SIMULACRA 2

About

SIMULACRA 2 is a single player role playing game with horror, mystery and thriller themes. It was developed by Kaigan Games and was released on January 30, 2020. It received positive reviews from players.

Simulacra 2 is a smartphone-themed found-phone horror game that takes place in a corrupted virtual world. As a detective, you investigate a missing person case by exploring the phone of the victim, uncovering sinister secrets and navigating a web of deceit. The game features a rich, immersive story with multiple endings based on your choices.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 559 reviews

story58 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

The game features improved visuals and a more coherent story compared to the first installment.
The WARDEN app adds a fun and engaging mechanic for solving puzzles and gathering clues.
The characters, while sometimes unlikable, are interesting and contribute to the overall narrative.

The scare factor is significantly toned down from the original game, making it less thrilling.
Some players found the dialogue and acting to be cringeworthy and not very engaging.
The save system is frustrating, with limited autosave slots and no manual save option, leading to potential loss of progress.

story
198 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
64%
7%
The story of Simulacra 2 is generally seen as an improvement over its predecessor, featuring a more coherent narrative and deeper character development, though it still suffers from predictability and a lack of horror elements. While some players appreciate the branching paths and emotional engagement, others find the plot repetitive and the characters unlikable, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience. Despite its flaws, many agree that the game offers an interesting exploration of themes related to social media and influencer culture, making it a worthwhile play for fans of story-driven mystery games.
- “The story proposed in Simulacra 2 portrays a reality experienced by many digital influencers and models, which are on the rise today, and the best of all is that the game contains characters played by real people.”
- “The story evolves based on how you play, and nothing is exactly what it seems.”
- “The game has some interesting developments throughout the story and has plenty of choices on the way that can lead the story towards a specific direction, with multiple possible endings.”
- “The story feels pretty flat to me.”
- “It was just frustrating, and in the end, I was just glad the game was over since the story was just getting really boring.”
- “The characters are poorly written, the acting in the bits is pretty bad, and the story is predictable.”
gameplay
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
74%
10%
Simulacra 2 offers an engaging gameplay experience that builds on its predecessor with new mechanics and a deeper story, providing around 8-12 hours of playtime. While the core gameplay loop remains similar, enhancements like the clue/warden system and improved interactions add depth, though some players find the writing and certain mechanics lacking compared to the first game. Overall, the gameplay is described as dynamic and enjoyable, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and character engagement.
- “Simulacra 2 offers several hours of gameplay, and it's well worth the price.”
- “Gameplay feels smooth, figuring out stuff is fun and I really liked a guy that plays cop (he's a fun gramps).”
- “Dynamic gameplay that is all about poking into every nook and cranny, and the more things you find the more options you have!”
- “Also, the gameplay's just boring.”
- “The problem here is that the gameplay seems to have been dumbed down in a very large way.”
- “It is impossible to get attached to any of them making dialogue choices feel meaningless and dialogue choices are the majority of the gameplay.”
replayability
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
53%
11%
Simulacra 2 offers significant replayability through multiple character choices, diverse dialogue options, and various endings, encouraging players to explore different paths. However, the presence of non-skippable cutscenes can detract from the experience, making some players feel that while the game is designed for replay, it may not be as engaging upon subsequent playthroughs. Overall, many users find the game enjoyable and worth revisiting for its story and hidden secrets, despite some concerns about repetitive elements.
- “A significant development in Simulacra 2 is the choice of the character you play as, adding replayability.”
- “There's a lot of replayability due to the multiple choices you can make that lead to different achievements and different endings.”
- “Great game, lots of replayability, amazing story, many hidden secrets to look for, definitely recommend.”
- “Even in the pursuit of alternative endings, the player must sit through non-skippable cutscenes, which can detract from the replay value.”
- “The biggest negative trait of the game is that it's much less replayable due to a lot of unskippable cutscenes.”
- “They have many endings, but the game itself is not really replayable because it means you need to go over stuff you've already seen.”
music
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
63%
11%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the atmospheric soundtracks and standout tracks like Rex's song, while others note the short tracklist and varying quality of the songs. Overall, the music effectively enhances the game's mood, though some players found certain tracks too loud. Despite its limitations, many players enjoyed the music as a significant aspect of their experience.
- “The audio consists mainly of atmospheric music, setting the mood.”
- “Also, the soundtrack of this game is amazing, and 'Multicolored Lies' is insanely good for a fake pop song.”
- “Super epic atmosphere and a very good soundtrack.”
- “The game has a very short tracklist, but the songs are better than expected, though they vary in quality.”
- “Aside from some parts of the music being just way too loud, even after I had turned it down almost to the minimum, it was a good idea overall.”
- “The audio consists mainly of atmospheric music, setting the mood, but there are moments where it feels lacking.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
55%
17%
Simulacra 2 features significantly improved graphics compared to its predecessor, with more realistic aesthetics and smoother performance that enhance the overall experience. While the visuals are effective and well-executed, they are described as not being extraordinary, yet they contribute positively to the game's immersive storytelling. Users appreciate the creative work behind the graphics, although some have reported technical issues that can affect gameplay.
- “Simulacra 2 takes the original Simulacra's premise and expands it with a slightly more coherent story and severely improved visuals.”
- “Overall, I like the new visuals and graphics.”
- “From the graphics to the gameplay, from the voice acting to the live video acting, every part was just amazing.”
