SIMULACRA 3

57%
Game Brain Score Based on 187 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
SIMULACRA 3 Game Cover
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"Simulacra 3" is a horror game set in the mysterious town of Stonecreek, where people are disappearing. As an intern at the local paper, you must help investigate these disappearances by hack into the phone of the missing Paul Castillo. Uncover clues, explore new apps, and face fresh terror as you delve into the dark digital realms and confront the Beldam, the ghost of a witch, in this third chapter of the acclaimed series.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

57%
Audience ScoreBased on 187 reviews
story29 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions
  • The game features an intriguing story that expands the Simulacra universe, introducing new characters and a different setting.
  • The puzzles are engaging and provide a decent challenge, making the gameplay enjoyable.
  • The new mechanics, such as the interactive video calls and the Atlas app, add a fresh twist to the gameplay.
  • The game lacks the horror elements that made the previous installments compelling, with very few jump scares and a less eerie atmosphere.
  • Character development is weak, with main characters feeling one-dimensional and less relatable compared to those in earlier games.
  • The pacing is uneven, with some sections feeling rushed and others dragging on, leading to a less cohesive experience.
  • story119 mentions

    The story of "Simulacra 3" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it less engaging and cohesive compared to its predecessors. While some appreciated the intriguing premise and character development, others criticized it for being convoluted, lacking depth, and failing to connect with the overarching themes of technology and horror that defined earlier entries. Overall, the narrative is seen as a slow burner that struggles to maintain player interest, with a reliance on traditional ghost story tropes that feel disconnected from the series' established identity.

    • “I loved the artwork and how the story unfolded!”
    • “The story is easily the best part of the game.”
    • “The simulacra mythology has always been interesting in its ability to create a technology-based supernatural horror story that turns our attachment to technology and our internet habits into our biggest dangers, and that continues here.”
    • “Evidently, more time was spent on the CGI and not the story.”
    • “Like all previous Simulacra games, Simulacra 3 has multiple endings, but they're just presented as text blurbs at the end, which feels like really cheap and lackluster storytelling, especially for a studio as brilliant as Kaigan Games.”
    • “The story just didn't grip me like the other two.”
  • gameplay47 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while there are some interesting new mechanics, such as the interactive map and CCTV segments, they feel overall less engaging and challenging compared to previous titles in the series. Critics have pointed out that the puzzles are often too simple and linear, lacking the horror elements that defined earlier games, leading to a sense of disappointment for fans. Despite some enjoyable aspects, the gameplay is generally viewed as a downgrade, with calls for more depth and innovation in future installments.

    • “Being able to snoop on someone's phone is a really interesting mechanic.”
    • “The new puzzles and mechanics are definitely what makes me like this game so much.”
    • “There are new mechanics, such as an interactive map with some interesting functionality and a camera surveillance mini-game, but overall it definitely feels like a Simulacra game.”
    • “The gameplay is a pitiful shell of what Kaigan Games put forward in the previous titles and in Doctor Who: The Lonely Assassins.”
    • “But the feeling that this is a horror game is non-existent; you feel the horror story, but the gameplay lacks horror elements like the prequels.”
    • “The maps integration sucks and I don't like it at all; it also takes the social media and puts it in the map app which has no reason being there.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The atmosphere in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players feeling it lacks the suspense and eerie qualities that characterized earlier installments. While certain elements, like audio and jump scares, were appreciated, many found the overall ambiance to be underwhelming, particularly due to the artificial appearance of the ghost and inconsistent audio levels.

    • “I thought that was a brilliant, fun, and added atmosphere to the game.”
    • “1 & 2 had the spooky, eerie atmosphere that had you on edge slightly, and the phone screen changed, making you more nervous thinking something was going to happen, plus the jump scenes, etc.”
    • “As with every computer-generated horror within a movie, it looks artificial and restricts the atmosphere.”
    • “All that atmosphere is just gone!”
    • “No scary stuff happened; the atmosphere was mediocre. The audio was messed up—some parts were really quiet, while others were too loud.”
    • “1 and 2 had the spooky, eerie atmosphere that kept you on edge, especially with the phone screen changing, making you more nervous about what might happen. But with 3, there wasn't really any of that.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unfulfilling, with puzzles that feel unnecessarily complicated and time-consuming. The process of unlocking new information is often described as lacking reward, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment. Overall, the experience is marred by drawn-out dialogue and a sense of monotony, detracting from the fun.

