The Turing Test

About

The Turing Test is a first-person puzzle game set on Europa, one of Jupiter's moons. Players control Ava Turing, an engineer working for the international space agency, who must solve a series of complex puzzles using a remote drone. The game explores themes of artificial intelligence and humanity's place in the universe.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,196 reviews

story2.7k positive mentions

replayability64 negative mentions

Engaging story with philosophical themes about AI and consciousness.
Well-designed puzzles that gradually increase in complexity.
Good voice acting and atmospheric graphics.

Puzzles can be too easy and lack challenge for experienced players.
The story has plot holes and the ending feels rushed and unsatisfying.
No subtitles for audio logs, making it difficult for some players to follow the narrative.

story
6,383 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
3%
The story of "The Turing Test" is a thought-provoking exploration of artificial intelligence, consciousness, and ethical dilemmas, often drawing comparisons to classic sci-fi narratives. While many players found the plot engaging and the twists surprising, some criticized it for being predictable and lacking depth, with significant reliance on audio logs that were sometimes difficult to understand. Overall, the narrative is seen as a compelling backdrop to the puzzle-solving gameplay, though opinions vary on its execution and impact.
- “I liked the story quite a bit, and I feel like the story is the highlight above the actual puzzles.”
- “The story is interesting and the mystery of what's truly going on is compelling.”
- “The turing test is a story-driven puzzle game which revolves around Ava Turing, an astronaut woken up to solve problems and chat with the mysterious A.I.”
- “The story is bland, the gameplay is sluggish, the ending choice makes pretty little sense if you think the risks over for at least a second.”
- “The story seems like an afterthought.”
- “The plot is full of holes, the characters aren't well-developed (except for the AI, strangely), and the game sets up for interesting discussions about the nature of consciousness and creativity that ultimately go nowhere.”
gameplay
2,363 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
69%
4%
The gameplay of "The Turing Test" is characterized by its puzzle-solving mechanics, which draw heavy inspiration from games like Portal, featuring a series of test chambers where players manipulate energy orbs to progress. While the game introduces new mechanics at a steady pace, many players find the puzzles to be relatively easy and lacking in depth, often feeling repetitive as they rely on similar mechanics without significant variation. Overall, the game offers a satisfying experience with engaging puzzles and a compelling narrative, but it may not challenge seasoned puzzle enthusiasts as much as they would hope.
- “Overall, they're a satisfying collection worthy of being the central gameplay mechanic adjacent to a thought-provoking and ever more relevant narrative.”
- “Gameplay-wise, The Turing Test offers a series of increasingly complex puzzles that require logical reasoning and creative problem-solving.”
- “The game cleverly integrates its narrative into the puzzle mechanics, making each challenge a piece of the larger story puzzle.”
- “Some of the mechanics aren't fleshed out very well, and there aren't any puzzles whose solution isn't immediately obvious once you see all the components.”
- “The gameplay lacks challenge and can be monotonous.”
- “The big issue with the Turing Test is it has too many mechanics, and none of them are fleshed out or interesting enough to be considered central.”
graphics
1,259 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
39%
3%
The graphics of "The Turing Test" have received generally positive feedback, with many players praising the game's clean and visually appealing aesthetic, enhanced by the use of Unreal Engine 4. While some users noted minor graphical glitches and a lack of variety in environments, the overall presentation is described as stunning, with impressive lighting and detail that effectively create an immersive atmosphere. However, a few critiques mention that the graphics can feel overly shiny or generic at times, and some textures may appear low-resolution, particularly on lower settings.
- “Visually, the game is stunning, with crisp graphics that bring the sterile, yet beautiful environments of Europa to life.”
- “The graphics were gorgeous in places, so props to the team for that!”
- “The graphics and controls are absolutely lovely, the voice acting is pretty compelling, the writing is quite solid.”
- “First the menu visuals are non-existent, it seems like this is some sort of free template. The actual game looks bad as well, from the blurry font to the overblown Unreal Engine 4 effects. This is a $20 game, mind you, and it looks like a free Unreal Engine student project.”
- “The graphics are a bit too shiny, in that they have that generic, uninspired Unreal Engine look where everything is weirdly reflective and obscured by an uncomfortable amount of bloom.”
- “The graphics are tired, the sound design is tiring, and the gameplay feels like a chore.”
music
654 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
40%
2%
