SOMA

An absolutely stunning masterpiece of both design and story, a truly heart breaking story that stays with you the entire game, everything about this game is amazing, we need a SOMA 2!!!!!!!!!!

Uploaded intelligence it such an interesting concept and this game tells a great story with it. Visually it also holds up really well for its age.

This game I originally played back when it released on the playstation. And still today it shocks me with its story and twists. I get teared up every time I get to the ending. I really wish more games focused on the story more than the scary parts of the game just like this. 10/10 I will always come back to play again.

One of the best games I've ever played. I didn't want it to end. I've been chasing the high of this game in other games but its not possible. I don't think this game will ever compare to anything I will ever play in the future. Stirred up existential dread but a phenomenal story never the less.

incredible game. someone told me they wish they could wipe their memory and play it again, i understand why! (no spoilers ahead) this is spooky stealth game with a "story only" difficulty option available but being scared of the walking hazards is recommended. speaking for myself when i say most of the puzzles were an appropriate challenge level and fun to figure out, a walkthrou was not required. when you feel safe, you will be rewarded when looking for lore in the form of audio logs, staff notes etcetera. raid all the office furniture. be patient, you will only really experience this once. with the game being out for so long i think i was very lucky to not bump into any spoilers on this, i hope everyone has that advantage. of course, i still believe it is a good game to play throu with a little knowledge of the story beats anyway.

Buy it. Play it. Amazing story that will leave you wondering who you even are.

Not one to usually play games in this category often but very glad I did. Its the movie Virus combined with the tv show upload.

Its also refreshing to play a game thats straight forward, has a good narrative, short play time, with zero bullshit collectibles tied to annoying achievements. You sit down, and you play a game with no distractions.

This hidden Gem is the best horror game i have ever played by far! From the very begging it grabs you and it doesn't let go. The game focuses on its dark and lonely atmosphere and the few jumscares were all very well made and unexpected. The game shines in its great story and theme which will make you question your existence. A TRUE MASTERPIECE

Please play it, it's one of the very rare games I recommend to everyone even if they're not a fan of horror games. There's a safe mode which makes it playable for people that are not good with monsters. The questions it will ask will stick with you if you never asked those before.

The game that really changed and shaped me. Best I've played by a long mile, please play it without spoiling yourself.

SOMA is easily one of the most terrifying games I have ever experienced. The core concept of the game (which I won't spoil) is easily one of my favorite horror concepts. This game generates so much dread that at some points I didn't even want to progress through certain sections. That being said it is a slower game with less action, so you shouldn't go into the game expecting a Resident Evil 4. This was a true psychological horror game.

Great game, great story, existential crisis, crippling depression, sadness, happiness 10/10. Can't believe there is a copy out there of me that didn't play this masterpiece.

It says 1.5 hours because I played this multiple times on the xbox store, it was so good I bought it again. This is easily the most impactful video game I have ever played. The story is great and the visuals are pretty good, the horror elements are not very scary. But the meaning behind the game changed me as a person and my outlook on what it means to be alive. I had to play this game multiple times and watched video essays on it to truly grasp the meaning of this game. People that are developing AI should be required to play this game.

The deepest mindful game I've ever played!

If you've heard it's cool and stuff, and decide to try out, please DO NOT spoil anything! The less you know about the game the better.

Basically it's an easier and less scary Amnesia. The level design kinda reminded me of half-life. Despite the game being almost 10 years old the graphics aged like fine wine. Loved the story as well.

I played it on safe difficulty and you should too unless you constantly want to sneak around. Also, the game by default is very dark so it's a good idea to increase the gamma settings right from the get-go.

SOMA is the best game from Frictional ever made in my experience, and I've played almost all of them. Not only is it scary, but it's so thought provoking in its themes. The only negative is that during just a couple parts of the game, the monster stealth parts can be a little annoying, like getting stuck in an area with a monster and not knowing what to do next. But I think most of them are just as great as they were in Amnesia: the Dark Descent. If you like Frictional Games you will love SOMA.

There's no getting around the fact SOMA is utterly dull to play. The story is undoubtedly fascinating, the characters engaging and the world one I would still like to know more about. But, these aren't the things I play video games for. When I want any of the above I read a book or watch a film.

