The Complex

The story and acting are superb and with so many endings it’s almost impossible to predict how each decision will play out and affect the overall conclusion. A must play for fans of live-action games.

70%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

78% User Score Based on 979 reviews

Critic Score 63%Based on 21 reviews

Platforms

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About

The Complex is a single player action adventure game with horror, thriller, science fiction and erotic themes. It was developed by Wales Interactive and was released on March 31, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Apperson's The Complex is a choose-your-own-path game set in a locked-down London lab after a bioweapon attack. As Dr. Amy Tenant, your decisions and relationships with other characters lead to one of eight suspenseful endings. Interactions and choices affect relationships, shaping scenarios and outcomes in this sci-fi thriller."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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78%

Audience ScoreBased on 979 reviews

story273 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

Engaging story with multiple endings that encourage replayability.
High production value with good acting and cinematography.
Interesting moral dilemmas and character relationships that impact the narrative.

Choices often feel inconsequential, leading to a linear experience despite the promise of branching paths.
Some plot holes and logical inconsistencies detract from immersion.
The game is relatively short, with many scenes feeling repetitive on subsequent playthroughs.

story
710 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
56%
6%
The story of the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it engaging and suspenseful, particularly appreciating its interactive elements and multiple endings. However, criticisms abound regarding plot holes, predictability, and a lack of meaningful choices that significantly alter the narrative. While the production quality and acting are generally praised, the overall execution of the story often feels linear and underdeveloped, leaving some players disappointed despite the intriguing premise.
- “The story is engaging and although it takes some time to achieve all the endings, it was worth the time I put into it.”
- “The complex is a gripping and atmospheric FMV game that seamlessly blends live-action footage with interactive storytelling.”
- “The story is captivating and keeps moving at a pretty fast pace.”
- “Boy, howdy do we have some plot holes and strange decisions.”
- “The story is convoluted, and the only redeemable characters, in my opinion, are Amy and Rees, who happen to be the main characters with little to no support from the rest of the cast.”
- “The plot is shallow and predictable.”
gameplay
71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
81%
8%
The gameplay is primarily choice-driven, resembling an interactive film rather than a traditional game, which may appeal to those who enjoy narrative experiences but disappoint hardcore gamers seeking complex mechanics or action. Players can expect limited gameplay variety, focusing on exploration, dialogue, and straightforward puzzles, with some pacing issues and a lack of depth in gameplay systems. While it offers a compelling story and emotional weight, the overall experience is brief and may not justify its price for those looking for more substantial gameplay.
- “Its core gameplay revolves around exploration, dialogue, and light puzzle-solving rather than complex mechanics or action.”
- “The gameplay is a mix of exploration, puzzles, and dialogue choices.”
- “While it has some pacing issues and limited gameplay mechanics, the emotional weight of your decisions and the atmosphere of suspense make it a worthwhile play.”
- “Across every consideration, from a movie, a narrative, to a game with mechanics, this game fails.”
- “The gameplay variety is limited—most puzzles are straightforward, and exploration often feels like a means to advance dialogue rather than a challenge in itself.”
- “Limited gameplay mechanics: the gameplay is primarily focused on making choices and watching the story unfold, which may not appeal to those looking for more traditional gameplay mechanics or action sequences.”
replayability
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
57%
7%
The game offers a range of replayability options, primarily through its multiple endings—up to 9 in total—which encourage players to explore different choices and outcomes. While many reviews highlight the fun of revisiting the game to see how various paths play out, some note that not all endings significantly differ, which can limit long-term replay value. Overall, it is considered a decent pick for those seeking a short, interactive experience with meaningful choices, though opinions on its replayability vary.
- “The multiple endings give it solid replay value, and it’s fun to go back and see how different paths play out.”
- “This encourages replayability, as players can explore different paths and outcomes based on their decisions.”
- “It's everything there: interesting story, decent cast and acting, branching storylines leading up to multiple endings for additional replay value.”
- “When you have so few choices, you either have to make each and every single one count, or you're basically destroying any and all replay value.”
