The Outpost Nine

About

The Outpost Nine is a single player action game with a horror theme. It was developed by benjybates and was released on July 27, 2018. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"The Outpost Nine - Episode 1" is a hybrid Visual Novel/Point and Click game set in a lonely mining facility on a small moon. The crew responds to a distress call, finding a disfigured pilot and a parasite that puts them in grave danger. Gameplay consists of cutscenes and top-down point-and-click exploration, with menu-based actions inspired by Snatcher and Policenauts. The player must solve puzzles and navigate tense situations as the story unfolds.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 47 reviews

story17 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game successfully captures the atmosphere and tension reminiscent of classic sci-fi horror films like Alien and The Thing, enhanced by its retro visuals and sound design.
The story and writing are engaging, drawing players into the narrative and creating a compelling experience despite its short length.
The unique blend of text adventure and point-and-click gameplay offers an innovative approach, making it appealing to fans of both genres.

The game is very short, with only about an hour of content currently available, leaving players wanting more and feeling unsatisfied.
The dialogue and character development are often criticized for being poorly written and filled with clichés, detracting from the overall experience.
There are significant issues with gameplay mechanics, including an unintuitive interface and a lack of meaningful puzzles, which can lead to frustration.

story
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
58%
6%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and immersive, while others criticize it for being short, unfinished, and derivative of familiar science fiction tropes, particularly from the "Alien" franchise. Many appreciate the character interactions and visual style, but note issues with writing quality and a lack of player agency in the narrative. Overall, while the story shows promise and captivates some players, it ultimately leaves many wanting more due to its abrupt ending and reliance on clichés.
- “I had such a great time; the story and writing fit well, and the visuals are so captivating.”
- “The story really immersed me, and I got heavy 'Aliens/The Thing' vibes from this game.”
- “Overall, I really like the story in this game and enjoyed my time playing it. For such a low price, I would recommend you pick up this game.”
- “Unfortunately, it's clearly been abandoned and stops just as the story gets going.”
- “Eh, there are the beginnings of a halfway decent game here, but it is very short, unfinished, and the story is just not that good -- it borrows heavily from the first Alien movie without adding anything unique or interesting that would make it its own thing.”
- “It also doesn't help much that the storyline, including the characters and their motivations, are rather badly written.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
43%
21%
The graphics of "The Outpost Nine" are characterized by a minimalistic, retro aesthetic that evokes the feel of old arcade games, which many players find appealing and immersive. While the visuals are simple, they effectively support the game's atmosphere and storytelling, complemented by a fitting retro-wave soundtrack. Overall, the game's design resonates well with fans of classic text-adventure games, enhancing the nostalgic experience.
- “I had such a great time; the story and writing fit well, and the visuals are so captivating.”
- “I love the atmosphere; the music is very suitable, and the minimalistic look and retro style of the graphics are super appealing to me.”
- “Another thing that stands out is how all the graphics look as though the game is playing on an old arcade machine.”
- “While the graphics are rather simple, they work well in the context of what the game is trying to achieve.”
- “They aren't impressive per se, but they are enough and support the whole aesthetic.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The gameplay is a mixed bag, featuring an unintuitive interface and simplistic puzzles that detract from the experience. It alternates between a story-driven narrative with minimal player input and exploration segments that feel tedious and overly easy. However, some players appreciate the unique blend of visual novel and point-and-click mechanics, particularly during tense moments, suggesting potential for a more engaging experience.
- “I like the changes in gameplay, the story, and the interaction between the characters.”
- “The gameplay segment in chapter 2 is genuinely tense.”
- “A classic sci-fi trope adapted to an innovative and immersive hybrid gameplay, combining the animated visual novel and interactive point-and-click genres, all in a retrofuturistic style.”
- “The gameplay itself is bogged down by an unintuitive interface, and the 'puzzles' within aren't particularly engaging.”
- “The gameplay comes in two flavors, the first being a story-centric chronicle of events and personal interactions where you have virtually no input, the second being exploration of a map with a limited set of commands.”
- “The sections with gameplay are far too easy while also feeling tedious.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
17%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its tense and immersive qualities, effectively blending retro 70s and 80s sci-fi and horror elements through its music and minimalistic visuals. Reviewers highlight the strong homage to classic influences, with a focus on dialogue that enhances the claustrophobic experience, making it engaging despite the limited puzzle mechanics. Overall, the atmospheric design, including the soundtrack and aesthetic, creates a compelling and nostalgic environment that resonates well with fans of old-school text-based games.
- “The atmosphere was perfect for a mostly text-based game.”
- “The background audio is very atmospheric and the soundtrack and aesthetic complement each other well.”
- “From the John Carpenter-esque music playing over the alien-inspired menu screen, through to the groovy dialogue and genuinely claustrophobic atmosphere of the game itself, this low-budget homage to 70s sci-fi/horror hits a pretty decent home run.”
- “The focus being on dialogue and atmosphere, however, there is maybe a total of 2-3 puzzles only.”
- “They are the main pillar of the atmosphere, making sure the player is involved at all times despite the lack of visual feedback.”
- “The music and atmosphere is a clear homage to The Thing, with a very strong dose of Alien.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The music in the game is a nostalgic homage to 70s and 80s sci-fi and horror, featuring atmospheric soundscapes and retro-wave tracks that enhance the overall aesthetic. Reviewers highlight its strong connection to classic influences like John Carpenter, creating a claustrophobic yet engaging atmosphere that complements the minimalistic graphics. Overall, the soundtrack is praised for its ability to evoke nostalgia while perfectly matching the game's visual style.
- “The background audio is very atmospheric and the soundtrack and aesthetic complement each other well.”
- “From the John Carpenter-esque music playing over the alien-inspired menu screen, through to the groovy dialogue and genuinely claustrophobic atmosphere of the game itself, this low-budget homage to 70s sci-fi/horror hits a pretty decent home run.”
- “The soundtrack to the game is a perfect match to the genre and retro 80's style feel to the game.”
- “The music atmosphere leaves you wanting more; I recommend this highly!”
- “The first thing the player will notice is how the main menu, where the only real music track in the entire game plays, will remind them of 'Stranger Things.'”
- “Music is well suited to the era it's based on.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and overly simplistic, leading to a lack of engagement during gameplay.
- “The gameplay sections are far too easy and feel incredibly tedious.”
- “Grinding in this game is a mind-numbing experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment.”
- “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it feel like a chore rather than a fun challenge.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game experiences significant stability issues, particularly noted during chapter 2, where glitches prevent players from progressing.
- “Fun, but the game glitches out during chapter 2 and I cannot proceed.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to enjoy.”
- “I experienced multiple freezes and bugs that ruined my gameplay experience.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the emotional aspect of the game to be initially underwhelming in episode 1, likening it to an opening credits sequence rather than a fully developed experience, but they express optimism for future episodes.