The Invisible Hours

91%
Game Brain Score Based on 382 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
The Invisible Hours Game Cover
A fascinating experiment that appropriates PSVR technology to create immersive theatre, The Invisible Hours is quite unlike anything else on Sony’s Virtual Reality platform.
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"The Invisible Hours" is a narrative-driven mystery game set in a sprawling mansion. You observe and piece together the stories of various characters, each with their own secrets and motivations, as you uncover a shocking crime. Your goal is to gather evidence and solve the case by exploring the mansion and watching the events unfold from different perspectives.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Virtual Reality
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Oculus Quest
  • Oculus Rift
  • Play​Station
  • Play​Station VR
  • Windows Mixed Reality
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

91%
Audience ScoreBased on 382 reviews
story149 positive mentions
stability6 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique and immersive storytelling experience, allowing players to explore multiple perspectives and uncover hidden motives.
  • The voice acting and character animations are top-notch, enhancing the overall narrative and engagement.
  • The time manipulation mechanics, such as pausing, rewinding, and fast-forwarding, add depth to the gameplay and allow for a more interactive experience.
  • The graphics can be blurry at times, especially when viewed from a distance, which detracts from the overall visual experience.
  • Some players may find the lack of traditional gameplay elements, such as puzzles or direct interaction, to be a drawback.
  • The ending may feel abrupt or unsatisfying for some, leaving unanswered questions and plot holes.
  • story442 mentions

    The story of "The Invisible Hours" is a unique and immersive experience that unfolds like a theatrical play, allowing players to follow multiple characters and piece together a complex murder mystery involving historical figures like Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison. While the narrative is engaging and filled with intriguing twists, some players found the ending unsatisfying and noted a few plot holes. Overall, the game is praised for its innovative storytelling mechanics, excellent voice acting, and the ability to explore the narrative from various perspectives, making it a standout title for fans of story-driven experiences.

    • “The inclusion of Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison as major players in the story adds another layer of intrigue and allure, considering the historical context of their real-life relationship, which was adversarial to say the least.”
    • “The story is incredibly interesting, the graphics are superb, the voice acting is stellar and on point, albeit a few missing sound effects here and there and a few graphical glitches once or twice, but overall a solid and polished game.”
    • “The story is full of twists, 'OMG' moments, and a scientific 'what if?' that will have you thinking well beyond the end of the game - all of these ingredients make for an incredibly immersive experience.”
    • “The overall story is predictable, but the way it is told is really fun to explore.”
    • “The story is there, you just need to follow the characters and see how the story unfolds.”
    • “Unfortunately, the main plot degenerates into a chain of plot holes towards the end, but until then, it definitely held my interest.”
  • gameplay76 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a unique time manipulation mechanic that allows players to pause, rewind, and fast-forward through events, creating an engaging "whodunit" experience as they explore multiple perspectives of the story. While some players appreciate the immersive storytelling and character interactions, others criticize the minimal interactivity, likening it to a walking simulator with limited gameplay elements. Overall, the game is praised for its innovative mechanics and strong narrative, though it may not appeal to those seeking traditional gameplay challenges.

    • “The mechanics of pausing, rewinding, and fast forwarding make for a super intriguing 'whodunit' unraveling of mysteries as you replay scenes from different characters' perspectives, uncovering hidden motives and connections between them.”
    • “Tequila Works, the developers behind The Sexy Brutale, continue their gameplay method of time manipulation quite masterfully here – you can rewind and fast-forward at will, and as an invisible observer of these events, you will find yourself exploring the mansion and the island to see all the events that unfold.”
    • “The gameplay is simple; you can walk around, stop, rewind, and fast forward time, but that does not make it any less enjoyable.”
    • “The gameplay consists mostly of watching things happen.”
    • “Actual 'gameplay' is minimal; player control serves more as a mobile camera that you use to explore the setting and discover the many concurrent events within.”
    • “No gameplay or challenges; all you can do is follow and observe.”
  • graphics68 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the atmospheric visuals and character animations, while others criticize the overall quality as average or below par, particularly in VR. Many users noted that the graphics can appear blurry or lack detail unless settings are adjusted to higher levels, and there is a general consensus that the game prioritizes story and gameplay over graphical fidelity. Despite these issues, the immersive sound design and voice acting often compensate for the visual shortcomings, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “The graphics are also amazing.”
    • “Crisp, clean graphics, immersive sounds (played in normal, not VR).”
    • “The story is incredibly interesting, the graphics are superb, the voice acting is stellar and on point, albeit a few missing sound effects here and there and a few graphical glitches once or twice but overall a solid and polished game.”
    • “The graphics are pretty bad, and the voices are so soft that even on full volume I struggled to hear what the characters were saying.”
    • “There are no graphics options for any kind of customization/optimization (framerate cap, v-sync, etc.), so all the dialogue was competing with the whirr of my fans and the anxiety of my laptop overheating.”
    • “Negatives: the game, even on the highest graphical setting, seems a bit blurry / not quite clear.”
  • music18 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the well-executed crescendos that enhance key moments, others find the soundtrack forgettable or lacking entirely. A few reviewers highlight the orchestral elements and fitting compositions that contribute positively to the atmosphere, but overall, the absence of a memorable soundtrack is a common criticism.

