contributing to an immersive experience that feels both fresh and engaging. While some critiques mention inconsistencies and performance issues, the overall consensus is that the graphics are a standout feature, showcasing a high level of detail and creativity.
- “The graphics, the storyline, and attention to detail are out of this world.”
- “The graphics are stunning and lifelike and absolutely wonderful.”
- “The visuals are excellent, they absolutely nail atmosphere, the stories were engaging, and there were some really clever twists and tricks in there that just made the whole thing so good.”
- “The graphics... well, from what I can tell this game might just be a straight-up asset flip, because 99% of these are poorly done stock assets.”
- “The whole storybook part with the paper dragons was by far the most insufferable gameplay experience I have ever had, and the graphics are terrible for pretty much everything.”
- “Stopped being able to play after a certain point, lots of stuttering/performance drops, freezes, graphical and minor gameplay glitches throughout.”
music
54 mentions
46 % positive mentions
46 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, while others criticized the implementation of musical gameplay mechanics that felt disconnected from the soundtrack. Some standout tracks, like "I Am a Toaster," have become memorable highlights, but issues such as volume imbalance and lack of audio settings have detracted from the overall experience. Overall, while the soundtrack is often described as impressive and fitting, inconsistencies in its integration with gameplay have left some players disappointed.
- “The soundtrack was amazing.”
- “Amazing music that fit perfectly with everything that was happening.”
- “The atmosphere, the music, and the overall visualization of the stories is superbly done.”
- “I was excited at first to see the musical gameplay, but got so disappointed when I started playing the music and realized my playing had no effect on the sound, or that some of the notes weren't aligned with the background music that you were supposed to be playing the melody of.”
- “The sound design is pretty lackluster, could use some more music and ambience, noticed some audible hitching/chirping.”
- “In one story, the music was so loud I could barely hear the characters speak and adjusting my audio settings didn't really fix the issue.”
atmosphere
46 mentions
57 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its immersive and engaging qualities, particularly in relation to the SCP universe, while others find it generic or lacking in depth. The visuals and music are frequently highlighted as strong elements that enhance the overall experience, creating a sense of fear and emotional resonance. However, some players feel that certain gameplay mechanics detract from the intended atmosphere, suggesting a need for more consistent atmospheric moments throughout the game.
- “The atmosphere of each segment of the game is fantastically put together, the first one probably being the strongest in terms of setting.”
- “The game does a phenomenal job at visualizing the mostly written world of the SCP Foundation from the eerie isolation and madness-inducing hallucinations of SCP-7457, the terrifying atmosphere and tragic events of SCP-701, and the heartwarming and equally heartbreaking tale of SCP-1762.”
- “The atmosphere, the music, and the overall visualization of the stories is superbly done.”
- “Okay, that was a strange and unfitting experience for what atmosphere the game has set.”
- “I think the game is missing the oppressive atmosphere that's associated with the foundation.”
- “Dying several times kind of took me out of the horror atmosphere of the first part.”
emotional
44 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players experiencing a wide range of feelings from sadness to joy, often leading to tears during impactful story segments like SCP-1762 and the "paper dragons" narrative. While some found the storytelling exceptional and engaging, others criticized the flat voice acting that detracted from emotional connections. Overall, the game successfully blends horror with heartfelt moments, creating an emotional roller-coaster that resonates deeply with players.
- “The emotional depth that the game explores is truly remarkable, making me feel a range of emotions that I hadn't anticipated in a gaming experience.”
- “It's an emotional roller-coaster that perfectly mixes fear, sadness, and anger into a game that doesn't stray far from the original content found on the SCP wiki.”
- “The game does a phenomenal job at visualizing the mostly written world of the SCP foundation from the eerie isolation and madness-inducing hallucinations of SCP-7457, the terrifying atmosphere and tragic events of SCP-701, and the heartwarming and equally heartbreaking tale of SCP-1762.”
humor
36 mentions
97 % positive mentions
-6 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending absurdity and wit with moments that range from hilariously funny to deeply unsettling. Players particularly enjoyed the quirky elements, such as the "I am a toaster" segment, which provided memorable comedic relief amidst the game's darker themes. However, some found the humor inconsistent, with certain sections feeling tedious or poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The 'I am a toaster' part will never not be funny and way too short.”
- “I never expected an SCP game to scare me shitless, bring me to tears, and gut-laughing my heart out.”
- “Becoming a toaster was so amazingly funny that the song got stuck in my head.”
- “Every character speaks in stilted, uninteresting, unfunny, overlong dialogue that doesn't sound like how anyone really talks.”
