SIMULACRA

About

"SIMULACRA" is a single-player Horror Role Playing game with an intriguing story and unique atmosphere. Players find a woman's lost phone and uncover clues via apps, messages, and emails to locate her. With a focus on realism, the game boasts pretty visuals, a spectacular soundtrack, and high replayability, but can be very grinding and buggy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,114 reviews

story489 positive mentions

grinding22 negative mentions

Engaging and immersive story that keeps players guessing.
Unique gameplay mechanics that involve solving puzzles through a phone interface.
Multiple endings and replayability add depth and encourage exploration.

Voice acting is often subpar and can detract from the overall experience.
Some puzzles can feel tedious and overly simplistic.
The ending may feel rushed or unsatisfying for some players.

story
1,162 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
54%
4%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and immersive, particularly appreciating its unique format of storytelling through a smartphone interface and the multiple endings that encourage replayability. However, others criticized the plot for being linear, predictable, and at times, lacking depth, with some characters feeling unrealistic or annoying. Overall, while the story has its strengths in atmosphere and intrigue, it also suffers from pacing issues and a few unsatisfying conclusions.
- “A terrifyingly thrilling story and game kept me on the edge with its dark atmosphere, hilarious characters, and tough choices.”
- “The story revolves around investigating Anna's disappearance, and as you interact with her friends and family through text messages and phone conversations, the tension keeps building up.”
- “It's just overall a very good game if you like story-games, because this game is all about the story and the story is amazing.”
- “So the focus of the game is mainly on the story, which I felt was pretty weak.”
- “The characters kept railroading me into doing things I didn't want to, like investigating a topic I didn't think had merit, or making me give information to somebody I didn't trust in order to push the plot forward.”
- “Also the story is completely railroaded; it has multiple endings but no matter which ending you're going to get, the story and game is pretty much the exact same aside from very minor character dialogue.”
gameplay
320 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
67%
3%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its unique phone mechanics and decision-based elements, which create an engaging and immersive experience. While many players appreciate the intuitive puzzles and multiple endings, some criticize the linearity and simplicity of the gameplay, suggesting it relies heavily on the story rather than complex mechanics. Overall, the game offers a fresh take on the horror genre, blending investigative elements with a captivating narrative, though it may not appeal to those seeking more intricate gameplay challenges.
- “The premise is intriguing, the gameplay is intuitive, and the fact there are multiple endings is satisfying (and the non-diegetic-seeming sounds definitely fooled me a few times, as if they were truly happening).”
- “Full playthrough took me about 6 hours and it was amazing – the gameplay is very simple, you just go through the found smartphone, but it is so fresh and original that you can’t stop diving deeper into the gameplay and story; the story itself is very catchy and it mediates between a cool horror story and kind of detective, where you need to solve smart, interesting puzzles.”
- “The detective aspects of it were engaging, the phone/app format was admittedly very familiar and made the entire affair feel more realistic, and the heavy choice-based gameplay was phenomenal.”
- “Interesting premise but failed to keep the player's interest with its tedious gameplay.”
- “A whole lot more could've been done within the framework and mechanics the devs came up with, but the game is marred with mediocre acting and subpar writing.”
- “At this point, I've lost faith that whatever this story is supposedly building to is even remotely worth slogging through the maddeningly boring gameplay for.”
atmosphere
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
31%
3%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively creating a sense of tension and paranoia that enhances the horror experience. While some reviews note that jump scares can detract from the overall ambiance, many players appreciate the chilling sound design and innovative use of a smartphone interface to deepen the unsettling atmosphere. Overall, the game successfully captivates players with its dark, engaging environment, despite some criticisms regarding the narrative and certain gameplay elements.
- “Creepy vibe, great atmosphere, engaging story with a compelling mystery and tons of twists!”
- “Amazing atmosphere, chilling sounds, interesting game mechanic and very original storyline - that's basically a recipe for an unforgettable experience.”
- “Somehow it managed to create an incredible atmosphere that I would not have credited a game that takes place on a mobile phone as being capable of.”