I think Frictional hit it out of the park with the latest Amnesia game, and I wish SOMA was more like that. As it stands, you have a game comparable to Bioshock but absent the fun game-play. "Walk here, click this, hide from this enemy for 30 seconds." That's SOMA.

In case anyone thinks my criticisms are an issue of lacking an attention-span or needing games to be fast paced:
Pathologic, the story-driven game notorious for being "boring," and "no fun to play," (criticisms I disagree with) is leagues more enjoyable than this because it actually has game mechanics behind it. Planescape: Torment, the game that is 80% reading small text, is leagues more enjoyable than this because it actually has game mechanics behind it.

I was going to conclude by saying SOMA suffers from a case of a great story being told in the wrong medium, but that's not necessarily true, This game could have worked if they expanded and added mechanics, but it's clear the developers wanted to make a movie instead of a game.

This is one of the best horror Sci-Fi games I have ever played. This goes into my top 5 stories of all time from any media. This is why video game stories are so important, the way they convey a story has a unique impact that's unlike any TV show or movie.

While some will complain that the game play is lacking, they are completely missing the point. You are supposed to melt into this game. To feel a sense of dread and loneliness as you go deeper into the world. The slower moments of the game is where the environmental story telling shines brightest. During these "boring" times you gather information, make discoveries, and find out more about whats going on. You are given time to absorb whats going on and to think sorrowfully about all the people who lost their lives. All the while the games incredible soundtrack plays and incredible sound design are the final pieces to fully suck you in. During these quieter moments you are able to think about the characters, the world, and how you're gonna get out of this situation.

Maybe it's just me but I found myself reflecting about my own life through this game, thinking about how valuable time is. How short life is. Scary games that just keep you in a constant state of fight or flight get old, you get used to the sensation. In this game, the pace lets you calm down just long enough to hit you with heart crushing emotional blows as you find out how bleak the situation really is.

Of course, it wasn't possible to complete the game without using hints. No matter how obvious or not the moment was. But I completed the game. It seemed alien, but at the same time a little exciting in its atmosphere and possibilities.

(Beware of plot spoilers)
For the main game, a preface was created to describe who and how this person got into some unbeaten, so-called humanity-destroying futures. The game itself is not very clear what we are doing at all, so we created some kind of semblance of our goal, which is accompanied by our supposedly some kind of companion Katya. And throughout the game, we are trying to fulfill some hope of humanity, to go into space for a new life.

The game is very similar to a short horror game with a small plot describing certain moments. The game is very atmospheric with a change of location between land and water. And you will not be allowed to just relax, walk around, and enjoy the view. Yes, of course, you will be allowed to enjoy it for some time, but still, danger can follow you everywhere. And much later, you will be constantly kept in suspense, not allowing you to fully understand whether you are safe or not.

10/10 Game
I did not expect to get that invested in this game when i bought it, story was really good.
I know gameplay wasnt rly the focus of the game yet i didnt really notice that i cant lie.
Highly recommend this game, I played it with friends watching on discord over the course of a month.

Frictional Games are just the masters of psychological horror, they do not miss. Back in the day, Amnesia was just too scary for me to finish as a kid lol, I should probably try it again now.

So with their reputation and me always reading about how this is one of the best horror games out there, what I didn't expect is a seriously great and impressive narrative game with interesting and captivating philosophical themes. Now unlike most people online who apparently the game changed their opinion on the meaning of life, my faith is not that flimsy. It's still highly entertaining and I think it was well executed by the devs. The narrative is so good, that it feels like it's a story focused mystery game that just happened to be horror by accident, sort of like Subnautica, but this is still horror game by design. The best kind of horror, is the organic and naturally occurring one.

The ending was incredible and amazingly bleak, I'm not too sure about the post credits segment though, I don't think it was really necessary, and the game should've stopped at the dark conclusion before the credits.

Onto the gameplay, since this is a Frictional game, you better expect interactive objects, I think I spent at least half and hour on the first level at the flat, just messing with the physics and picking up and throwing shit, it's so fun why don't all games do this, fuck all these new and shiny ray traced static worlds that get made these days, this 2015 game that can run on a toaster looks stunning and you can pick and mess with just about anything you see. Until the very end of the game I'd pick random shit up and have fun with the physics, it never got old.

