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.

A dead influencer. An obsessed detective. Three suspects. Piece together the truth by going through the victim’s phone messages, videos, and social media. The follow up to the critically acclaimed Simulacra. Investigate a mysterious death with the only tool you have – the victim’s phone.

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83%

Audience ScoreBased on 791 reviews

story85 positive mentions

grinding14 negative mentions

Engaging mystery with multiple endings and replay value offering different story branches.
Authentic phone UI and immersive detective gameplay with puzzle solving mixed with social media content.
Strong social commentary on influencer culture and technology use, combined with a chilling atmosphere.

Poor acting and cringey dialogue detract from immersion and player connection to characters.
Game breaking bugs, including soft locks and crashes near the end, affect playability.
Timing constraints on dialogue responses and unskippable cutscenes make replaying tedious and frustrating.

story
284 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
62%
8%
The story in this game offers a complex, branching detective narrative centered around social media influencers, with multiple endings and varied paths that enhance replayability. While many find it engaging, immersive, and emotionally impactful, some criticize it for predictable plot points, occasional pacing issues, rough acting, and a diluted horror atmosphere compared to the first game. Overall, it is praised for its innovative storytelling approach but divided on its execution and depth.
- “The true ending is incredibly rewarding, the story is captivating, and the choices you make significantly impact what happens next.”
- “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 game even shows a "decision tree" at the end to show the decisions the player took and how many decisions they could have made instead at each point of the game.”
- “Simulacra 2 offers an engaging story that pulls you in right from the start.”
- “It's impossible to get into the story; even my Twitch chat struggled to engage with the game.”
- “The characters are poorly written, the acting is pretty bad, and the story is predictable. Unlike the first game, it was way easier to get the 'good' ending, and the lack of horror was pretty disappointing.”
- “The story is not that different and, honestly, this game started to make me dislike the first one because the more you look at the story, the 'mystery' becomes weaker, the story makes less sense overall, and the jumpscares become cheaper.”
gameplay
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
73%
6%
Simulacra 2's gameplay centers on exploration, investigation, and puzzle-solving within a smartphone interface, offering a straightforward but immersive experience that expands on its predecessor with new mechanics like a clue system and warden database. While some players praise its unique, engaging gameplay and replayability, others find it repetitive, slow, or limited in action, noting occasional technical issues and mixed reactions to added mechanics. Overall, it suits fans of narrative-driven interactive horror but may disappoint those seeking fast-paced or traditional gameplay elements.
- “From a gameplay standpoint, Simulacra 2 keeps mechanics straightforward, focusing primarily on exploration and puzzle-solving within the phone’s ecosystem.”
- “The mechanics feel deeper and the whole clue mechanic is pretty neat, feeling a lot more organic than the first one.”
- “Like I said, there are a couple new gameplay mechanics that really add to the whole experience.”
- “This game has multiple sequence problems, linear in a very artificial way, that broke gameplay several times.”
- “Worse than the first game in terms of gameplay, making it a chore to play this game more than once.”
- “Unfortunately, they completely ruined the experience by adding a few ridiculous mechanics that weren't present in the first game like timed replies and a clue processing system similar to that of Orwell.”
music
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
66%
8%
The game's music is generally praised for its chill, atmospheric qualities that enhance the horror vibe, with standout tracks like Rex's song receiving special mention. While the soundtrack is relatively short and sometimes varies in quality, it effectively supports the mood and includes unique features such as an in-game music player. Some users noted occasional volume issues and minor playback quirks but overall found the music a strong complement to the gameplay experience.
- “The audio design further enhances the atmosphere, with subtle background noises, glitch effects, and tense musical cues that heighten the sense of dread without overwhelming the player.”
- “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 music has a very short tracklist, and the songs 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.”
- “Once you play the song and pause it, it automatically starts playing any time you hit the back button on the phone and you have to go into media and pause it again to get it to stop.”
replayability
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
59%
8%
The game offers strong replayability through multiple choices, varied endings, and character options, encouraging players to explore different storylines and achievements. However, some players note that unskippable cutscenes and repeated content can detract from the experience. Overall, it provides a rewarding replay value for those interested in uncovering all its secrets and alternate outcomes.
- “Has some nice achievements at least and a sped up version for further playthroughs, as well as some replayability because of the many choices and multiple endings.”
- “High replay value - so many options were not discovered in the first playthrough!”
- “The dialogue options are plenty, there's 2 starting points, and multiple endings which give the game good replay value.”
- “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.”
- “Designed to be replayed, but is not really replayable because it requires you to play substantially the same game and spend tons of time going through mostly the same motions.”
humor
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often described as campy, silly, and sometimes unintentionally funny, with standout moments coming from quirky characters like Detective Murillo and amusing in-game interactions. While the comedic elements add charm and lighten the spooky atmosphere, some players find the humor cringy or overdone, occasionally undermining the intended horror vibe. Overall, the game blends humor and horror with a satirical tone, making it engaging and entertaining despite mixed opinions on the acting and comedic delivery.
- “The acting is amazing, the characters diverse and hilarious, the amount of apps you can go through...there's a lot to like about this.”
