SOMA

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

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

a more forgiving amnesia chills down my spine and in my opinion better story then other titles so far

For all the people who are saying it's not that scary... It's scary AF! There are plenty of jumpscares and the environment is unsettling to the point where you never feel safe. The sound design helps with this. I just wish you could hit those monsters back. Interesting story too.

“To be, or not to be, that is the question”, the game?, the philosophical, psychological, introspective and existentialist experiment?

One of the most profound storytelling experiences in my recent memory. Gameplay that isn't an afterthought and is actually engaging even when all you do is walk around (super simplified description). The ability to interact with the world and learn the tidbits about the world around you and how it came to be is simply superb.

But the main dish here is obviously the story, which holds you on the edge of your seat despite the horrors that keep pushing your back into it. The philosophical aspect of the game has been praised countless times and yet I will do it again. Struggling with the reality and the concept of self throughout the game is done masterfully as various logs, diaries and other methods of retelling the events that took place before your arrival that are spread across the levels keep you engaged in the philosophising. The experience is tight knitted, you will never feel like the game is being stretched beyond the possible and you won't also be banged in the head with a book telling you what conclusions you are supposed to draw from the story. You have the free reign to have the funny liquid inside of your skull to make your own theses and conclusions

SOMA is a must-play, a relatively short (around 10 hours) narrative experience that won't leave your mind for a while with how profound it is. A game so mentally engaging that you won't be able to help yourself but write a similar review no matter the writing ability

While the story for this game is great and presented fairly well the actual gameplay is fairly boring and the experience is incredibly linear. This seems like the sort of thing that would have been far better as a movie rather then a game. I ended up buying this for less then 5$ while it was on sale, and while I would say it is probably worthwhile for that price I would not be able to justify paying full price for it.

Bioshock and Dead Space had a disgusting and beautiful baby and they named it SOMA

This is what good storytelling looks like. Bravo.

The narrative that drives this game; It made me think about existential questions again, it's a horror game different from the flashy mold.

SOMA was a uniquely intriguing and very well executed horror game in an oversaturated genre. I don't play a lot of horror games, but I have seen many, and nothing compares to SOMA. It definitely shows its age and I had some mixed feelings on the presentation of its ending, but even still there isn't anything that compares. The horror was pretty well executed, putting you in some genuinely unsettling environments and situations. The story immediately placed it in my top 10, maybe because its right up my ally but regardless I couldn't help but read every bit of text and try to learn more about Pathos-II. It was well worth the money and time that I might have just bought it full price if I had known more about what I was getting myself into.
9/10, needs more K8 screentime :) .

amazing game, amazing atmosphere. I went in blind and am so happy with the experience. Its an extroadinary game and an experience i wont forget soon

I won't explain too much about the story or how the lore is but I can freely say this game is really good. it has aged well and the addition of the workshop really adds a few more things you can do when you finish the game. I think the voice acting is nice and the graphics and game is generally just polished well. I like the story and the feeling of playing, I may be slightly bias though as I am a sucker for underwater games like this and bioshock, I got this when it was on sale but even at it's full price if you have the money I would recommend it, it is a good play if you really want a story rich game capable of leaving you satisfied.

its a 10/10 straight through, it pretty much gaming perfection! second time playing through it and i had forgotten how amazing it is.

8.5/10 to 9/10

I am not a big horror game fan and came into this game fully expecting to tap out within an hour, but I ended up finishing it. For others who are not big on the horror genre, you don't have much to fear. Its not too scary in a gameplay sense but very, very, very interesting in a story sense. The story had me captivated through the ending and I've been thinking about it ever since I finished it.

The only reason I wouldn't give this is a 10/10 is because I do feel some of the monster encounters could've actually been scarier, and I think the glitch effect on your screen when the monsters are nearby is a little too disorienting. Otherwise it is fantastic. The story is spotless and the game is worth playing for that alone.

And if you played the game on release but are wondering if its worth trying again, the answer is yes. The visuals hold up very well on modern hardware. The Abyss on an ultrawide OLED display is a pure inky void and it really makes that segment stand out.

