SIMULACRA

The studio clearly sees potential in the format as a storytelling platform, and I definitely want to see them refine it in the future.

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"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

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,050 reviews

story243 positive mentions

grinding11 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 can be cheesy and detracts from the overall experience.
Some puzzles may feel repetitive and not challenging enough.
The ending may feel rushed or unsatisfying for some players.

story
578 mentions
42 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and immersive, while others criticize it for being weak or overly linear. Many appreciate the unique storytelling method through a smartphone interface and the presence of multiple endings, which adds replay value. However, issues such as poor character development, cringe-worthy dialogue, and a lack of depth in the plot have been noted, leading to a somewhat divided reception regarding its overall effectiveness as a horror narrative.
- “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.”
- “The story is very well made, and I can't wait to replay it to get all of the different endings.”
- “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.”
- “The story is completely railroaded; it has multiple endings but no matter which ending you get, the story and game are pretty much the exact same aside from very minor character dialogue until the final scene.”
- “The writing is terrible, the voice acting is not great, there are several cheap jump scares, and the story itself is awful.”
gameplay
159 mentions
30 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its unique phone mechanics and engaging detective elements, offering a fresh and immersive experience that blends horror and puzzle-solving. While many players appreciate the intuitive design and multiple endings, some criticize the linearity and occasional technical issues that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is well-received for its innovative approach, though opinions vary on the depth of its story and complexity of gameplay.
- “The gameplay is super immersive, and the story is very thrilling.”
- “The gameplay is fantastic and I loved going through Anna's phone and slowly putting the puzzle together about what happened.”
- “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
59 mentions
66 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
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 smartphone mechanics to deepen the unsettling atmosphere. Overall, the game successfully captivates players with its dark themes and engaging storytelling, despite some criticisms regarding the narrative's resolution.
- “A terrifyingly thrilling story and game kept me on the edge with its dark atmosphere, hilarious characters, and tough choices.”
- “Creepy vibe, great atmosphere, engaging story with a compelling mystery and tons of twists!”
- “Amazing atmosphere, chilling sounds, interesting game mechanic, and a very original storyline - that's basically a recipe for an unforgettable experience.”
- “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.”
- “If it would stop there, it would be so good, but the story is unfortunately ruined by a terrible, unsatisfying conclusion, and all that build-up atmosphere just vanishes and you stare at the screen like 'are you kidding me, Mr. Developer? Couldn't you think of something even cheesier?'”
replayability
52 mentions
33 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits a good level of replayability, primarily due to its multiple endings, branching paths, and impactful choices that encourage players to explore different outcomes. While some reviews note that replay value diminishes after achieving all endings, many players appreciate the depth and variety offered, making it a worthwhile experience for those seeking to uncover all secrets and alternate narratives. The game's relatively low price further enhances its appeal for repeated playthroughs.
- “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.”
- “I'm glad to see that this game is replayable many times as there are so many potential outcomes to the various aspects of the game.”
- “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
39 mentions
21 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally well-received, with many praising the clean and convincing visuals that effectively simulate a smartphone interface. While some users noted that the aesthetics feel a bit dated, others highlighted the upgraded visuals and strong overall graphical presentation, contributing to an immersive experience. However, there are mentions of cliches in visual effects, suggesting that while the graphics are good, they could benefit from more innovation for deeper immersion.
- “The visuals and the UI are very well done.”
- “The graphics are good and the scares are really well done.”
- “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.”
- “Well, the only graphics in this is your phone.”
humor
35 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a blend of dark comedy and absurdity, often catching players off guard with its mix of funny moments and jump scares. Many reviews highlight the hilarious character dialogues and voice acting, which, while sometimes intentionally bad, contribute to the game's charm. Overall, the humor serves to balance the suspenseful atmosphere, making for a uniquely entertaining experience that keeps players laughing even amidst the thrills.
- “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.”
- “Good amount of humor, clever writing, and a few really good creepy moments.”
music
28 mentions
46 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many noting that it effectively sets the mood and complements the storyline. While some players desire a larger soundtrack, the limited use of music, combined with eerie silence and sound design, contributes to an intense atmosphere. However, there are concerns about volume levels and the lack of adjustable sound settings, which can 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!”
- “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.”
- “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!).”
grinding
23 mentions
9 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
48 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring multiple playthroughs to achieve all endings and unlock achievements. Many reviews highlight the repetitive nature of the gameplay, with a lack of options to skip puzzles or text, leading to a frustrating experience that detracts from the game's potential enjoyment. While some acknowledge the interesting premise, the grinding ultimately fails to maintain player interest.
- “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “One long, tedious grind.”
- “Interesting premise but failed to keep the player's interest with its tedious gameplay.”
- “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
15 mentions
93 % positive mentions
-13 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a wide range of responses, from intense fear and guilt to heartfelt connections with characters, though some players criticize the writing as melodramatic and unconvincing. Many appreciate the moral weight of their decisions, which fosters a sense of responsibility and emotional investment in the narrative. Overall, while the game successfully evokes strong feelings for some, others find the emotional impact diminished by poor execution in storytelling and character development.
- “Superb narrative and heartfelt actors.”
- “It actually manages to make the player take responsibility (emotional, moral) for some of the in-game decisions.”
- “I was so emotional at the end!”
- “The story felt incredibly dull and uninspired.”
- “I found the emotional moments to be lacking and unconvincing.”
- “The characters didn't evoke any real feelings; it was hard to connect with them.”
stability
13 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with players reporting numerous glitches that disrupt gameplay and detract from the overall experience. Many users experienced freezing issues and inconsistent performance, which undermined the intended horror atmosphere. While some appreciated the use of glitches as a stylistic choice, the overwhelming consensus is that these technical problems significantly hinder the game's effectiveness.
- “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
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its smooth performance and good visuals, typical for a 2D title. However, some users experienced performance issues with certain characters and noted that forced audio performances occasionally disrupted immersion. Additionally, running the game in compatibility mode was necessary for some players to achieve optimal performance.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “There is an imbalance between (unintended?) camp and 'horror', mostly due to a couple of voice-over performances.”
character development
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is viewed positively by some, highlighting its depth and the intriguing backstory related to the dating app, while others criticize it for being minimal and overshadowed by a nonsensical plot. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some praising the character interactions and development as a strong point, while others find it lacking in a more mediocre experience.
- “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
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy appears to rely heavily on ad placements, with some users expressing frustration over the prevalence of fake ads, which detracts from the overall experience. While the game itself is well-crafted in terms of characters and plot pacing, the reliance on ads may lead to a sense of boredom for players.
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “I find the constant push for in-game purchases really frustrating; it detracts from the overall experience.”
- “The game is fun, but the paywall is a major turn-off, as it limits access to content unless you spend real money.”