- “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.”
- “It's got a special place in my heart for games that have tried their best to be entertaining, and Simulacra 2 is nothing but entertaining, even if unintentionally funny instead of scary lol.”
graphics
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
59%
11%
The game's graphics combine live-action footage with stylized phone interfaces, creating an engaging and realistic aesthetic that complements the story. While generally praised for smooth visuals and effective design, some users report occasional glitches, UI issues, and performance lags. Overall, the graphics are appreciated more for enhancing atmosphere than for technical excellence.
- “The contrast between the polished, real-world video segments and the stylized phone apps creates an engaging aesthetic tension that complements the story’s themes of appearance versus reality.”
- “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 game also has simple but very well-worked graphics; the cell phone where the game takes place is very realistic and makes the game much more exciting.”
- “From the graphics to the gameplay, from the voice acting to the live video acting, every part was just amazing.”
- “One is a graphical lock where a "glitch" occurs during a cutscene, but even after the scene ends, the glitch persisted the entire time, making all text and UI elements completely unreadable.”
- “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 video editing is clean and engaging at first, but bzzzzzzzz distortion effect bzzzzzzzzzz soon shattered by the team's overreliance on jumpscare confused visuals with no clear idea except alluding to more depth than the game has.”
atmosphere
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
44%
13%
Simulacra 2 builds a tense, immersive atmosphere through slow-burn pacing, unsettling digital intimacy, and strong audio design, but many feel it lacks the eerie, isolated horror vibe and effective scares that made the first game so compelling. While it expands the scope and adds complexity, the horror elements are more subtle and less frightening, sometimes leaning toward a satirical or less intense tone. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its mood and tension but viewed as a weaker, less creepy evolution compared to its predecessor.
- “Unlike traditional jump-scare horror, Simulacra 2 opts for a slow-burn approach that builds tension through atmosphere, pacing, and the unsettling intimacy of invading someone’s personal digital space.”
- “The audio design further enhances the atmosphere, with subtle background noises, glitch effects, and tense musical cues that heighten the sense of dread without overwhelming the player.”
- “Simulacra 2 is thrilling, intelligent, and has great actors, which mainly contribute to the great atmosphere.”
- “They increased the production value and the scope, but downgraded the horror elements into mere atmosphere elements.”
- “The atmosphere is less creepy than the first game.”
- “The atmosphere became less isolated and eerie by including a police contact and hack tools.”
grinding
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
82%
Grinding in the game is often described as tedious and repetitive, especially due to unskippable dialogues, slow pacing, and the need to repeatedly search through extensive in-game texts and social media posts. While the detective work can be enjoyable, the process of gathering clues and replaying sections to unlock all endings or achievements can feel monotonous and time-consuming.
- “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.”
- “- Too much tedious searching useless filler fake social media posts for information that you need, but doesn't get saved to your clues (e.g., when cracking a locker combo).”
stability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game heavily incorporates glitches and audio distortions to create psychological horror, though many users report frequent bugs and technical issues that disrupt gameplay. While some appreciate the eerie "glitch" mechanic, others find the bugs frustrating and feel they detract from the experience. Overall, stability is a mixed aspect, with technical problems significantly impacting player enjoyment.
- “There are so many glitches with this game.”
- “With the annoyingly can't-skip cut scene I had to go through and found the game bugged again and again, eventually, I gave up because I'm fed up with the game being so buggy.”
- “This game is terrifyingly broken and super buggy.”
emotional
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a strong emotional impact through its humanized character, Maya, and a blend of psychological horror and interactive storytelling that engages players deeply. While many appreciate the emotional depth and suspense, some find certain dramatic moments flat and the narrative less compelling compared to its predecessor. Overall, it evokes a range of emotions but may divide players based on expectations and storytelling execution.
- “Maya’s character, portrayed through live-action video clips and digital interactions, adds a humanizing dimension that deepens emotional investment.”
- “The game’s subtle psychological horror, combined with a believable digital interface and emotionally charged narrative, offers a memorable experience for fans of interactive storytelling and slow-building suspense.”
- “I love the "choose your own adventure" feel it gives; and the story really strikes you emotionally.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's optimization highlights strong performances that enhance the experience despite its somewhat dated core design. While the first installment relied on casual live-action recordings and text-based storytelling, the current version benefits from improved acting and presentation.
- “A rather archaic game at its core, however the performances truly heighten the experience.”
- “Great performance.”
- “And I have to say that a couple of the actors in the game actually did a good job on their performances.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Character development in the game is inconsistent, with some improvement noted in the main character but generally lacking depth for the broader cast. While dialogue and script quality are praised, the development often feels insufficient and sometimes overshadowed by confusing or nonsensical plot elements.
- “The game also struggles somewhat with character development beyond Maya, making it harder to fully connect with the broader cast.”
- “Mediocre visual novel with a nonsensical plot, very little character development, and an overall feeling of 'wow, what a waste of time.'”
- “Character development was lacking a bit, but dialogue and script were written quite well.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization relies heavily on intrusive ads and superficial social media-like apps, leading to a disruptive and glitchy experience that detracts from the overall atmosphere.