Westworld Awakening

About

Westworld Awakening is a narrative-driven VR game set in the Westworld universe. As Hale, a host with a developing consciousness, players must navigate dangerous intrigue and hidden threats while uncovering their own mysterious past. Through interactive puzzle-solving and exploration, uncover the truth behind the strange goings-on in the park.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 308 reviews

story97 positive mentions

stability9 negative mentions

The story is unique and engaging, providing a compelling narrative that fans of the show will appreciate.
The graphics and voice acting are top-notch, creating an immersive experience that enhances the gameplay.
The game effectively captures the atmosphere of the Westworld universe, making players feel like they are part of the story.

The game is relatively short, with many players completing it in around 3-5 hours, leading to concerns about replay value.
The controls can be clunky and frustrating, particularly the arm-swinging locomotion which may not suit all players.
There are technical issues, such as bugs and performance drops, which can detract from the overall experience.

story
241 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
56%
4%
The story in this VR game is generally praised for its engaging narrative and strong writing, effectively immersing players in the Westworld universe. However, many reviewers note that the story is relatively short, often described as a concise experience that lacks replay value due to its linearity. While some players found the storytelling compelling and atmospheric, others felt it fell short of the depth and complexity expected from the original series, leading to mixed opinions on its overall impact.
- “The story was extremely engaging and the world was very immersive.”
- “The story is so unique and every aspect of it is beautiful.”
- “This game is truly awesome and delivers in spades when it comes to storytelling.”
- “I genuinely despised the story.”
- “The story was light and left me unfulfilled.”
- “The story is okay, nothing special, it doesn't really add anything to the lore of the world, to be honest.”
gameplay
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
57%
13%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its linearity and repetitiveness, which diminishes replay value. While some appreciate the immersive story and atmosphere, others criticize the mechanics as simplistic and frustrating, particularly in stealth sections. Overall, the game is seen as more focused on narrative and experience rather than innovative gameplay, with some players expressing a desire for more varied mechanics and longer playtime.
- “5 hours of really amazing gameplay; it gets a little old at the end but was a perfect example of VR done right.”
- “Gameplay is a mix of stealth, puzzling, and exploration.”
- “Great story, immersive gameplay, and downright great acting; this game is a must-play for any fans of Westworld.”
- “Just a dang shame this game had so much going for it but it was marred by poor gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is repetitive and becomes boring.”
- “Making me repeat a long section of the game does not make it more fun, or more 'realistic'; it makes it repetitive with poorly designed gameplay and makes me not want to continue playing it.”
graphics
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
26%
3%
The graphics in the game receive high praise for their quality and detail, often compared favorably to top-tier VR titles like Half-Life: Alyx. Many users highlight the stunning visuals, impressive character models, and immersive environments, although some note issues with object density and performance on lower-end hardware. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's atmosphere and storytelling, making it a visually appealing experience.
- “The graphics are incredible.”
- “The graphics are stunning and are second only to Half-Life: Alyx.”
- “The voice acting, graphics, and motion capture are all top notch and present some of the best visuals I've seen in any VR game to date.”
- “The visuals and gameplay really reek of those early VR games.”
- “The graphics are serviceable, but it's clearly not done with a good budget like Half-Life: Alyx.”
- “I was expecting a AAA VR game, and so far it's been a rushed VR port of a too-abysmal-to-release-otherwise Soviet Union jerry-rigged point-and-click adventure with MS Paint graphics and terrible physics.”
atmosphere
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
33%
9%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating visuals, immersive storytelling, and strong adherence to the themes of the original show. Players appreciate the well-crafted environments, effective sound design, and the ability to evoke a sense of presence, making it feel like an extension of the series. While gameplay may be simplistic, the focus on atmosphere and narrative engagement keeps players invested throughout the experience.
- “The atmosphere is captivating.”
- “Very appealing graphics, extremely good atmosphere as well as pleasant, well-implemented controls.”
- “The atmosphere is incredible, and I feel like I am living in one of my favorite TV shows.”
- “Atmosphere: there isn't a lot to explore, it's pretty much a linear game with a boring soundtrack.”
- “So dark as to not be able to see anything in fact... it definitely added a lot to the atmosphere as well as directing players towards the light, but it's also a double-edged sword if I can't see well enough to know where I'm supposed to be going.”
- “Follows the confusing atmosphere of the series, with memory flashbacks, etc.”
optimization
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and impressive graphics on high-end systems, others experience significant frame drops and choppiness, particularly on mid-range hardware. Some users found that adjusting settings like anti-aliasing and shadows improved performance, but there are still complaints about the need for further optimization to ensure a consistent experience across various setups. Despite these issues, the game's atmosphere and character performances are generally praised.
- “It's well optimized; despite the good and demanding graphics, it runs smooth on my G2 at 100% resolution.”
- “The graphics and performance are great, and I did not experience any glitches.”