- “Graphically, Simulacra 2 is effective without being extraordinary.”
- “You have to lower the graphics quality and then make the windowed screen smaller so that it won't freeze, and multiple people over the past 2 years have complained about getting stuck in one of the calls and not being able to hang up, thus you can't continue the game.”
- “The game contains simple graphics but very well worked; the cell phone where the game takes place is very realistic, which makes the game much more exciting.”
atmosphere
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
29%
18%
The atmosphere in Simulacra 2 is generally described as less creepy and immersive compared to its predecessor, with many players noting a shift towards a more humorous and satirical tone rather than genuine horror. While the game features a solid soundtrack and some thrilling elements, it lacks the eerie isolation and unpredictability that made the first game compelling, resulting in a less engaging overall experience. Despite its attempts at creating tension through jump scares and a decision-driven narrative, many reviewers feel it falls short of delivering a truly frightening atmosphere.
- “The atmosphere the game creates while you play is fantastic.”
- “Simulacra 2 is thrilling, intelligent, and has great actors, which mainly contribute to the great atmosphere.”
- “The best elements are there; the creepy atmosphere, the sense of being watched, the occasional jumpy surprise, and the realistic phone content.”
- “The atmosphere is less creepy than the first game.”
- “I enjoyed the game very much, overall, but the atmosphere became less isolated and eerie by including a police contact and hack tools.”
- “However, it really is a shame to see it coming up short, especially because Simulacra 1 showed that the devs are able to create an engrossing creepy atmosphere.”
humor
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying the lighthearted video calls and quirky character interactions, particularly praising the inept yet amusing detective Murillo. However, others found the humor inconsistent, with some jokes falling flat and detracting from the overall atmosphere, leading to a perception that the game sometimes tried too hard to be funny. Overall, while there are moments of genuine humor, they are often overshadowed by issues in dialogue and character development.
- “The video calls are funny and lighthearted, while the actor has to have been the best of the cast.”
- “Lastly, I enjoyed the extra bits of humor inserted into the plot.”
- “The only exception to this is your supervisor, Detective Murillo, since he's got a couple of funny lines, presents you his hilarious tutorial video and comes off as inept in some scenes, since he doesn't know jack about technology and smartphones.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
9%
83%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly during replay sessions where unskippable cutscenes and repetitive dialogue can hinder progress. While some enjoy the challenge of achievement hunting, many express frustration with the excessive searching for information and the lack of clarity in unlocking content, making the experience feel unnecessarily prolonged. Overall, the grinding can detract from the enjoyment, despite moments of satisfaction when progress is finally made.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “This can make achievement hunting extremely tedious, especially when compounded with unskippable cutscenes.”
- “Going through each time to acquire posts and photos and numbers to unlock later chat options is extremely tedious, especially when you're trying to get all of the endings.”
- “It's unclear when these occur so if you play in small bursts, you might find yourself repeating sections - which feels tedious when you're repeating dialogue that requires you to wait for the NPC to send messages.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has seen improvements in various areas, including acting and visuals; however, it remains plagued by numerous glitches, particularly with the in-game phone, which exhibits erratic behavior and can disrupt gameplay. Users report that these glitches, while sometimes adding a unique element to the experience, often detract from overall immersion and functionality.
- “There are so many glitches with this game.”
- “But I have to say, this one is buggy.”
- “The phone glitches and you literally click to progress the spoops.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players appreciate the impactful storytelling and emotional depth, particularly in character-driven moments, others feel that the execution falls flat, leading to feelings of embarrassment rather than engagement. Overall, it offers a range of emotional experiences, with some players finding it more compelling than its predecessor, while others are disappointed by its inconsistencies.
- “I love the 'choose your own adventure' feel it gives; and the story really strikes you emotionally.”
- “I've tried to play it 3 times, but the acting makes me want to cry.”
- “8.5/10, more emotionally involved than the first and offers probably 8-12 hours in total gameplay.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking, with some reviewers noting that while there are improvements in dialogue and script quality, the overall depth of character growth is minimal. The plot's nonsensical elements further detract from meaningful character arcs, leaving players feeling unsatisfied.
- “Great UI improvement and smoother control, high definition full-motion video, better character development.”
- “Mediocre visual novel with a nonsensical plot, very little character development, and an overall feeling of 'wow, what a waste of time.'”
- “Great UI improvement and smoother control, high definition full-motion video, better character development... but then it dipped right back into the nonsensical dialogue with vague answers to questions that you can't retract or expand upon that might change the ending completely.”
- “Character development was lacking a bit, but the dialogue and script were written quite well.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is heavily criticized for its intrusive ads and glitches, which detract from the experience. Players feel overwhelmed by the constant social media interactions and find the in-game apps, reminiscent of Instagram and Twitter, to be shallow and superficial.
- “The constant ads on social media are overwhelming, making the game feel more like a marketing tool than an enjoyable experience.”
- “The monetization strategy is intrusive, with frequent interruptions that disrupt the gameplay and immersion.”
- “It feels like the game prioritizes profit over player experience, with excessive in-app purchases that are necessary to progress.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The optimization of the game is noted for its effective use of live-action moments and casual performances, enhancing the storytelling through texts, emails, and phone calls. Overall, players appreciate the blend of these elements, which contribute to a more immersive experience.