- “The attempts at humor feel forced and fall flat, making the game more tedious than entertaining.”
- “Jokes that are meant to be funny often come off as cringeworthy and awkward, leaving players more confused than amused.”
grinding
25 mentions
4 % positive mentions
12 % neutral mentions
84 % negative mentions
The reviews overwhelmingly describe the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and boring, with players expressing frustration over unskippable dialogue, lengthy cutscenes, and repetitive fetch quests. Many feel that the gameplay lacks engagement, often reducing the experience to monotonous tasks that detract from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant drawback, making the game feel drawn out and unfulfilling.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The game is hilariously boring - in the 20 minutes I've played, I did not actually play a game; I just saw cutscenes, read unnecessarily lengthy dialogue, completed tedious minigames (if they can be called that), and did what was essentially just a fetch quest.”
- “Every bit of this game is tedious.”
- “It's got a lot of work put into it but the content itself is very dull and tedious.”
stability
20 mentions
0 % positive mentions
5 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report smooth performance and minimal glitches, others experience significant bugs, particularly during chase sequences and in the final scenes. Many users noted minor visual and gameplay glitches that detracted from their experience, suggesting that the game could benefit from further polish and technical refinement. Despite these issues, the engaging story and gameplay elements keep some players invested, though the bugs may hinder overall enjoyment for others.
- “I love the story and such, but the game is really buggy at times and is sometimes not a great experience.”
- “Stopped being able to play after a certain point, lots of stuttering/performance drops, freezes, graphical and minor gameplay glitches throughout.”
- “Pretty buggy, love the story and would love to complete it, but the bugs make it hard :(”
optimization
14 mentions
43 % positive mentions
21 % neutral mentions
36 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is a mixed bag, with some players experiencing smooth performance and impressive graphics, while others report severe frame rate drops, stuttering, and glitches that hinder gameplay. While many appreciate the overall visual quality and solid experience, significant performance issues arise at certain points, particularly after specific missions, indicating a need for further optimization. Overall, the game shows potential but requires attention to its performance inconsistencies.
- “Performance-wise, everything runs great and I didn't notice any bugs or glitches, and the various visual graphic styles mingle together well.”
- “The graphics were amazing and the game is very well optimized, which made for very smooth gameplay.”
- “I played it entirely on ultra (1440p) with my 1070 and had 60fps with no noticeable performance issues.”
- “But the final nail in the coffin were enormous performance issues after I reached the second mission.”
- “Stopped being able to play after a certain point, lots of stuttering/performance drops, freezes, graphical and minor gameplay glitches throughout.”
- “Only got up to the Hanged King; there's a cutscene which causes the stuttering to become too severe to continue (which persists to the title screen until closing the game), and also causes the screen to go black, making progress impossible.”
replayability
6 mentions
17 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with multiple users stating that it offers little to no incentive to play again after the initial experience. While some acknowledge its enjoyable gameplay, the consensus leans towards it being a one-time playthrough rather than a game worth revisiting.
- “Excellent game, with tons of potential and replay value.”
- “It has exactly zero replayability, but I'm glad I played it once and I never wanted to put it down.”
- “There is no replayability at all; not worth it. Only at the start was it nice, but it just dropped over time.”
- “I'd say there's no replayability whatsoever.”
monetization
5 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for feeling like a cash grab, with many players expressing frustration over the misleading trailers and excessive cut-scenes that extend gameplay without offering meaningful content. Reviewers noted that the game often devolves into simplistic mechanics and unskippable sequences, leading to a disappointing experience that feels more like a lengthy video than an engaging game. Overall, players feel that the monetization strategy prioritizes profit over quality, leaving them dissatisfied and questioning the game's value.
- “May as well have 2 levels because the others are just intractable cut-scenes that are so slow. The 'Here Were Dragons' level was not only the slowest one, with the only 'gameplay' being a rhythm game—which is the laziest form of gameplay—but it also broke the tone of the game. Everything other than the Hanged King and Witch Project levels is just moving from one room to another until the next unskippable endless cut-scene. Other than those two levels, you can't die, and one of those levels is the demo, which is the best way to experience this or just watch a Let's Play. This game feels like a 6-hour video where you have to sometimes press 'W'. I want to think this was just a company's first game, but the lies in the trailers and the cut-scenes turning a 1.5-hour game into 6 hours, keeping me from refunding, just makes it seem like a blatant cash grab. Just get Containment Breach instead.”
- “It really could have been a much better horror-type game, but instead, it felt like a cash grab to make it barely over 3 hours so people wouldn't be able to refund it.”
- “Only the first section is for the folks who bought this game by viewing the ads, and in good faith.”