- “Performance 10/10”
- “They seem to have made the max graphic settings for next-next generation cards. I had to set anti-aliasing to low and shadows to medium on my 3080 and reduce my usual 4K per eye resolution to get it to run without stuttering.”
- “The presentation is okay, but the performance was pretty bad on my system (9th gen Intel i7, 6GB RTX 2060m, 16GB RAM).”
- “It could use a lot more optimization.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, drawing heavily from the original series' soundtrack, which many players find extraordinary. While the integration of voice acting and sound effects is noted, some players express a desire for more original compositions to complement key moments. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's emotional impact and immersive experience.
- “Graphics are superb (similar to Half-Life: Alyx), the music is extraordinary (same as the series), and the story is really good and engaging.”
- “The music, visuals, and general vibe are all very well crafted.”
- “The end of the third chapter with the music and the voice lines/acting gave me chills.”
- “But the sudden cutoff just put me off; I was also expecting some original music to enhance that moment. I would definitely welcome more Westworld tracks being more frequent.”
- “Atmosphere: there isn't a lot to explore; it's pretty much a linear game with a boring soundtrack.”
- “In this game, I substitute background music for voice actors, as much of the game is accompanied by voices rather than noises.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
90%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, such as freezing issues and unresponsive menus. While some players noted good graphics and performance, the overall experience is marred by significant stability problems, particularly in specific chapters and during tracking loss.
- “We have Vive Pros, and I have one at home. It runs great on my home rig with an RTX 2060 and i5.”
- “This game is unpolished and buggy.”
- “Not enjoyable and overly buggy.”
- “Not to mention multiple glitches where the menu wouldn't work or I would finish a chapter but it would be white, and nothing I could do but exit and repeat until it didn't mess up.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low due to its linear story structure, with most players completing it within 2 to 4 hours. While there are hidden collectibles and secrets that may encourage some exploration, many reviewers feel that once the story is completed, there is little incentive to replay. Fans of the genre may find some value in revisiting the game, but it is generally viewed as lacking significant replay potential.
- “This could also ensure that the replayability is much higher.”
- “With hidden collectibles and story bits to find on the various terminals, it also has good replay value.”
- “If you're a fan of Westworld (I was up until season 2), I'd say it was worth the price due to the reasonable length and replayability.”
- “Yes, it's worth getting, but no, it's not worth $34. It has little if any replay value once one plays through the story once or twice, as the mechanics are quite linear.”
- “Not as much replayability as it is a linear story, but if you're into finding secrets and reading in VR, there's plenty of pages to pick up.”
- “The game does feel like it's going to be on the short side with little to no replayability.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional narrative compelling, describing it as a heartbreaking love story intertwined with a larger simulation theme. However, inconsistencies in gameplay mechanics and technical issues, such as performance problems and control sensitivity, can detract from the overall emotional experience. Despite these challenges, the depth of the story resonates with many, creating a poignant connection to the characters and their struggles.
- “Basically... it's a heartbreaking love story that intersects with the Season 2 Wyatt Rebellion story within the overarching simulation narrative run by the Arnold/Ford/AI consciousness in the distant future, as evidenced by the occasional glitchy furniture and the holographic basement section.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky mechanics, such as the unintentionally comedic moments when players struggle with the drumming mech and the absurdity of navigating in pitch-black settings. Players find amusement in the game's oddities, like the reliance on candles in dark environments, which adds a layer of irony to the experience. Overall, the humor emerges from the game's unexpected challenges and the player's reactions to them.
- “We're laughing at him.”
- “The default darkness setting is hilariously pitch black; I needed to increase the gamma by +100 in some scenes. Despite the tons of darkness, there is no light mechanic, but candles are everywhere.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is praised for its exceptional quality, with developers effectively maintaining tension throughout the game. The immersive character design and acting enhance the overall experience, making interactions feel engaging and realistic.
- “The character development was fantastic, and I thought the developers did an incredible job of maintaining the tension throughout the game.”
- “The character design and acting are really good too, so it feels immersive when the guests are looking at you and talking to you.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game is widely criticized as a cash grab, with many users suggesting it would have been more appropriate as a free promotional VR title for the show.
- “Overall, this just seems like a cash grab and would be better used as promotional material for the show in the form of a free VR title.”
- “Another lame cash grab.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate that the game effectively avoids the pitfalls of grinding by introducing varied gameplay elements and concluding chapters before the experience becomes repetitive or tedious. This thoughtful pacing keeps the gameplay engaging and fresh.
- “A lot of games where you are being chased by something and have to hide tend to wear out their welcome after a while, and you get sick of doing the same thing over and over again. However, this game knows when to change up the gameplay or end the chapter before it gets tedious.”