    • “The music was handled well, with musical crescendos when 'unlocking' particular scenes where clues were revealed.”
    • “The sound in general is great - the music fits the game really well and the voice acting is outstanding.”
    • “During special moments, the nice music sets in, which is also appropriate for the time the story is set in.”
    • “The music is either very forgettable or there’s no music at all.”
    • “Lack of soundtrack.”
    • “But consider that the plot is not amazing, it's just regular, that the graphics are very plastic and lack verisimilitude, and that the soundtrack (when there are any sounds going) is utterly uninspiring.”
  • optimization17 mentions

    The game lacks comprehensive graphics options for optimization, limiting players' ability to customize settings like framerate cap and v-sync, which can lead to performance issues such as overheating laptops. While the visuals and voice acting are praised, some players experience blurriness in default settings, though adjustments can improve clarity at the cost of performance. Overall, the focus on character performance and storytelling somewhat compensates for these optimization shortcomings.

    • “The default settings are very blurry (temporal anti-aliasing), but thankfully you can change this to MSAA and/or super-sampling to make it look nice and crisp - the performance is good too.”
    • “Amazing experience, great voice acting, great graphics and performance, extremely well written story.”
    • “There are some performance issues, as well as issues with the timeline system.”
    • “There are no graphics options for any kind of customization or optimization (framerate cap, v-sync, etc.), so all the dialogue was competing with the whirr of my fans and the anxiety of my laptop overheating.”
    • “First of all, there aren't any graphic quality options (besides the resolution and anti-aliasing). If you want to lower the settings to increase performance, or set them to high for a better viewing experience, forget it.”
    • “Increasing the quality helps, but then performance suffers.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive and detailed environments, particularly the mansion and its outdoor settings, which are enhanced by effective voice acting and ambient sounds. While some users noted that the graphics, especially character models, could be improved, the overall mood and storytelling create a captivating experience that draws players into its intriguing narrative. The combination of atmospheric visuals, sound design, and a compelling story contributes to a rich and engaging atmosphere that resonates with players.

    • “The raging storm outside, the muffled voices in the other rooms, and most of the ambient noise create a great atmosphere for this mystery; one that will undoubtedly captivate the player.”
    • “Often I find myself just looking outside the windows, to absorb the stormy cozy atmosphere.”
    • “Graphics and lighting could be better, but it doesn't get in the way of the story; however, moodier lit scenes would add considerably to the atmosphere.”
    • “The game feels like a modernization of the old real-time adventure game 'The Last Express', and like that title, the game is absolutely dripping in atmosphere and intrigue.”
    • “Often I find myself just looking outside the windows to absorb the stormy, cozy atmosphere.”
  • replayability11 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is limited, with many users noting that while there are some collectibles and achievements to pursue, the experience is generally short and lacks significant replay value. Some players found it worthwhile for exploration and completionist goals, but many recommend waiting for a sale due to its high price relative to the content offered.

    • “Yes, the game is really short, but it has some replayability value and nicely done achievements.”
    • “It may not have the replayability of some other popular VR titles in this price range, but it has plenty of content as well as collectibles and missable achievements that encourage exploration and will prolong the experience.”
    • “This is where replayability comes into play.”
    • “You won't find any replayability here, so maybe wait till it goes on sale.”
    • “But it's quite pricey (obviously for the VR development procedure) and there's no replayability value, so keep that in mind and perhaps wait for a sale.”
    • “No replay value at all.”
  • stability6 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is marred by numerous bugs, including control issues, sound glitches, and graphical inconsistencies, which detract from the experience. While the story and visuals are praised, the frequent technical problems, particularly with controls and compatibility, lead to a frustrating gameplay experience. Despite these issues, some players still find the game enjoyable and consider it polished enough to warrant support for the developers.

    • “The downsides are few, but kind of add up... first of all, it's buggy.”
    • “The controls are quite janky (on the Vive anyway), and the game is also very buggy - both of which make the game frustrating to play.”
    • “Then there was the constant sound glitches, the lip syncing issues, and the issues with ultra-wide screen compatibility that left part of my screen impossible to see.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The game effectively delivers clever twists and emotional depth through its character perspectives, engaging players in a detective-like experience. However, some users feel that the conclusion is rushed and leaves a sense of incompleteness, detracting from the overall emotional impact.

    • “Every twist and reveal is clever and emotional.”
    • “Following the various characters around, watching their point of view of events and looking around for clues made me feel like an invisible Jessica Fletcher.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect minimal in this point-and-click adventure due to engaging gameplay and helpful UI features like the map and timeline. However, some note that navigating between characters can become tedious, particularly when needing to rewind to previous points in the story.

    • “Additionally, jumping around between the actors can be a tedious process; finding them and rewinding until you get to the point where you last left off can feel frustrating.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

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Play time

7hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
6-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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