This is a brilliant, chef's kiss game, and I'm excited to play their The Bunker entry and see what the team had in store for us in their latest endeavour that came out in 2023.

I recently finished S.O.M.A (1/22/2025), and it was an unforgettable experience. From the very beginning, the game pulled me in with its immersive atmosphere and impeccable sound design, making it easy to step into Simon’s shoes.

As the story progressed, I found myself reflecting deeply on questions like What is the value of a soul? What does it mean to have one? What does it mean to truly be alive? Who am I, and am I still me?

The narrative was well crafted, clear, cohesive, and free of any noticeable plot holes. By the end, I felt genuinely satisfied with how the story wrapped up. S.O.M.A is thought-provoking and leaves you with feelings that are hard to get rid off

The game resolves around the fundamental question: what does it mean to be alive? What does it mean to be conscious? It has some horror elements. I enjoyed the atmosphere and the story, it's beautiful yet sad at the same time. There are about 9-10 hours of gameplay, so I would strongly advice waiting for a solid discount. I personally got it with 90% discount.

Recommended for fans of 'horror' games where you have to avoid an unkillable enemy that pursues you. Outside of that it has some awesome story and world building, with a similar story to Prey: Mooncrash. Nice graphics, sound and voice acting. I never finished the game, opting to just watch the rest of it on a Youtube playthrough since this is more of a walking simulator than a game. I don't think I'll reinstall, but I appreciate this little indie game.

Just finished this one through for the second time , And it left me speechless yet again.
Talk about coming face to face with existentialism. Probably the best walking sim ever made. still havnt found anything to compete with it. Truly a classic masterpiece.

This is truly an amazing game that has an excellent convergence of plot, narrative, character development, graphics, interface, where everything is brought together in a compelling game that begs to be completed. The horror and tension is palpable. The game is definitely a must for any fan of science fiction or horror, especially a combination of the two.

really well constructed. Keeps the interest right to the end . watch the credits at the end or you will miss the best bit.

This game is definitely a must-play. I really loved the setting, the atmosphere, and the soundtrack, everything just fits so well. SOMA isn’t just a horror game, It’s the kind of story that sticks with you long after you finish it.

As for the ending… I don’t even know what to feel. It’s powerful, unsettling, and left me completely speechless. One of the best gaming experiences I’ve ever had.

SOMA is an impressive experience, even if the horror doesn't always work. The focus here is more on the story, which with its philosophical questions can stay in your head long after the credits roll. The game world and the atmospheric soundtrack contribute perfectly to the dense atmosphere.

One of the best games I will every play. Incredibly immersive and the story is very deep and interesting. This game is amazing at visual story telling. I can't stop thinking about this game even after completing it.

As someone who’s been playing these types of games for years, I was excited to finally try SOMA, given its reputation as one of the greats. But after finishing it, I can’t help but feel it’s overhyped and underwhelming. It’s not even that the game is outright bad; it’s just painfully mediocre in almost every aspect, and I’ve seen it all done better elsewhere.

Let’s start with the story, which is supposed to be SOMA’s strongest point. Frankly, The narrative about artificial intelligence, human consciousness, and what it means to exist has been recycled in countless books, movies, and games. It doesn’t offer a fresh perspective or compelling twists, and the delivery is heavy-handed. You can practically feel the game yelling, “Look how deep we are!” without giving you anything new to chew on. The story lacks emotional impact because it never really surprises or challenges you. If you’ve played or watched anything in the sci-fi genre, you’ve probably seen this exact plot before.

The gameplay doesn’t do the story any favors, either. The stealth mechanics are clunky, repetitive, and downright frustrating. The enemies aren’t scary or intimidating—they’re just an obstacle you have to slowly tiptoe around. These moments are meant to build tension, but they end up feeling more like a waste of time. Instead of enhancing the horror, they drag the whole experience down.

Then there’s the pacing, which is all over the place. The game grinds to a halt with tedious "puzzles", backtracking, and slow, drawn-out dialogue that overstays its welcome. Any tension the game manages to create is quickly squashed by these pacing issues. While the atmosphere is decent in parts, it’s not enough to keep you engaged when the gameplay and story fail to deliver.

