Sinner 97

67%
Game Brain Score Based on 29 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Sinner 97 Game Cover
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"Sinner 97" is a PSX-styled, VHS psychological horror game set in 1997. As a responder to a distress message from a shadowy cult, you investigate rumors of missing children and disturbing activities. The game is single-player, playable in desktop and VR modes, with support for both standing and seated VR experiences. You cannot harm the cult's leader, "The Father."

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 29 reviews
atmosphere4 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • The game features a top-notch atmosphere with well-done PSX visuals that enhance the horror experience.
  • Gameplay is engaging and replayable, with a unique item-based puzzle system that keeps players on their toes.
  • The limited inventory adds a strategic element to the game, making resource management crucial and heightening the tension during encounters.
  • The game suffers from frustrating mechanics, such as a convoluted note-reading system and occasional glitches that can disrupt gameplay.
  • Many players found the plot to be generic and lacking in payoff, with a repetitive gameplay loop that can feel tedious.
  • The lack of a proper save feature forces players to commit to long play sessions, which can be a significant drawback for those with limited time.
  • gameplay12 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a repetitive loop of finding keys and boxes, leading to a lack of payoff and a generic plot. While the mechanics are generally tight and the atmosphere tense, some players find the note-reading and ventilation system cumbersome, detracting from immersion. Overall, the game offers a mix of engaging puzzles and a solid experience, though it allows for difficulty cheese through resource resetting.

    • “It has similar gameplay to Stay Out of the House, but gets rid of all of that game's annoyances while adding mechanics that make the experience much less exasperating.”
    • “There's a very tense atmosphere and there are some nice puzzle mechanics that require figuring out where to use items.”
    • “Gameplay, atmosphere, and map design is an easy 10/10.”
    • “The killer is deaf and stupid, and when you realize it, the game turns into a walking simulator. You always have a hiding spot at least 3 seconds away. The entire gameplay loop is finding a key to a box that contains another key to another box, and you keep doing that until the game eventually ends with no payoff. The plot is as generic as an occult horror story gets, and all the notes you read lead to no climax whatsoever.”
    • “I have to admit though that I didn't like every aspect of the game. For example, I think that the ventilation system is too broad and elaborate, slowing down gameplay tremendously and breaking immersion because they are too long and too safe.”
    • “Unfortunately, this allows players to cheese the difficulty by resetting all of the resources on demand. If you want a pure gameplay experience, I'd suggest playing through in one sitting, which takes between 2 and 3 hours depending on how good your memory is.”
  • story7 mentions

    The game's story is criticized for being generic and lacking a satisfying climax, with players often feeling that the narrative fails to deliver meaningful payoff despite the presence of notes and lore. The gameplay is described as repetitive, revolving around a tedious key-finding loop, while the antagonist's ineptitude diminishes tension, leading to a more walking simulator-like experience. Overall, while some players find elements of intrigue, many agree that the story does not elevate the gameplay.

    • “This game reminded me a lot of 'Sagebrush', another pixel graphics cult horror game but with a bit more lore and backstory!”
    • “So much story to unfold!”
    • “The killer is deaf and stupid, and when you realize it, the game turns into a walking simulator. You always have a hiding spot at least 3 seconds away. The entire gameplay loop is finding a key to a box that contains another key to another box, and you keep doing that until the game eventually ends with no payoff. The plot is as generic as an occult horror story gets, and all the notes you read lead to no climax whatsoever.”
    • “There is a story, and you do find notes that give bits and pieces of answers to what's going on, but the game is basically an arcadey version of Resident Evil 1, except you have a chainsaw-wielding maniac chasing you around in a horrific game of cat-and-mouse.”
    • “No story.”
  • graphics7 mentions

    The graphics of the game are praised for their top-notch atmosphere and effective retro PSX visuals, which enhance the cult horror experience. The pixel art style and VHS aesthetic successfully evoke nostalgia while delivering genuine scares, reminiscent of classic horror titles like Silent Hill and Resident Evil. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's immersive and visceral impact.

    • “Top notch atmosphere, well done PSX visuals, and good level design.”
    • “Retro stylized graphics fit this title very well, and every encounter with the father elicits a visceral reaction from me!”
    • “Even with the PSX-level graphics, I was genuinely frightened while playing this game.”
    • “Sinner 97 allows you to relive those classic PS1 horror game days, with a graphic and sound design that reminds you of Silent Hill and Resident Evil; you will be squirming in your seat in no time!”
    • “It nails the PSX/VHS/camcorder aesthetic.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is consistently praised as top-notch, featuring impressive PSX visuals and solid level design that create a tense and immersive experience. While the atmosphere is described as "godlike," some users note issues with VR support and time constraints that may affect gameplay. Overall, the combination of gameplay, atmosphere, and map design contributes to a highly engaging environment.

    • “Top notch atmosphere, well done PSX visuals and good level design.”
    • “There's a very tense atmosphere and there's some nice puzzle mechanics of having to figure out where to use stuff.”
    • “Atmosphere is godlike.”
  • stability2 mentions

    Overall, users report minor glitches affecting game functionality, such as issues with loading saves when switching between game modes. However, these problems are generally not severe and do not significantly detract from the overall experience.

    • “Found some minor glitches (like when pressing continue and then new game it keeps loading the old save, same in reverse), but not too bad.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
    • “I experienced several freezes during gameplay, which really disrupts the experience.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Users generally find the game to be highly replayable, appreciating the elements that encourage multiple playthroughs.

    • “It's also very replayable, which I appreciate.”
    • “The game offers a variety of choices that make each playthrough feel unique.”
    • “With multiple endings and different character paths, I find myself coming back for more.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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