- “Overall a good game if you play through it once, the only replayability it has is maybe 1 or 2 playthroughs, taking that you skip 80% of the cutscenes you've already seen.”
- “But, with this game's price, replayability, empty mechanics and lack of content, there is absolutely no conceivable way I can see anyone even remotely considering recommending this game.”
music
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
66%
8%
The music in the game is described as sparse yet fitting for its near-future theme, with a hauntingly synthetic soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere. While some players appreciate the subtlety and emotional resonance of the score, others criticize abrupt transitions and audio mixing issues that disrupt immersion. Overall, the soundtrack is generally well-received but lacks standout moments, with many noting that it complements the game's cinematic quality despite some technical shortcomings.
- “Combined with Daedalic’s characteristic attention to atmosphere, subdued lighting, and a hauntingly synthetic soundtrack, the aesthetic immerses players in a future that feels both cold and alive.”
- “The music was fantastic and captures the mood, being emotional, quirky, and driving all in the right spots.”
- “It's everything there: interesting story, decent cast and acting, branching storylines leading up to multiple endings for additional replay value, subtle but fitting soundtrack, the right kind of humor, high-quality footage and production value.”
- “My only complaint would be the music cuts when different scenes or choices are played; it kind of ruins the immersion of the story.”
- “The background music fades away and it feels like it's loading the scene as you are watching it, breaking the cinematic structure a bit.”
- “Weird cuts and the music fading in and out is not helping.”
optimization
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
41%
9%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally solid, with most players reporting smooth performance and no significant bugs. However, some users noted that it can demand high system resources, causing their PCs to run at near full capacity. While the performances and visuals are praised, the optimization experience may vary depending on hardware specifications.
- “Runs smoothly — nothing broke the experience.”
- “Performance: I encountered no performance issues or bugs.”
- “From the meticulously crafted sets to the nuanced performances of the actors, the game's attention to detail creates an immersive and captivating experience.”
- “Optimization - it forced my PC to run at nearly 100%, although it shouldn't need to do that (Ryzen 2700X, Vega 64, 16 GB).”
- “Here is my Steam Deck performance review after spending about 3 hours with the game and grinding for all the achievements solely on the Steam Deck.”
- “This was strictly a Steam Deck performance review.”
graphics
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
51%
10%
The game's graphics receive mixed reviews, with some praising the stunning visuals, immersive cinematography, and high-quality filming typical of FMV games, while others criticize the low-poly art style and occasional B-movie quality. Overall, the graphics are described as captivating and atmospheric, effectively complementing the game's themes, though some players noted that improvements could be made in certain areas. Performance is generally strong, running well even on lower-end systems.
- “The game adopts a low-poly art style that at first seems minimalist, but upon closer inspection, perfectly complements its themes.”
- “Combined with Daedalic’s characteristic attention to atmosphere, subdued lighting, and a hauntingly synthetic soundtrack, the aesthetic immerses players in a future that feels both cold and alive.”
- “The visuals, cinematography, and direction are all top-notch - far above any other interactive game I've seen.”
- “Since it’s live action, you’re limited by film sets and filming quality — if you’re very picky about visuals or acting, then some moments might feel a little off.”
- “The graphics are absolutely horrible.”
- “They remind me of B-movie graphics from the 1980s.”
humor
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
15%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of cheesy, campy, and wacky elements that provide both genuine laughs and unintentional comedy, often stemming from plot holes and character absurdities. While some performances, particularly by Clare/Kim Adis and Reese, are highlighted as funny and engaging, the overall tone fluctuates between lightheartedness and moments of dramatic tension. Despite its flaws, many players found the humor entertaining enough to keep them engaged throughout the experience.
- “It's cheesy, campy, funny, sad, interesting, dramatic, and entertaining all in one.”
- “The acting is okay—Clare/Kim Adis is my favorite by far, hilarious and believable performance!”
- “I like the characters and how they used humor in some of the scenes.”
- “Every character is an idiot; the lead male of the game has dumb jokes that are not funny. In the middle of a life-or-death scenario, everyone is fairly casual and jokey with each other.”
- “The humor falls flat, relying on tired clichés and predictable punchlines that fail to elicit any genuine laughter.”
- “Attempts at humor often feel forced and out of place, detracting from the overall experience rather than enhancing it.”
emotional