- “These sorts of experiences are made or broken by the quality of the text they offer, and this one lost its twist, its atmosphere, and any potentially emotional connection with the characters to cheesy, melodramatic writing.”
- “- cheap cheap 'horror' with zero atmosphere but instead lots of dumb jump-scares (really really a lot) and in-your-face weirdness.”
- “The only flaw I really noticed was the voice actor for Greg since it definitely took me out of the atmosphere this game had going for it whenever he opened his mouth.”
replayability
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The game offers a solid level of replayability, primarily due to its multiple endings, branching paths, and impactful dialogue choices that encourage players to explore different outcomes. While many players appreciate the depth and variety available, some note that once all endings and achievements are unlocked, the replay value diminishes significantly. Overall, it is considered a worthwhile experience, especially given its low price point.
- “The multiple endings give it great replay value, which is always appreciated.”
- “There's a lot of replayability due to the multiple choices you can make that lead to different achievements and different endings.”
- “This was a really interesting game that has great replay value as it has multiple endings.”
- “Despite having multiple endings, the game has almost no replayability.”
- “It doesn't have much replay value once you get all the endings and achievements, so overall, you really don't get that much playtime compared to other games, but the price reflects that.”
- “Although it sports 4-5 endings, there's not much in terms of replayability, and the only replayability you'll find is you going back trying to unlock different stuff, although very little changes in terms of narrative.”
graphics
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
76%
4%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players noting that while the visuals are clean and well-executed for a smartphone format, they can feel somewhat dated and lack special features. Others appreciate the upgraded visuals and effective use of atmospheric elements, highlighting the game's ability to create a convincing phone simulation. Overall, while the graphics are generally well-received, some players feel that improvements in visual depth and sound effects could enhance immersion.
- “The visuals and the UI are very well done.”
- “The visuals are upgraded, the acting is better, and the characters are more numerous and more involved.”
- “This game is a piece of artwork, very unique and really has the phone simulation figured out; it feels very natural.”
- “Graphically speaking, there's nothing very special, since the entire game is based on a phone screen.”
- “I gotta say the aesthetics are a bit dated.”
- “Better visuals and sound effects were needed for deeper immersion.”
humor
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a blend of dark comedy and absurdity, often eliciting laughter through its quirky characters, hilarious voice acting, and unexpected moments that balance the horror elements. Players appreciate the clever writing and comedic dialogue, which provide a refreshing contrast to the game's suspenseful atmosphere, making it both entertaining and engaging. While some aspects may come off as "so bad it's good," the overall experience is described as fun and uniquely humorous, enhancing the gameplay.
- “A terrifyingly thrilling story and game kept me on the edge with its dark atmosphere, hilarious characters, and tough choices.”
- “I found myself screaming and laughing at the same time.”
- “Overall, between the puzzles & stumped moments, frights, jump-scares, humor etc, there is nothing I didn't like about this game.”
music
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
48%
5%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers noting that it effectively sets the mood and complements the storyline. While some players desire a larger soundtrack, they appreciate the limited use of music combined with eerie silence and sound design, which contributes to the game's intensity. However, there are concerns about the volume levels, particularly in relation to voice acting, and technical issues with sound controls that detract from the experience.
- “The soundtrack to this game is amazing.”
- “I love this game's story, and damn the soundtrack is good.”
- “While doing so, through music and ambient sounds, and a scare from time to time, this game creates an extremely intense atmosphere and pulls you into its world!”
- “Especially in the later part of the game, the music is a tad too loud in comparison with the voices, so understanding suffers from it.”
- “On the technical side, the PC port kind of sucks in several aspects: tabbing doesn't move you through different textboxes, backspacing erases entire words, the sound is mind-numbingly high and there is no volume slider anywhere to be found (I literally played at 1/100 volume with my headphones, and it almost did my head in), occasional bugs with event music not stopping (yay, the screeches and white noises!) or completely freezing (yay, the kill & restarts!).”
