Uncanny Valley

About

Uncanny Valley is a true survival horror indie game, available on Steam, that differentiates itself from action-oriented titles. Players control a security guard in a remote facility, where they must balance exploration, evasion, and engagement with various threats while uncovering a chilling mystery. The game is known for its unsettling atmosphere, multiple endings, and tough choices that impact the story.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 357 reviews

story65 positive mentions

stability58 negative mentions

The game has a captivating atmosphere and art style reminiscent of classic horror games, creating a sense of dread and unease.
Uncanny Valley features a branching narrative with multiple endings, encouraging replayability and exploration of different choices.
The sound design and music effectively enhance the horror experience, contributing to the overall tension and immersion.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including issues with dialogue overlapping, controls being unresponsive, and save files being deleted upon completion.
The time limit mechanic is frustrating, as it restricts exploration and can lead to missing important story elements.
The controls are clunky and unintuitive, making interactions cumbersome and detracting from the overall experience.

story
257 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
68%
6%
The story of "Uncanny Valley" is characterized by its intriguing yet convoluted narrative, which unfolds through multiple playthroughs and branching paths, offering a mix of horror and mystery. While some players appreciate the atmospheric storytelling and the potential for varied endings, many criticize the execution as disjointed and confusing, often hindered by bugs and pacing issues that detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game presents a compelling premise that may appeal to those willing to invest time in uncovering its deeper layers.
- “The story is good, keeps the mystery there until just the right time where you are hit with the truth and it wants you dead..or not...like I said there are many endings and it all varies on how you play, how you did or didn't do your job or if you decided to sleep early or not!”
- “Uncanny Valley is story-driven in the best way possible. In a world of horror games full of jump scares, Uncanny Valley is really good at building tension through audio tapes, emails, and subtle storytelling.”
- “The story itself is interesting, and I really like how pieces of the backstory are littered around haphazardly, so that you have to put some work into figuring out the chronological order of events that happened before you arrived.”
- “The overall flow of the game and story was disconnected, confusing, and outright buggy in some cases.”
- “The story is so jumpy and fast-paced that I feel I can never finish the current plot point or information dump before it throws me out of the scene and forces me to leave behind everything I only just started doing.”
- “The biggest issue I have with this game is that it is a choice-based game where you have no idea where you are supposed to make choices or why to make them until after you have played it once or twice and see the overarching story some more, this leads to playthrough 1 and 2 being 5 nights of total boredom and looking around trying to find something exciting.”
gameplay
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The gameplay of "Uncanny Valley" is widely criticized for being clunky, buggy, and poorly designed, detracting from the otherwise intriguing story and atmosphere. Players report tedious mechanics, frustrating controls, and a lack of clear guidance, which make exploration and puzzle-solving feel more like a chore than an engaging experience. While some appreciate the game's unique elements and potential for suspense, the overall execution leaves much to be desired, leading to a mixed reception.
- “Gameplay primarily consists of collecting items to solve puzzles, and later incorporates some stealth and action elements.”
- “But when the game isn't making you walk forever, it can actually have some really charming and fun mechanics + narrative.”
- “The gameplay is interactive and fun, although it took me a minute to figure out the controls.”
- “However, the gameplay leaves a lot to be desired.”
- “Nice atmosphere, music, art, and story, but the gameplay is tedious and often cryptic.”
- “The mechanics make the entirety of it a clusterf*ck that is hard to enjoy despite the amount of interest I had in the basis and plot of the game.”
atmosphere
91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
30%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, enhanced by strong sound design and visual style reminiscent of classic horror titles like Silent Hill. However, many players note that technical issues, such as bugs and inconsistent controls, detract from the overall experience, making it difficult to fully appreciate the atmospheric elements. Despite these drawbacks, the game is recognized for its potential and ability to create a compelling sense of dread and intrigue.
- “I think they do a terrific job of setting up an unnerving atmosphere, with both the visual style and with the sound design.”
- “The atmosphere is fantastic, similar to the one in the first Silent Hill games, and exploring the silent corridors listening only to your footsteps is really creepy.”
- “This game builds up such an intense atmosphere combined with very good sound and an interesting plot; it comes together so well!”
- “Kinda broken, which controls interact with what is inconsistent, and although the atmosphere is generally fine it just gets really tedious really quickly.”
- “If all the bugs were patched I would recommend trying it, but currently they are too much of an atmosphere/story killer.”
- “But the way it was implemented just... kills all of the atmosphere and tension it could have had.”
graphics
77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
60%
4%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their pixel art style and atmospheric design, contributing to a creepy and engaging experience. However, many reviews highlight significant issues with bugs and glitches that detract from the overall visual enjoyment, leading to a mixed reception. While the art style is appreciated, some players feel it lacks innovation and can become repetitive over time.
- “The graphics and creepy sound are well-done.”
- “Stunning pixelated visuals, organic touch and a general feeling of uncertainty around the area and your choices.”
- “The pixel graphics are done very well and were used to create a haunting and dark place to explore.”
- “Pixel graphics feel recycled and samey very quickly.”
- “Uncanny Valley has half decent pixel graphics, but since you are trapped within a location with a day1, day2 sort of segmentation of the progression, you do not get to see much of anything new after your first half hour of gameplay.”
- “Touching on the bad bits, the game does have its share of bugs. I got stuck on a computer screen for a full night once, and here and there I had minor graphical hiccups with dialogue boxes getting caught off-screen, overlapping each other, etc. A particular gameplay section kept flickering a split second of the area fully lit with the wrong player character before loading properly, which distracted from the spooky atmosphere that was supposed to be building.”
