Sinner 97

About

Sinner 97 is a single player survival simulation game with a horror theme. It was developed by bubblegumentertainment and was released on November 22, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

Sinner 97 is a first person PSX VHS psychological horror set in 1997, within the confines of a shadowy religious cult. Remain hidden and overcome problems in order to escape the Father's clutches.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

86%

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 with a unique hide-and-seek mechanic, and the limited inventory system adds a layer of strategy.
It's a fun and quick game that offers replayability with randomized item locations and a leaderboard for competitive play.

The game suffers from frustrating mechanics, such as a lack of a proper save feature and occasional glitches that can disrupt gameplay.
The plot is generic and lacks a satisfying climax, leading to a feeling of emptiness after completing the game.
Some players found the AI behavior of the killer to be inconsistent, making encounters less tense and more predictable.

gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay is characterized by a repetitive loop of finding keys to unlock boxes, which can become tedious and lacks a satisfying payoff. While the game offers a tense atmosphere and engaging puzzle mechanics, some players find the note-reading mechanic frustrating and the ventilation system overly complex, hindering immersion. Overall, the gameplay is described as tight and bug-free, with potential for improvement in difficulty balance and monster mechanics.
- “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 of having to figure 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 too 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.”
story
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The game's story is criticized for being generic and lacking depth, with a predictable occult horror plot that fails to deliver a satisfying climax. Players find the gameplay loop repetitive and unengaging, as it revolves around finding keys without any meaningful payoff. While some notes provide fragments of lore, the overall narrative is overshadowed by the simplistic mechanics and the ineptitude of the killer, leading to a lack of immersion in the story.
- “This game reminded me a lot of 'Sagebrush', another pixel graphics cult horror game but with a bit more lore & backstory!”
- “So much story to unfold!”
- “The killer is deaf and stupid, and when you realize it, the game turns into a walking sim. 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.”
graphics
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The graphics of the game are praised for their top-notch atmosphere and retro PSX visuals, effectively capturing a cult horror aesthetic reminiscent of classic titles like Silent Hill and Resident Evil. The pixel art style and well-executed level design enhance the visceral experience, making encounters feel genuinely frightening and immersive. Overall, the game's graphics successfully evoke nostalgia while delivering a compelling horror experience.
- “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.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
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 the game's time demands, which may detract from the overall experience. Overall, the combination of gameplay, atmosphere, and map design has garnered high ratings from players.
- “Top notch atmosphere, well done PSX visuals and good level design.”
- “There's a very tense atmosphere and there are some nice puzzle mechanics of having to figure out where to use items.”
- “Atmosphere is godlike.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
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, leading to a relatively stable experience compared to other titles.
- “Found some minor glitches, like when pressing continue and then new game, it keeps loading the old save, and the same in reverse. It's not too bad, but it can be frustrating.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing progress.”
- “I experienced several stability issues, including random freezes and lag spikes that disrupt gameplay.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the game highly replayable, appreciating the opportunities it offers for 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.”