    • “Unlocking new information on the phone wasn't rewarding, and some of the puzzles were way too tedious, looking for a single spec of information in a sea of nothing.”
    • “While I normally love games that have you digging through social media/the internet to solve puzzles, this one felt very tedious and a lot of the time extremely obvious.”
    • “It was more tedious than fun because you had to watch some really weird forced acting as you played the truck guy in Phasmophobia on a far smaller scale essentially.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent glitches that disrupt gameplay, such as being unable to exit chats and encountering game-breaking bugs. Many players experience issues when attempting actions out of sequence, leading to frustrating interruptions. Overall, the game is described as "buggy" and unstable, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The game doesn't even work; whenever I open chats, I just can't get out, and overall it's just buggy as hell. I do recommend the other games, but this one just sucks.”
    • “If you try to do things before you're told to, the game usually glitches. It happens more often when [spoiler] Ruby is waiting for you to unlock the house. If you unlock it before being asked to, nothing happens.”
    • “I played this on my Steam Deck and encountered two huge glitches that forced me to quit out of the game and go back in.”
  • music4 mentions

    Overall, the music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players expressing disappointment in the lack of engaging sound effects and background music compared to previous installments. Many prefer the memorable tracks from the earlier game, noting that the audio logs in the current version feel less impactful and are not as enjoyable. Additionally, there are concerns about copyright issues related to certain music used in the game.

    • “The other thing that was really underwhelming to me was the lack of decent sound effects and background music.”
    • “I prefer the music in sim 2 to the audio logs in sim 3; the logs are a one and done while I listened to the songs in sim 2 for months after I finished the game.”
    • “The ad from the mistress of the night has copyrighted music behind it, and my YouTube channel now has a copyright claim on it.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is notably subdued, with a lack of memorable jokes or funny interactions that characterized previous titles. While some players found moments to chuckle unintentionally, the overall comedic elements feel toned down, likely due to budget constraints and a more cautious approach from the developers.

    • “Those games had fleshed out personalities and were funny (especially Rex in Season 2).”
    • “Considering the low budget, indie nature of the game, it's not surprising, nor does it take much away from the experience, but I did find myself chuckling at times when I am sure I was not meant to.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    While the game is technically replayable, many users feel it lacks the engaging replayability and mystery found in its predecessors, making it less compelling to revisit.

    • “This one doesn't have the same type of replayable feeling as 1 and 2, even though it is replayable.”
    • “I liked that about the other games; it added mystery and replayability.”
  • graphics2 mentions

    The graphics received positive feedback for their artistic quality, particularly the ending pictures and graffiti, which enhanced the storytelling experience. Reviewers appreciated the overall artwork and its contribution to the game's narrative.

    • “I liked the graphics, especially the ending pictures and graffiti.”
    • “I loved the artwork and how the story unfolded!”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of depth, particularly in the character of Ruby, who fails to evoke a meaningful connection with players. This results in a diminished emotional core, making interactions feel more mechanical than heartfelt.

    • “The characters are okay-ish, but the one you're interacting with the most is Ruby. She's written in a way that suggests you're meant to form a connection, but I just didn't feel that much for her or care about her, so the emotional core built around her doesn't resonate.”
    • “The game made me feel like I was actually interacting with... well, a phone.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users noting issues like poor greenscreen quality, video stitching problems, and stuttering. While the production quality is seen as lacking, the overall performance is still deemed sufficient to maintain player immersion.

    • “The optimization is solid; it may not be groundbreaking, but it effectively maintains immersion throughout the gameplay.”
    • “While not extraordinary, the optimization does its job well, ensuring a smooth experience that keeps players engaged.”
    • “The performance is reliable, striking a balance that enhances the overall experience without any major drawbacks.”
    • “But for the quality, it is nothing less than a lack of time or money: awful greenscreen, brutal video stitching, stuttering – I have to mention that the production is not so hot.”
    • “The optimization is subpar, leading to frequent frame drops and a generally unpolished experience.”
    • “The game suffers from significant performance issues, making it hard to enjoy the otherwise engaging content.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it interesting, others feel it falls short and lacks depth.

    • “Personally, the character development felt quite interesting.”
    • “The character development, on the other hand, is quite disappointing.”
    • “I found the character development to be lacking and unengaging.”
    • “The characters feel one-dimensional, and their development is minimal at best.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy is perceived as exploitative, with many users feeling that it prioritizes profit over player experience, likening it to a cheap cash grab.

    • “It feels like a cheap cash grab.”
    • “The monetization system is overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “I can't enjoy the game without being constantly bombarded by ads and in-game purchases.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy SIMULACRA 3

Play time

7hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
7-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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