stability
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly detract from the overall experience. Many players describe it as a "buggy mess" or "nearly unplayable," citing issues such as game-breaking glitches, poor controls, and a lack of polish. While some appreciate the game's concept and atmosphere, the overwhelming consensus is that its instability makes it difficult to recommend.
- “Unfortunately, I can't really give this a proper recommendation because of the various little bugs and glitches that drag it down, and that's before we get to the game's content.”
- “The art style is great and the mechanics are interesting, but the game is just way too buggy and broken to give it a good review.”
- “The game is absurdly buggy and unstable.”
music
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
31%
6%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to create a creepy and immersive atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. While some noted a lack of variety in the tracks, the quality and effectiveness of the sound design contribute significantly to the game's unsettling tone. Overall, the music is considered a strong point, complementing the art and story, despite the game's other shortcomings.
- “The music is well done and successfully establishes a very unsettling atmospheric experience.”
- “The soundtrack really makes the game excellent; it really enhances the atmosphere that the game creates, even though there are few tracks that last over two minutes.”
- “The game makes you feel uneasy due to the fantastic atmosphere, sound effects, and music, and you feel like danger lurks around every corner.”
- “The music score is just the most repetitive, uncreative garbage I've ever heard, and I play For Honor (which isn't to say For Honor music is uncreative or bad, but it is so repetitive it's painful).”
- “The art, music, plot, setting, and concept are phenomenal and I never would have believed that I wouldn't love this game, but it's just so broken that I can't legitimize spending money on it yet.”
- “The use of sound is minimal, which makes for a bigger impression when you do hear a sudden strange voice or a sharp shift in music tone.”
replayability
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
67%
13%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting its potential due to multiple endings and a consequence system that encourages different choices. However, some users expressed frustration over the lack of save options and the need to restart the game entirely after completion, which detracts from the overall experience. While it offers a compelling reason to replay, the execution may not meet everyone's expectations, making it essential for players to try the demo first.
- “Every decision has a consequence, there is no possibility to save yourself, which creates a new feel and the game has a high replay value.”
- “There are a lot of potential endings and ways to take the story which allow for decent replayability.”
- “Especially with the sheer amount of replayability present; a single playthrough will merely scratch the surface of a much deeper and more terrifying story.”
- “I have heavy problems with the replayability; the save file is deleted when you finish, and you have to start everything again with no way to skip the parts you've already played multiple times.”
- “It purports to feature replayability, multiple endings, and player influence, but accommodates none of those in its design.”
- “While the game's strong part seems to be its replayability, I never got to replay it because the androids were too creepy for me.”
grinding
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly during the initial playthroughs where repetitive tasks and lengthy, unskippable dialogue hinder engagement. While the story and atmosphere are praised, the need to replay sections for different endings often feels like a chore, leading to a lack of motivation to explore all the branching paths. Many reviewers suggest that improvements, such as a flow chart or better navigation, could alleviate the tedium and enhance the overall experience.
- “While the game is hardly 'long', the first half is very slow and tedious, especially if you're just trying to get back to the second half for a different ending.”
- “Replaying the game is discouraged by extremely tedious first days full of long, unskippable dialogue.”
- “It destroys the entire feel of all the dialogue in the game because of how tedious it is to even read it.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of unexpected and darkly comedic moments, often arising from its quirky mechanics and glitches, which can lead to hilariously absurd situations. Players appreciate the balance of humor with creepy elements, making for an engaging experience that elicits both laughter and discomfort. Overall, the game's humor adds a unique layer to its narrative, enhancing the enjoyment of exploring different scenarios.
- “Way too complicated for the simple mechanics of the game and buggy to the point of being hilarious (opening inventory during credits, turning flashlight on and off while you're unconscious on the floor, etc.).”
- “I've just completed the one possible scenario, and I can clearly say that it is awesome, sometimes creepy, sometimes really funny. Happy to have this game; I guess I'm going to spend many more hours to find out other scenarios.”
- “There is a bit of humor I enjoyed as well as some really gruesome scenes that were difficult to watch, even in pixel graphic style.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes strong emotions through its immersive creepy story and multiple endings, making players feel that their choices significantly impact the narrative. However, technical issues like bugs and graphical glitches can detract from the overall emotional experience, leading to frustration and distraction from the intended atmosphere. The character of Eve, who seeks emotional connection amidst her isolation, adds depth to the game's emotional landscape.
- “The creepy story and multiple endings made me feel immersed in a way that my actions mattered.”
- “Eve, a lovely young woman who has become socially repressed from living in such an isolated town and only seeks emotional attachment.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
While the retro pixel art style is praised for its quality in animations and character designs, the reviews suggest that the character development itself may not be as strong, indicating a potential disconnect between visual appeal and depth of character growth.
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with them.”
- “I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; there was no real growth or change.”
- “The characters seem one-dimensional, and their backstories are underdeveloped, leaving me wanting more.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers appreciate that the game avoids the pitfalls of typical "early access" cash grabs, indicating a more thoughtful and fair monetization approach.
- “This game feels like a blatant cash grab, with overpriced microtransactions that ruin the experience.”
- “The monetization model is frustrating, as it pushes players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
- “I can't believe how much they charge for basic content; it feels like they prioritize profit over player satisfaction.”