The Invisible Hours

78%
Game Brain Score Based on 492 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
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
  • Virtual Reality
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Oculus Quest
  • Oculus Rift
  • Play​Station
  • Play​Station VR
  • Windows Mixed Reality
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

78%
Audience ScoreBased on 492 reviews
story196 positive mentions
stability10 negative mentions
  • A genuinely unique visual novel-like experience that allows players to follow different characters and piece together the story from multiple perspectives.
  • Exceptional voice acting and character development, creating an engaging and immersive narrative that keeps players guessing.
  • Innovative use of VR technology to enhance storytelling, allowing players to rewind, fast-forward, and explore the environment freely.
  • The game can be buggy, with issues such as crashes, sound problems, and graphical blurriness that detract from the overall experience.
  • Some players may find the lack of traditional gameplay elements frustrating, as the experience is more about observation than interaction.
  • The ending leaves some plot points unresolved, which may disappoint players looking for a more conclusive resolution.
  • story522 mentions

    The game's story is a unique and immersive experience that unfolds through the perspectives of multiple characters, allowing players to piece together a complex murder mystery involving historical figures like Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison. While the narrative is engaging and filled with twists, some players noted that certain plotlines feel unfinished or contain inconsistencies, particularly regarding character arcs. Overall, the storytelling format, which combines exploration with time manipulation, has been praised as a revolutionary approach to narrative in VR, making it a must-try for fans of story-driven games.

    • “A genuinely unique visual novel-like experience where you can follow the story by following different characters around.”
    • “Only by following each character can you finally piece the whole story together.”
    • “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.”
    • “It also slightly irked me that some aspects of the story feel unfinished.”
    • “You cannot affect the story in any way.”
    • “The ending feels lacking and there are some plot holes too.”
  • graphics82 mentions

    The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the visuals can be decent when set to higher settings, they often appear blurry or subpar at default settings. Some players appreciate the crispness and detail in certain aspects, such as animations and lighting, but others criticize the overall quality and character animations. Despite these graphical shortcomings, many agree that the engaging story and strong voice acting compensate for the visual flaws, making the experience enjoyable overall.

    • “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.”
    • “Amazing experience, great voice acting, great graphics and performance, extremely well written story.”
    • “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.”
    • “The graphics for this game are terrible at first.”
    • “Negatives: the game, even on the highest graphical setting, seems a bit blurry / not quite clear.”
  • gameplay72 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily centered around exploration and observation rather than traditional mechanics, allowing players to pause, rewind, and fast-forward through events in a richly detailed environment. While some players found the lack of conventional gameplay disappointing, many appreciated the innovative time manipulation mechanics and immersive storytelling that create a unique experience akin to interactive theater. Overall, the game excels in narrative and atmosphere, appealing to those who prioritize story over gameplay.

    • “The game's intriguing mystery and engaging mechanics captivated me throughout.”
    • “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 doing so, and jumping everywhere in the mansion and on the island that you can, to see all the events that happen.”
    • “A truly spectacular use of VR and time mechanics to tell a wonderful story.”
    • “Really don't like the gameplay.”
    • “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.”
    • “There are no real objectives; there is no real gameplay.”
  • optimization18 mentions

    The optimization of the game is generally well-received, with impressive graphics and strong character performances enhancing the experience. However, some users noted performance issues and a blurry default setting that can be improved by adjusting to MSAA or super-sampling. Overall, while there are minor optimization concerns, the game's storytelling and voice acting largely compensate for them.

    • “Amazing experience, great voice acting, great graphics and performance, extremely well written story.”
    • “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.”
    • “There are some performance issues, as well as issues with the timeline system.”
    • “It's definitely not disappointing, and with a game so focused on character performance, I imagine it could have easily been bad.”
    • “As a result, it is ultimately the story, the writing, and the performances of the animators and the voice actors that carry the experience, and thankfully, that is indeed the case... for the most part.”
  • stability10 mentions

    The game exhibits notable stability issues, including frequent bugs, sound glitches, and lip-syncing problems, which can lead to a frustrating experience for players. While the graphics and story are praised, the overall polish is undermined by these technical shortcomings, particularly on certain VR platforms. Despite these flaws, some players express a willingness to support the developers, indicating a belief in the game's potential.

    • “The downsides are few, but kind of add up... first of all, it's buggy.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability9 mentions

    Overall, the game exhibits limited replayability, with many users noting a lack of incentive to replay after the initial completion, aside from collecting items or experiencing different character perspectives. However, one review highlights a strong murder mystery element that encourages multiple playthroughs, suggesting that certain aspects of the game may offer more replay value depending on the player's approach.

    • “Great murder mystery tale, high amount of replayability with multiple playthroughs recommended, multiple movement options to cater to how you want to play.”
    • “Which means some replayability...but only to hear/see different people during the main story.”
    • “You won't find any replayability here, so maybe wait till it goes on sale.”
    • “No replay value at all.”
    • “It took me about 4 hours to complete all the scenes with all of the actors, and there is not much replayability unless you want to find all of the collectibles.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its engaging story and excellent voice acting, creating a captivating experience that draws players in. While some reviewers note that the graphics and lighting could be improved, they agree that the overall mood—especially during stormy scenes—enhances the immersive quality of the game. Players often find themselves absorbed in the environment, appreciating the cozy yet dramatic ambiance.

    • “The characters, the storyline, and the atmosphere are amazing.”
    • “Often I find myself just looking outside the windows, to absorb the stormy cozy atmosphere.”
    • “No gameplay involved, only a good story with great atmosphere and voice acting.”
    • “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.”
    • “Often I find myself just looking outside the windows to absorb the stormy, cozy atmosphere.”
  • music6 mentions

    The game features a well-composed orchestral score that enhances key moments and aligns perfectly with the historical setting of the story, receiving praise for its quality and emotional impact.

    • “For the music, an orchestra was hired.”
    • “During special moments, the beautiful music sets in, which is also appropriate for the time the story is set in.”
    • “Great music as well.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players appreciate the inclusion of a map and timeline UI, which significantly reduces the tedium of tracking missed observations after multiple playthroughs. However, navigating between characters can still be cumbersome, as it requires finding and rewinding 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.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game engaging, as they immerse themselves in the perspectives of various characters, akin to being an invisible observer in a mystery. This connection enhances the overall experience, allowing for a deeper understanding of the characters' feelings and motivations.

    • “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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

76% average critic score

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Play time

8hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
6-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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