- “Part of me wishes I had some more songs to add to my gamer main character syndrome Spotify playlist, but I also do think limiting the soundtrack and sticking to eerie silence cut off by that terrifying sound design is the way to go.”
grinding
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
48%
48%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring multiple playthroughs to unlock achievements and endings. Players frequently mention the lack of options to skip repetitive puzzles and dialogues, leading to a frustrating experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game. Despite an interesting premise, the linear gameplay and repetitive nature make it feel like a grind, prompting some to suggest that players will need "a second life" to fully engage with it.
- “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “One long, tedious grind.”
- “The game is strictly linear and although you can speed up the text on your second playthrough, it's still tedious as hell to click through all those identical texts and puzzles just to see another ending.”
- “No option to skip puzzles for additional playthroughs means you'll have to do them over and over again, which can be pretty tedious if you're trying to get all the achievements.”
emotional
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
7%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of responses, from intense fear and moral responsibility to disappointment in character development and narrative execution. While some players found the experience deeply moving and engaging, others criticized the writing as melodramatic and the emotional performances as unconvincing. Overall, the game successfully creates a sense of emotional investment, particularly through its decision-making mechanics, but opinions vary on the effectiveness of its storytelling.
- “Superb narrative and heartfelt actors.”
- “I was so emotional at the end!”
- “It actually manages to make the player take responsibility (emotional, moral) for some of the in-game decisions.”
stability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with frequent glitches causing frustration and interruptions in gameplay. Players report that these technical issues detract from the overall experience, making it difficult to engage with the story and diminishing the intended horror elements. While some appreciate the use of glitches as a stylistic choice, many find them overwhelming and detrimental to the game's seriousness.
- “The game freezes and you won't be able to go on.”
- “I have tried several times and it glitches in different parts of the story.”
- “The fact that I liked some creepy guy who urinated in public over the main character... I know the game is supposed to be serious, but I can't take it seriously with the over-the-top glitches and script.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised as excellent, particularly for a 2D title, resulting in smooth performance and good visuals. However, some users experienced issues with specific voice performances that disrupted immersion, and a few had to adjust settings for optimal play on Windows 10. Despite these minor drawbacks, the game maintains a solid performance with enjoyable elements like skippable puzzles and a decent plot.
- “The optimization is top notch, which is normal since it's a 2D game.”
- “Smooth performance, good visuals, excellent background music, a decent plot, and what most pleased me: skippable puzzles.”
- “I had to run it in Windows 7 compatibility mode with fullscreen optimizations disabled.”
- “Cons: bad performance by some actors, sometimes they break a little bit of the immersion by giving us forced audio performances (I'm looking at you 'Greg').”
- “I'm running Windows 10 and had to run it in Windows 7 compatibility mode with fullscreen optimizations disabled.”
- “[*] Imbalance between (unintended?) camp and 'horror' (mostly to do with a couple of voice-over performances).”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
17%
17%
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players praise it as impressive and integral to the narrative, others criticize it as lacking depth and coherence, contributing to an overall mediocre experience. The contrasting opinions highlight that, despite some strong elements, the execution of character arcs can feel inconsistent.
- “Yet the character development is great, and looking back on her life and what led up to the moments, with the mystery behind the dating app really made the game intriguing.”
- “It is a fantastic game with solid interaction with the phone, impressive character development, a good mystery, and a nice concept to ponder upon at the end.”
- “There is so much that could have gone right with this game, but it ended up being a mediocre visual novel with a nonsensical plot, very little character development, and an overall feeling of 'wow, what a waste of time.'”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy appears to rely heavily on fake ads, which some users find unengaging and tedious, leading to a lack of genuine interest in the gameplay. Overall, the approach to monetization may detract from the overall experience, as players often resort to watching ads out of boredom rather than enjoyment.