Silent Descent

About

Silent Descent is a single player survival action adventure game with a horror theme. It was developed by Deceptive Games and was released on February 6, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Silent Decent is a highly-immersive first-person horror game with a rich and engaging atmosphere. Trapped in purgatory, you play as Samuel Harris who roams in an endless loop of anguish, pain and suffering. Can you find a way to save a tormented man's soul?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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61%

Audience ScoreBased on 85 reviews

story6 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game has a creepy atmosphere and decent graphics, providing some good jump scares.
It offers a straightforward concept with simple puzzles that can be enjoyable for a short playthrough.
Fans of P.T. may find some enjoyment in the game's homage to the classic horror title.

The gameplay is repetitive and lacks depth, with many levels feeling empty and uninspired.
Technical issues such as crashes, bugs, and poor controls significantly detract from the experience.
The story is generic and predictable, failing to engage players or leave a lasting impression.

story
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
70%
10%
The story in the game is widely criticized for being basic, predictable, and clichéd, often revolving around tired themes of deteriorating relationships and insanity. While some players appreciate the atmosphere and sound design, many find the narrative unoriginal and poorly executed, with numerous technical issues detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the story fails to leave a lasting impression, making it a weak point in an otherwise atmospheric horror game.
- “Great story and spook do recommend.”
- “This game has a very unsettling atmosphere, the story is thought out well and as I'm currently only up to completed chapter 8 I'm really looking forward to the rest, the game has good placed jump scares and a strong PT vibe that makes it an amazing game.”
- “But it is story driven and plays a part on overall horror.”
- “One of the worst horror games on Steam, both in gameplay and story.”
- “The story is dull and predictable.”
- “The plot is told almost entirely through scattered journal entries, and in all brutal honesty, it's a total write-off; right down to the very disappointing cop-out ending.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
11%
17%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players praising their quality and immersive atmosphere, particularly in the context of a horror experience. However, some users noted issues such as graphical glitches, a lack of visual variety, and comparisons to older titles, which detracted from the overall impression. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered appealing, there are significant concerns regarding consistency and technical performance.
- “For what the game is with the graphics level, I think they did a great job.”
- “The graphics are also pretty amazing.”
- “A very immersive first-person horror game with good visuals and a sensational atmosphere!”
- “Pretty boring without any puzzles and several glitches in graphics.”
- “Graphics and design leave a lot to be desired - towards the end of the game I was very much reminded of Turok on the N64.”
- “At the last level I had some graphical bugs and the game froze, so I had to restart the game.”
gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
58%
18%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive, glitchy, and lacking in depth, leading to a generally boring experience. While some appreciate the atmospheric elements and occasional scares, others criticize the limited mechanics and short playtime, deeming it not worth the price. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a significant drawback, overshadowing any positive aspects.
- “What Silent Descent lacks in creative storytelling, it makes up for immensely with its delightfully creepy gameplay and its captivating Silent Hill inspiration.”
- “I definitely got some good scares out of this, and the gameplay, compared to other games I've played in the same price range, was worth it.”
- “The gameplay is PT inspired, so you will walk through the same hallways with a few changes to them over and over, but as mentioned, I think this is worth it for the price.”
- “There's just over an hour and a half of gameplay here, and while the atmosphere created at times is pretty good and creepy, and there are a couple of effective jumpscares, overall the game falls flat, with poor writing and a predictable ending.”
- “Very glitchy game.. did not enjoy the gameplay at all.”
- “The gameplay is pretty bare-boned and it’s what I have the most issues with.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
12%
19%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and unsettling qualities, effectively creating tension and jump scares that enhance the horror experience. While many players appreciate the strong visuals and sound design, some feel that the atmosphere is the game's standout feature, overshadowing its lackluster story and gameplay. Overall, the atmosphere is described as engaging and creepy, reminiscent of other successful horror titles, though it can be diminished by repetitive gameplay elements.
- “The atmosphere is very well portrayed, and realistic to the point of making you jump out of your chair from time to time when unexpected items drop down from nowhere, or when Samuel is pursued by a horrible monster.”
- “A very immersive first-person horror game with good visuals and a sensational atmosphere!”
- “Great game overall, some nice jump scares and a great creepy atmosphere; if you played the PT demo, then you'll see familiarity with this.”
- “This game has a very unsettling atmosphere. The story is well thought out, and as I'm currently only up to completed chapter 8, I'm really looking forward to the rest. The game has well-placed jump scares and a strong PT vibe that makes it an amazing experience. I would love some DLC, as when the game is completed, I don't want to have to uninstall it due to the lack of replayability.”
- “What really amplifies the atmosphere is the voices Samuel hears throughout the sections.”
- “What atmosphere the game has early on is quickly lost to the myriad of pixel-hunting puzzles.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The humor in the game is largely unintentional, with players finding the monster sprites laughable and the jump scares ranging from boring to absurdly funny. The game's conclusion elicited genuine laughter, which feels out of place in a horror context, especially since the monster poses no real threat during chase sequences. Overall, the comedic elements detract from the intended horror experience.
- “The wrap-up at the end of the game had me laughing out loud, which is a surprising twist for any horror game.”
- “The jump scares, and scares in general, range from boring to outright hilarious.”
- “FYI, the monster can't actually kill you, so the 'chase sequence' is absurdly hilarious.”
- “The monster sprites are laughable and not funny at all.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent freezes, particularly on the final level, and various bugs that affect gameplay and visuals. Players have reported needing to restart the game multiple times due to glitches, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “In the later levels, it became buggy. I had to restart because I couldn't see where I was going; a bug put blood spatters all over my screen. This was fixed after a restart, but then the ending itself was bugged!”
- “Story is very basic and non-memorable, nothing special, and the game freezes on the final level two times. I found a fix for it on Steam discussions.”
- “Pretty boring without any puzzles and several glitches in graphics.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect to be somewhat tedious and not particularly enjoyable, viewing it as a time-consuming activity that can occupy a few hours but does not elevate the overall experience of the game.
- “A bit tedious, not my favorite game from Deceptive Games, but something to do for a couple of hours.”
- “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I found the grind to be more of a chore than an enjoyable part of the game.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is praised for its creepiness, effectively enhancing the overall atmosphere, while also being complemented by excellent framerate and good graphics.
- “The music is hauntingly beautiful, perfectly complementing the game's atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack is a standout feature, enhancing every moment of gameplay.”
- “The blend of eerie soundscapes and melodic tunes creates an unforgettable audio experience.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The game offers a compelling atmosphere and engaging story, but players note limited replayability due to its short campaign length of about an hour and a half. While the experience is enjoyable, many express a desire for additional content, such as DLC, to enhance replay value after completing the game.
- “The campaign lasts about an hour and a half, and while there's not a lot of room for replayability, it's still significantly longer than the 10-20 minute clones that are out there.”
- “This game has a very unsettling atmosphere, the story is well thought out, and as I'm currently only up to completed chapter 8, I'm really looking forward to the rest. The game has well-placed jump scares and a strong PT vibe that makes it amazing. However, I would love some DLC because once the game is completed, I don't want to have to uninstall it due to the lack of replayability.”
- “The campaign lasts about an hour and a half, and there's not a whole lot of room for replayability, but that's still a lot longer than the 10-20 minute clones that are out there.”