The most disappointing thing is how overhyped SOMA is. People talk about it like it’s a masterpiece, but in reality, it’s a shallow, recycled narrative wrapped in uninspired gameplay. The only reason I stuck with it was to get all the achievements - because by the halfway point, I wasn’t playing for enjoyment anymore.

If you’re new to the genre, you might find SOMA somewhat enjoyable. However, I found it to be a lackluster and forgettable experience. It’s far from the groundbreaking, thought-provoking game it’s often made out to be - just another recycled sci-fi story that leaves no lasting impression.

Beautiful game. My psychiatrist is going to hate me in our next Monday session, but the whole "existential crisis" was totally worth it.

This is one of those pieces of art that when you finish them you will stare at a blank wall for 30 minutes questioning the reasoning of your existence and your place among the universe.

Apart from that, I had some minor screen tearing issues, any V-Sync option would not work 100% of the time.

With a level of story telling reminiscing of the first Half Life game and a surprising lot of versatile puzzles to solve I strongly recommend this game!

Even if you’re, like me, not a fan of the horror genre

There is one moment in this game that I will never forget.
The description of the scene doesn't give away anything of the story, but be warned to read on anyway:

I'll just say what I'm talking about happens when one of the protagonists recounts his memory of watching a sunset from the top of a skyscraper in Taipei.
Believe it or not, this little moment encapsulates everything that makes this game such an experience. Great character writing and voice acting, thought-provoking dialogue, and a dense atmosphere.

Oh, and the horror aspect is pretty fun too, although the real horror comes from the philosophical implications of the protagonists' experiences rather than the "monsters".

quite an interesting game in the genre of survival horror It resembles such games as Amnesia and Penumbra. The concept of this game is somewhat similar to cyberpunk in its own way, but it is more gloomy. as for the plot, it is quite unusual and unique in its kind, although it is quite confusing and difficult to understand

That was an amazing game. Such a trip! I would strongly recommend this game. Especially on sale for 5 bucks. Even for its age it is an amazing play through.

This game was incredible and has a much deeper concept than any other game I have played. It really captures the meaningful stories which can be expressed through such an interactive vessel. Thank you devs.

What a ride! I generally don't like horror games, especially the ones you can't fight back in. However, I've been persuaded to try SOMA just for the sake of the story and the atmosphere. I have no regrets! Even though the horror elements were still uncomfortable for me, I have thoroughly enjoyed everything else. It is a must-play for any sci-fi fan.

Excellent game it hits pretty hard when you get to the ending, you wont regret the money spend on this, its a "walking sim" but one of the best ones there are, if you want to play an horror games that makes you think about life after playing it, buy it

The game left me without words. Is an amazing game, despite being so old. It's graphics are great up to today's standards and the story telling, what can I say about it? It is amazing, you would't many games like this one, with this amazing kind of story telling, the characters felt alive, even the side characters. They know that they alive, that they are something, more than a video game character. What in the actual f, this is how games are suppose to be, made with PASSION. Not for money or fame, but for the sake of "Loving to make good games with amazing character story telling" .

AND who knows, maybe we are in an ARK. Living a virtual life, meanwhile we are inside something. Honestly who knows.

I wish people made ggames with this kind of amazing story telling level, characters, voice actors that felt alive.

I absolutely loved this game!

The eerie atmosphere of the underwater facility, the thought-provoking existential themes, and the stunning graphics were all major highlights. It was exactly the type of game I was looking for. While it may lack the combat some players might prefer, it excels in storytelling and puzzles, I definitely recommend!!

9/10

I got this game on sale and, to be honest, didn’t expect much from it. However, I decided to give it a try, and let me tell you it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. At first, the game was quite confusing, and each chapter left me with more and more unanswered questions. But as I got used to the atmosphere and story, I found it incredibly enjoyable. From a gameplay perspective, the game is decent. I’m not saying the gameplay is bad, far from it, but it’s nothing particularly groundbreaking either. That’s not a downside, though, as the simple controls and straightforward mechanics allow you to focus more on the story. The enemies are well-designed; there aren’t too many of them, and they’re not overly difficult to deal with. What truly stood out to me was the story. It’s brilliantly written and delivers a breathtaking experience. Although it’s a horror game, it’s not what you might typically expect. There are no random jump scares or excessively terrifying scenes. Instead, it creates an unsettling atmosphere and leans heavily into psychological horror. The ending, in particular, left a lasting impression on me. While the conclusion is set up in a way that you might guess what’s coming, it still manages to shock and amaze with its execution. The entire game felt more like an interactive movie than a traditional game, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I won’t spoil much, but if you’re looking for a game that will make you question your existence and sanity, this is the one. Even at full price, it’s worth every penny.