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its atmospheric and immersive qualities that enhance the overall experience. While some players found the soundtrack to be beautiful and fitting, others noted that it can become repetitive over time and lacks memorable tracks. Overall, the music is generally regarded as a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to its sci-fi ambiance and emotional depth.
- “The music is eerie, matches perfectly the game, but it always stays lingering in the background, and gives way to the gameplay itself.”
- “The pulchritudinous soundtrack fused with the soothing atmosphere of the chambers gives the experience an almost dreamlike quality.”
- “The soundtrack alone is enough of a reason for you to buy this game.”
- “The game can be really soulless with the same soundtrack playing over and over again and the posh design of the tests.”
- “Musically... it has some but it got really stale pretty quickly and I ended up just muting it and playing the Portal and Portal 2 OSTs.”
- “The music in this game is okay, though it felt like they tried to copy the atmosphere of Talos all the way, and that felt cheap, to be honest.”
atmosphere
382 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
31%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the eerie and desolate setting of a research station on Europa. Players appreciate the combination of atmospheric visuals, a haunting soundtrack, and engaging voice acting, which together create a sense of dread and intrigue throughout the gameplay. While some reviews note that the atmosphere may not always feel entirely consistent with the game's sci-fi premise, it generally enhances the overall experience, making it a compelling aspect of the game.
- “Suspicious circumstances breed paranoid thoughts after all, and as you learn about the crew's fate through recordings and journals littered throughout the station, the atmosphere of dread thickens.”
- “The visual design of 'The Turing Test' is sleek and atmospheric, immersing players in a futuristic and minimalist environment aboard a distant research station on Europa, one of Jupiter's moons.”
- “The atmosphere feels great with nice graphics and good sounds.”
- “The game's puzzle base is fairly fun, but I wish more was done with it, and the environment and atmosphere seem to try to mimic Portal, but fails to really capture the player compared to it.”
- “The game sets a heavy dark atmosphere which is appropriate for the topic, but you never get a break.”
- “I found myself putting the game down routinely just to give myself some air from the heavy atmosphere it creates.”
replayability
216 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
58%
30%
The game's replayability is generally considered low, with many players noting that it offers a short playtime of around 4 to 10 hours and lacks additional content or challenges to encourage multiple playthroughs. While some players mention the potential for revisiting puzzles or enjoying the story again, the consensus is that once the narrative is experienced, there is little incentive to replay the game. Overall, it is recommended to purchase on sale due to its limited replay value.
- “Good fun, unique storyline, a bit of replayability too.”
- “Short but fun little puzzle game that, although it suffers from the lower replayability found in puzzle games, is worth experiencing.”
- “In terms of replay value, it's very similar to Portal; the puzzles won't change, the story won't change, but once in a while you'll just feel like playing it through again because it's genuinely decent.”
- “The game's philosophical themes and narrative-driven approach might overshadow its replayability for players seeking more varied gameplay mechanics.”
- “Game only takes a couple of hours to beat and there's no replay value.”
- “Unfortunately, the game is quite short, has no replay value, and the ending is rather disappointing.”
humor
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
8%
The humor in the game is largely absent, with many reviewers noting its serious tone and lack of the witty charm found in titles like Portal. While some moments are described as unexpectedly funny or featuring attempts at humor, the overall consensus is that the game prioritizes philosophical discussions over comedic elements, making it feel more like a derivative and serious cousin of the Portal series. Players looking for humor akin to that of Portal may find this game disappointing, as it leans heavily into a more introspective narrative.
- “Moreover, this game shows a nice level of humor (dialogues between the protagonist and the antagonist are the best) while it challenges you with its own Turing test.”
- “The subtitles option is a very funny joke as only half the audio gets subtitled (no subs for audio logs).”
- “Bender (grinning): disastrously hilarious!”
- “It's not funny, and none of the characters are nearly as likable.”
- “As others have said, it's the unfunny and derivative cousin of Portal.”
- “Basically combines the bad things about P2 and TP, only picking a few of the respective advantages, like taking the uninteresting puzzle rooms from P2 and the not funny voiceover from TP.”
optimization
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
36%
9%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players noting smooth performance even on lower-end hardware and minimal bugs. However, some users experienced occasional stuttering and a peculiar frame cap of 62, which detracted from the experience. While the graphics are praised for their quality, a few reviews mentioned low-res textures and lighting issues that could obscure gameplay elements.
- “Graphics are well made and optimization is very good as well, recommend it to everyone.”