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
94%
6%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by strong performances from the supporting cast, which enhance the writing and create layered conversations. Many players found the narrative to be heartwrenching and impactful, evoking tears and deep emotional engagement, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and gameplay mechanics. However, a few reviewers noted a lack of emotional depth in certain character choices and felt less emotionally invested compared to other titles, indicating a mixed reception in terms of emotional resonance.
- “The supporting cast also delivers strong performances that elevate the writing, helping each conversation feel more natural and emotionally layered.”
- “Heartwrenching, well written, well acted.”
- “Twisting and engaging plot that delivers suspense and emotional impact, as well as memorable and impactful characters.”
- “The story was incredibly boring and failed to evoke any emotional response.”
atmosphere
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
17%
18%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, characterized by a blend of subdued lighting, haunting soundtracks, and a captivating mix of science fiction and psychological thriller elements. While some players note pacing issues and moments of static gameplay, the overall setting is described as intriguing and well-designed, enhancing the suspense and emotional weight of the narrative. However, there are contrasting opinions, with some players finding the atmosphere undermined by poor storytelling and production quality in certain titles.
- “Combined with Daedalic’s characteristic attention to atmosphere, subdued lighting, and a hauntingly synthetic soundtrack, the aesthetic immerses players in a future that feels both cold and alive.”
- “The blend of science fiction and psychological thriller elements creates a captivating atmosphere.”
- “Atmospheric setting: the setting is intriguing and well-designed, creating a tense and claustrophobic environment that enhances the game's suspense.”
- “While the slow unraveling of the mystery builds tension and atmosphere, there are stretches where the game feels static.”
- “I couldn't take this game seriously because of the ruined atmosphere, infinitely boring and absurd storytelling, illogical characters, bad VFX, etc. It doesn't even have a chance to be bad enough to be entertaining, because the game is absolutely empty and featureless.”
- “I think this is partly to allow for scenes to be ambiguous so that you don't end up with the wrong atmosphere given a set of choices.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
78%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming and often tedious, requiring significant investment to achieve upgrades and complete content. Many reviews highlight that repeated playthroughs can become monotonous, especially when seeking achievements or exploring multiple endings that offer minimal variation. Overall, while some enjoy the challenge, others feel it detracts from the overall experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I was in the mood to play a video game, but I wasn't in the mood to play a game where I had to invest a lot of time learning the controls, grinding, listening to bratty players get mouthy to players who wanted to try out multiplayer, or requiring weeks to earn upgraded armor named rusted weak chestpiece scraps -2.”
- “And a good part of that 4 hours was grinding to see the last remaining scenes, the last 5 which I gave up on, on account of these scenes will have made barely any difference.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The stability of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users experiencing significant issues such as black screens and glitches that hinder gameplay, while others report a smooth experience without crashes. Overall, the game's stability appears inconsistent, affecting user enjoyment and accessibility.
- “For starters, I played this game on the NVIDIA 465.89 driver with no glitches or crashes.”
- “Can't launch it, tried the troubleshooting steps but didn't help, all I get is a black screen.”
- “noticeable glitches”
- “For starters - I played this game on the NVIDIA 465.89 driver with no glitches or crashes.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Overall, reviews indicate that character development in the game is lacking, with many players expressing a desire for more depth and growth due to the game's short duration. Critics note that the limited time frame hinders meaningful character arcs, resulting in a disjointed experience with numerous plot holes.
- “My only complaint is that the game is too short; I wish there had been more character development and world-building.”
- “My only complaint is that the game is too short; I wish there had been more character development and world building.”
- “There's no character development.”
- “There wasn't much character development, but I guess you really can't develop a character that much in 90 minutes.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy is perceived as a blatant cash grab, indicating that players feel the game prioritizes profit over quality or player experience.
- “This game feels like a clear cash grab.”
- “The monetization strategy is overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating how much you have to spend to enjoy the game fully.”