Soma isn't just a horror game, it's a profound meditation on existence, consciousness, and what happens when we lose both. a deeply unsettling experience that challenges you to rethink what it means to truly be human .
if you are just a braindead player who only want to press buttons and see some action, don't touch this masterpiece, keep it clean.

What truly sets SOMA apart is its ability to evoke deep emotional responses. The game doesn’t just scare you—it makes you think and feel. The moral questions it poses linger long after the credits roll, leaving players to wrestle with their choices and interpretations. It’s a game that challenges you to confront uncomfortable truths about the human condition, making it as intellectually satisfying as it is unsettling.
If you’re looking for a game that will challenge your mind and chill your spine, SOMA is an unforgettable dive into the unknown.

Score: 9.0/10

As I have not played any of the games from the Amnesia series, SOMA was my first experience with this kind of game. Being part of the Steam Winter Sale of 2024, and having many reviews praising it, I decided to give the game a shot. I can say that it's one of the most unique and immersive first-person games I've ever played. At less than 5 euro at the time of writing, it's practically a steal.

Before I get into the contents of the game: I played this game on Linux, and there is a native version of the game available. However, running through Proton doesn't seem to cause any issues. In fact, the game is - mostly, barring some rare audio/video de-synchs - a very smooth experience. Often I didn't even notice when the game needs to load something. I played through Proton simply because the Gamma adjustment didn't work for some reason natively. But, in any case...

For me, it all started with the many ways that you can interact with the physical world of this game. You don't just press E to make things work -- you pull levers, you turn valves, you grab cables by the plugs and make connections. Nothing too complicated, of course, but it was just enough to keep me engaged. Interacting with the world in meaningful ways was a core mechanic that I had plenty of time getting used to, and, being a fan of games like Half-Life 2 that give you access to some sort of simulation of physics, I became quite fond of it. Do keep in mind, however, that this is a horror game, and there is meaning to being able to do all this.

You are not the most powerful being throughout the game. It's far from being the weakest, but other things that you will have to encounter will keep your bravery in check. Performing any action takes time, and you do not have an unlimited amount of it if something else is patrolling for anything that's alive, and you are a potential subject. I chose to avoid unpleasant encounters, and I've learned that this means I will have to plan ahead quite thoroughly. If you want to live, you'll have to think, too.

One of my favorite Big Brain Moments™ in the game, I think, was in a section where there is a creature which would undoubtedly end you if it spotted you. Most of the game has doors operated by buttons, and yet somehow most things are able to just open them, so you're not able to lock anything in. However, in that part of the game, you were able to lock doors completely (which also closed them), which meant that you could theoretically trap something. With some careful timing, I lured the thing to a door that was outside of the room used to control the door locks, and, as it entered the unlocked room, I locked the doors, trapping it inside. That felt pretty good.

Besides the gameplay... the story that the game tells was thought-provoking, for me. It challenged my views of how I perceive life, in myself and others. That is... how would I treat consciousness if the world told me directly that it's something that manifests on a physical level, and is not the work of a force that I can't begin to comprehend? What if one consciousness could be replicated? What if I was that consciousness?

The game put me as judge, jury and executioner of seemingly alive beings. I've not counted how many. But could I ever judge those who are not myself fairly? Is it fair if someone dies by their own choice, even if others depend on them, directly or indirectly, and I am the one to allow this? Is it fair if someone dies despite their own choice, if their continued existence would surely be full of pain and suffering, and I am their executioner?

I did not expect to ask these questions. SOMA made me consider them.

This game reminded me of why when I say "I play JRPGs for the story," it's largely in jest since I actually do quite enjoy their gameplay. Though it too is narrative-focused, SOMA's gameplay is primitive to the point it impeded my desire to continue through it. I do not get the impression that there was much thought that was put into the gameplay elements; rather, there it felt like the narrative took priority and then vaguely serviceable gameplay was implemented afterwards. SOMA helped me realized that when the gameplay can't effectively shuttle you between story segments in a game that's carried by the narrative, it is VERY noticeable.

