SOMA Critic Reviews

All in all, SOMA is a fantastic game. From the detailed world in which it takes place, the engaging plot, and the perfect amount of creeping terror and suspense, there’s a lot to love if you’re into horror.

SOMA surpassed my expectations of what a psychological science-fiction horror story could be.

SOMA is not the horror game I expected out of Frictional, but I don’t care and it doesn’t matter. This is an excellent work of science fiction, not necessarily unique but uniquely told through its skillful use of video game conceits. It’s System Shock 2 for a modern sensibility, BioShock freed of its AAA chains. It’s damn good and, for my money, the most cohesive and ambitious game Frictional’s made so far.

As with any thoughtful storytelling, Soma works on multiple levels.

One of the best sci-fi stories I’ve ever experienced in a videogame and one that can get under your skin.

SOMA is one of those once-in-a-generation experiences that so wildly defies both expectation and assumptions that I can say with confidence that it will forever impact how we define video games.

Actually, SOMA is simply one of the best horror games on the market.

SOMA is an intelligent, enjoyable adventure. I like it a lot.

It may not stir the hordes of wailing YouTubers looking for the next best haunted house, but SOMA succeeds at crafting something much more meaningful in a genre that’s deserving of more than just simple jump scares.

SOMA gets everything right about the the survival horror genre.

If you’re expecting a game as terrifying as Amnesia and without any adventure game-style puzzles to solve you might have some complaints, but SOMA is still scary, dripping with tension and heart-stopping moments, and it’s easier to find the items you need to solve puzzles than in Amnesia.

SOMA is a scary game with tension and heart-stopping moments. All in an attractive science fiction setting.

Frictional Games returns with an extremely ambitious and well crafted sci-fi horror-adventure in which the players face ethical and moral issues, and their own fears.

SOMA is a worthy successor to Amnesia: The Dark Descent, and sits among the best video game stories of 2015.

I don't know if SOMA will scare people as much as Amnesia did, but it is without a doubt a stronger game, with better pacing, smarter writing and more powerful subject matter.

Whether you’re a science fiction fan or simply into games that turn on ethical dilemmas, SOMA should be on your radar.

I appreciated every aspect of SOMA from the beginning until the very end. Even if it reminds us of Dead Space by having a companion or Bioshock for the underwater elements, it manages to transcend by its own merits, thanks to the high quality of the level design, the credible world with atmospheric horrors and the various decisions we take to make the experience ours and ours only.

SOMA is made so much better if the player hasn’t the slightest idea of what’s in store before booting it up.

If you’re looking to get your pants scared off, SOMA may not be the game for you, but for those who appreciate its brand of subtle horror, it is truly a masterpiece.

One of the best games I've played this year and my favorite from Frictional to date.