- “The game looks very sharp although most of the sectors tend to look very similar; on that note, it also runs very well on ultra; the optimization is great!”
- “The game's engine is extremely optimized.”
- “Right from the get-go, you are welcomed with a choppy, stuttering experience only to realize that there's a super weird frame cap of 62 that cannot be disabled in options.”
- “Graphics: the game looks very good; however, it seems poorly optimized, while having quite a few low-res textures.”
- “As it's an older title, there are no updates from the developer on bug fixes or optimizations.”
grinding
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
7%
87%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unfulfilling, with many puzzles lacking in complexity and engagement as the game progresses. While some puzzles are interesting, the majority are described as repetitive and overly simplistic, leading to a sense of boredom rather than challenge. The narrative may provide some intrigue, but it often feels overshadowed by the monotonous nature of the gameplay.
- “On the one hand, it's a puzzle game with logical puzzles, and no tedious achievements.”
- “They are not tedious and every chapter brings some new elements to the game.”
- “Nu rushing, no adrenaline, no grinding just pure mixture of puzzle and running around a bit with a good story.”
- “The puzzles don't get harder as you progress, just more tedious.”
- “After 6 hours in, the 'storyline' was played out and the puzzles became a tedious chore a long time before that.”
- “The moment I heard that I thought - 'no way am I playing this again!' and promptly opened the walkthrough the minute I couldn't be bothered with them - they can be quite tedious at times and the payoff is pretty poor.”
emotional
88 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The emotional aspect of the game is described as a mix of compelling storytelling and atmospheric design, with moments that resonate deeply, such as heartbreaking character interactions and thought-provoking themes. While some players found the narrative engaging and touching, others criticized it for lacking depth and emotional engagement, leading to mixed feelings about the overall experience. The ending, though brief, is noted for its emotional impact, leaving players with a sense of emptiness or reflection.
- “For all of the game's flaws, Tom begging Ava to wake up was a heartbreaking moment.”
- “The story was at turns interestingly dark and astonishingly heart-wrenching.”
- “I love this game in a special way, and it holds a lot of emotional significance for me.”
stability
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
7%
86%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, particularly during startup and loading screens. While some users experienced smooth performance with minimal issues, others faced persistent problems, including crashes and graphical errors. Overall, the game appears to require extensive troubleshooting for a stable experience, with varying degrees of success among players.
- “I noticed no glitches or bugs.”
- “No glitches whatsoever, solid game mechanics never get in the way of the puzzles.”
- “Runs great with minimal tweaking.”
- “Buggy to get it started (I literally have to delete a file just to get it to start every time), and this broke Discord's stream.”
- “However, after landing on Europa and entering the main building loading screen, my game permanently freezes (FPS counter goes from 60 to 1, then disappears). I have not been able to coax the game to go farther than this.”
- “Upon reaching the loading screen for chapter 1, the game freezes at 75% and will not load anymore.”
character development
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
44%
19%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the depth and evolution of relationships, particularly between Tom and Ava, others find the narrative and character arcs to be shallow or forced, especially as the story progresses. Optional puzzles provide additional context for those seeking more character insights, but overall, the immersion and complexity of character development could be improved.
- “There's for sure a lot of character development in this game, and it's interesting to see how their interactions slowly begin to change the more you progress in this game.”
- “Characters and story - 8/10: the character development is excellent, and the initial relationship between Tom and Ava is greatly complicated throughout the narrative of the game, which I always like to see.”
- “The game also offered optional puzzles to get extra bits of the story and character development if you're into that.”
- “The sheen gets taken off a little for me around halfway through, with the story beginning to feel shoehorned into odd character developments that need a little suspension of disbelief.”
- “There aren't enough easter eggs and character development is lacking.”
- “The story and character development are shallow.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game involves integrating advertising into the gameplay in a way that aims to engage players while promoting products, though this approach has received mixed reactions. Overall, while the game excels in various aspects such as graphics and storytelling, the effectiveness of its advertising method remains a point of contention among users.
- “The concept of attempting to wrap advertising in an entertaining format to get people to listen to a lengthy talk about the product.”