To illustrate my point I have no idea what the monsters really do since you can get by the majority of them without interacting with them, making them more of a hindrance to story pacing than anything else. However, retroactive research indicated that the monsters DO in fact behave differently between each level. Yet in spite of this, the level design never changed to create meaningful environments that complemented the enemy moveset (the game just uses basic grid-like environments for every enemy) and as stated prior, I successfully got through the game using the exact same brute force tactic for all monster encounters. The healing "system" also feels like an afterthought: healing nodes feel redundant in the first place since you can only take 1-2 hits, and yet for some reason they are peppered everywhere, even in large stretches of game where I don't even think there were enemies around. Overall, it just feels like there's not much harmony between the enemies, level design, and intended player interaction. I have no idea about game development or anything but these are my feelings as a player.

Perhaps due to the specific kinds of sci-fi media I have experienced in the past, I also found the narrative to be nowhere near as novel or eye-opening as other players. However, I don't necessarily think that means its not worth experiencing. The narrative here felt coherent to me and was thus enjoyable to experience even though it felt familiar. As a whole, it felt like the story was taken seriously and the writers were earnestly trying to present their story, and I can respect that. I would recommend it to people who have never seen or read anything like this before since it might help them think about topics they've not yet considered. Also, I don't know much about voice acting, but just for me personally, it didn't always hit.

Overall, it's hard to say "yes" or "no" in terms of making a recommendation since I found the game to be a mixed bag, but for me personally I would say it leans negative since the gameplay was just really unbearable for me.

Let me just start by saying, this was easily one of the best sci-fi psychological horror games I've ever played.
Frictional ALWAYS nails it with their horror games, down to the story line, atmosphere and interactions.

There are a few things that you should keep in mind before playing this game
1: If you're running on a pc, make sure you read the minimum requirements for running it first before buying (figured that one out the hard way)
2: This is a horror game so yes there are LOTS of jumps and spooks awaiting for you.

Now onto what I personally loved about this game,
SPOILERS AHEAD!


Firstly, I absolutely loved the beginning atmosphere when you get transported from the transplant, builds up LOTS of tension much like Amnesia The Dark Descent with little to no threat at the start just little spooks which puts you on edge until you meet the first enemy.

I LOVE how frictional made our main protagonist Simon actually feel like he was alive and like an actual person and gave him a likable personality same with Catherine.

Loved the plot twists in this game that they kind of hint at then, in a way pull the rug out from underneath you.

The enemies are absolutely horrifying in this game. By far the scariest one for me was Terry Akers, had to stop and pause the game multiple times at THAT one part (if you've played already you know what I'm talking about.)

The ending was pretty depressing, left me kind of wanting more but then considering this game came out all the way back in 2015, nearly 10 years ago makes me even more upset.

All in all I would have to give this game a 9.5/10. If you haven't played this game I STRONGLY urge you to give it a try especially when you pick it up on sale. Solid horror game frictional outdid themselves on this.

Probably became one of my favorites from Frictional, great story and well crafted atmosphere. Best played in the dark!

It's a nice game. Knew it before.

Mechanically, could have used more than one ending, but psychologically, you can give the game as many endings as you want, depending on the decisions you've taken in game.

+ Items
Immersion: The underwater world is cool and has some of the best scary moments. I really felt like I was there.

Scary Monsters: On several occasions I spilled water all over my desk because I got so scared and jumpy... One scene I had to stop playing because my heart rate was so high.

Door Sounds: Sound design is so smooth on my ears, especially the doors. They open with a satisfying sound and feeling, I would spend some moments just opening and closing them.

- Items
Scared Alone: Playing this game alone at night is not for babies. I would leave my blinds open and door unlocked to add to my already elevated heart rate.

Flashlight: This flashlight was 100% purchased at Five Below, it is so dim I could make a brighter light with a magnifiying glass and moon rays. When we were under water and I was getting stalked I wanted to curl into a ball.

Overall, SOMA slapped. If you like to feel a sense of dread and mystery sign up.

Overall I give it...
8.25 inches