Stifled Critic Reviews

Stifled is a one-of-a-kind horror game that’s unlike anything I’ve seen before. The use of sound to allow you to see the world around you but also alert your enemies creates a terrifying and suspensful dynamic that left me quivering in my shorts. The pacing isn’t perfect and some other pieces felt lacking, but the core premise of Stifled is so very strong it’s impossible not to recommend it. This game should be experienced by anyone that wants to see how VR as a medium can transform the way we interact with video games.

It's quite short and we miss a wider variety of situations, but it is a very enjoyable VR title if you like mystery and horror. Without VR, it loses a lot of its impact.

A good idea, unfortunately the realization is not up to standard.

A short, spooky soundscape with bags of atmosphere and sterling sound design, marred mainly by a lacklustre story and corny voice acting.

A good psychological thriller. Not a masterpiece, but one of best indie game for PlayStation VR.

A solid and relatively accomplished effort that’s more than worth a look for survival horror fans.

While Stifled is a good VR experience with some creative gameplay ideas, the game falls flat as the player quickly understands how everything works which ruins the thriller ambiance of the game. A game to consider if you're into VR and alternative gameplay, and to pass otherwise.

Stifled is absolutely not the best indie horror game on the market, but I have to respect it for what it brings to the table. While the game is short and the frustration can – at times – be palpable, Stifled is a smart and satisfying game (especially for anyone invested in VR setups).

Stifled offers an original approach to the survival and stealth genre, with sound used as a way to progress and being chased. The efficient VR experience sadly falls flat as it gets redundant and the mechanics quickly run out of steam.

Though the mechanics on which the entire experience is based is definitely fascinating, it tends to lose its effectiveness quickly despite the short duration of the adventure.

Stifled is an exercise in taking a great idea and applying it to a worn out genre. The indie horror tropes bleed through, despite a unique initial premise. Mumbling under my breath to be able to see barely plays into the narrative, and no scare ever got me to scream out loud, so it didn’t quite have the intended effect, seeming more like a gimmick by the end.

Although the adventure offers an interesting prologue and some memorable moments, at least for horror lovers, the game is ruined by a reduced longevity, by the poverty of the gameplay and by the repetition of always identical mechanics.

The story as a whole is predictable and underwhelming. It treads a lot of well-worn horror cliches without really doing anything to stand out, and it tries to take you on an emotional journey without giving you a reason to care.