SIMULACRA

This is definitely a game you play only a couple of times, but when you do it's long and great. The overall lore that makes up the game is extremely interesting in my opinion, and the careful framing of character interactions and their definitions make them memorable overall. My personal favorite part was hunting for all the endings and secret easter eggs. Only thing that I didn't really like was the lack of save points. Endings are arguably the most important parts of the game, yet you are forced to restart from the very beginning after getting an ending. This can be a bit frustrating when you chose the wrong option and got an ending that you already have. The game does give you a faster experience where the text goes faster after achieving your first ending, however I feel like a save point would make more sense in this case.

[h1]👍 Highly Recommended[/h1] [i]SIMULACRA is one of the few games that genuinely makes browsing through a smartphone feel fun. It's a horror game of sorts, but Instead of running from monsters or hiding in closets, you're piecing together the disappearance of a young woman by exploring every corner of her phone. Messages, photos, videos, emails, social media, and browser history slowly reveal a mystery that's equal parts psychological thriller and supernatural horror. It feels disturbingly believable-almost like scrolling through someone else's real device.[/i] [hr][/hr] [h2]🟢 PROS[/h2] [list] [*][b]Brilliant Found Phone Concept:[/b] Investigating an entire mystery through a lost smartphone is an incredibly immersive idea that still feels unique years after release. [*][b]Excellent Storytelling:[/b] The narrative unfolds naturally through text messages, emails, videos, and social media instead of lengthy exposition. Every app contains another piece of the puzzle. [*][b]Convincing Characters:[/b] Conversations feel surprisingly authentic. Friends, coworkers, and family all have believable personalities and motivations, making the investigation feel personal. [*][b]Genuinely Creepy:[/b] SIMULACRA builds tension through unsettling discoveries, disturbing videos, and the feeling that something is deeply wrong with the phone itself. [*][b]Creative Puzzles:[/b] Unlocking files, recovering deleted data, solving passwords, and navigating fake apps keeps the gameplay engaging throughout. [*][b]Multiple Endings:[/b] Your decisions matter, giving the story additional replay value. [/list] [hr][/hr] [h2]🔴 CONS[/h2] [list] [*][b]Live-Action Acting Can Be Uneven:[/b] Most performances are convincing, but a handful of scenes feel slightly awkward compared to the otherwise strong production. [*][b]Occasional Interface Frustrations:[/b] Searching through apps or revisiting conversations can sometimes be more cumbersome than necessary. [*][b]The Ending May Divide Players:[/b] Without spoilers, the final revelations won't satisfy everyone, especially those hoping for a more grounded explanation. [/list] [hr][/hr] [h2]💰 VALUE FOR MONEY[/h2] [b]Excellent[/b] — SIMULACRA offers several hours of engaging investigation packed with memorable moments, clever puzzles, and one of the most original horror concepts in the genre. It's frequently discounted on Steam, making it an even easier recommendation for fans of narrative adventures and psychological horror. [hr][/hr] [h3]⭐ 9/10[/h3] [i]A brilliantly executed smartphone horror that proves the scariest place in a horror game isn't an abandoned mansion. Immersive, unsettling, and remarkably original, SIMULACRA remains one of the most engaging narrative horror experiences available on Steam.[/i]

The English is awkward, and I laughed out loud at how bad some of the acting is. Game forced me to work with Anna's ♥♥♥♥♥♥ ex and a total stranger she met on a dating app, and then punished me when I tried to talk to her best friend instead. When the audio recordings glitched out so no sound played and the subtitles scrolled by way too fast to read I decided I'd had enough. DNF.

I got this for cheap and liked it.

g

Anna is a worm, a weak individual that only laments.

The story was nothing if not cliché. The concept of a found phone game is cool, or perhaps was at the time of release, but everything else surrounding this concept left me quite underwhelmed. So many of the characters are creeps, and I find out I got the bad ending for not helping out either of the creeps continue their creep life. This game also falls into the pitfall of any visual novel type game, it feels stricly linear and there doesn't feel like theres much you can do to change the outcome of the game. Of course this isn't entirely true; there are mutliple endings. But the steps you have to take to get the endings are either vague or require you to work with the aforementioned creeps to save a woman who shouldn't be placed in these creeps crosshairs. Also what's the message of this game, that putting on an online persona is bad? Sure, maybe, but we see one character using a persona to her benefit? Is it that forming relationships online is bad? Sure, they can be. But again; there are benefits to forming relationships online too. The main villian of the game, if you could call it that, doesn't really have a solid theme. Is it AI? Something paranormal? Eldritch horror? A mix of them all plus more? Even with this in mind, why make it a supernatural entity? Why can't the villian just be a normal guy, like what happens in real life. It feels like meta commentary for meta commentary sake. This is the kind of game I suspect would do well in a youtuber letsplay, it's something to be watched and commentated on. I suspect this because I only really had fun with this game because I was playing it with my friends. As for the "horror" aspect, its a bit of a joke. Loud noises or random unexpected noises playing at random times - most egregiously "door knocking sfx" Wouldn't reccomend, but its cheap so do as you will.