This game has become my favorite story driven game ever. I could talk for hours about what makes it such a phenomenal game, but for the sake of anyone wishing to play I will not. This is a story you need to experience blind because it just makes all the twists and turns so much more impactful. I actually plan on replaying this again soon, I highly recommend it.

From finding a freaking bottle of fluid in a room (took me a while) and ending up in "space heaven". This game got everything. Great story, Cute robot, Spooky (shitting myself). The sound effect is phenomenon. Gave me couple doses of existential crisis with a dash of thalassophobia. Absolute Masterpiece!

Soma is one of the best psychological horror games that takes on potential future human annihilation for its story that comes with the uniqueness of its setting taking place underwater to convey its importance for human preservation. It also has an intriguing brain-uploading plot, which is on par with Caroline's intricate backstory in Portal 2. Soma is a beautiful game aesthetically that brings the loneliness and unnerving feeling of being underwater with creatures altered by the unknown, with its huge plot twist that slowly unravels through the story, and its realistic ending proves it as a must-play game.

SCARY

Great game. Has an amazing plot, and a very detailed story.

This is not only the best horror game I've ever played, but also one of the best games I've ever played in general. For a game discounted at a little more than a buck I wasn't expecting much, but this is such an incredible game, and has tested my morality in a way no other game has.

In order to progress at certain points of the game, you have to make a choice typically regarding the life of someone who was once human that is now trapped in the body of a robot, and whether or not you kill them or choose the alternative is up to you. There are other choices that are completely optional, but help you establish where you draw the line in the game's overarching moral dilemma.

The voice acting is also incredible and really made me the world and story feel much more believable.
If you're on the fence about getting this game, just get it. It's worth it.

เป็นเกมสยองที่ผมชอบที่สุดเลย จังหวะระทึกมีหลายครั้งเลยหล่ะ แต่ผมชอบเรื่องราวระหว่างการเดินทางของไซม่อนมากกว่า มีหลายอารมณ์ ตอนจบผมรู้อยู่เรื่องระบบการโอนถ่ายข้อมูลความทรงจำและสมองของเนื้อเรื่องเกมอยู่แล้วแต่ก็อดไม่ได้ที่จะอึ้ง มันไม่ใช่ตอนจบที่ดี แต่เป็นตอนจบที่จริงที่สุด ส่วนเราใน ARK ก็คงมีชีวิตดีๆ แล้วหล่ะ

A coward's review of the best horror game he has played

They are not us.

SOMA is the kind of game that makes you question whether your consciousness is real, or if you’re just another malfunctioning robot on a sinking submarine. The only thing scarier than the glowing-eyed abominations lurking in the shadows is the existential crisis that hits you at 3 a.m. after you finally (sort of) escape.

really great game, great story, really good atmosphere. overall a good horror game.
id givei it a 7.5-8/10

Probably the 2nd best horror game around, after alien isolation.
Different type of horror though.
Don't play if you have depression, it's grim.

Highly recommended if into this type of game.

7/10

This is one hell of a ride. Makes you question your existence. One of the saddest endings in video game history. An absolute must play.

One of the best psychological horror games out there and one of the greatest stories in gaming. A classic.

Didn't think I'd enjoy this game THIS much.

From the way it pretty much just throws you into it to the way you interact with objects and the world, everything is atmospheric, immersive, and keeps you on your toes. It's also one of those games where the environmental story telling really pulls its weight and doesn't force you to read through walls of text to understand WTF is going on (something I absolutely despise about other horror games).

AN ABSOLUTE MUST PLAY!!

Havnt felt so much in a game since the end of the intro to Last of Us pt1. 11/10 must play if youre a fan of sci fi, horror or story based games in general

Great, honestly great. I feel impacted by the story and will remember this game and its story.

AAAAAAAAAAAA scary robots and the reflection on the identity of the human being used as a starting point to discuss the nature of reality and consciousness >.<