Insomnis is a first-person horror adventure game developed by Path Games and published by Meridiem Games. The game was previously released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and has now been released for Xbox Series X/S on July 18, 2023. I had previously tried this game briefly on the Nintendo switch and was glad it had finally come to the Xbox platform. I am a fan of the shorter, story driven style of gameplay on offer and this bitesize 2-3 hour playthrough was the perfect amount of horror I needed.
In Insomnis, you play as Joe Castevet, a young man who has inherited his grandfather's manor. When you arrive at the manor, you quickly realize that it is haunted. You must explore the manor, solve puzzles, and confront the ghosts of its past in order to uncover the truth about your family and the manor itself. Joe's grandfather, Roman Castevet, was a famous scientist who conducted experiments on sleep deprivation. Joe's parents died when he was young, and he was raised by his grandfather. Joe and Roman were estranged for many years, but Joe reconnected with Roman shortly before his death.
Roman told Joe that he had been conducting experiments on sleep deprivation in the manor, and that he had made some dangerous discoveries. Roman also told Joe that he was afraid of the ghosts that haunted the manor, and that he believed that they were trying to communicate with him.
After Roman's death, Joe inherits the manor and decides to investigate his grandfather's experiments. As Joe explores the manor, he begins to experience strange and terrifying visions. He also begins to see the ghosts of the children who died in the manor many years ago.
Joe soon realizes that the ghosts are trying to tell him something. They are trying to warn him about the dangers of Roman's experiments. Joe must use his grandfather's research to solve the puzzles in the manor and stop the ghosts from harming him. The story of Insomnis is a dark and suspenseful tale of family secrets, scientific experimentation, and the dangers of sleep deprivation. The game is well-made and atmospheric, and it offers a unique and disturbing take on the horror genre.
The gameplay in Insomnis is a mix of exploration and puzzle-solving. You will explore the manor, solve puzzles. The area on offer is pretty small, so you will be visting the same areas as you look for objects you require.
The main chunk of the game is slow-paced and atmospheric exploration. You will need to carefully examine your surroundings to find clues and solve puzzles. There is no combat to be found here, so you can focus on the puzzles and work your way through the narrative whilst enjoying the atmosphere to the fullest. I recommend playing through this in one sitting, it's short enough that you can easily polish it off in an evening and having to remember where all the items are is much harder if you play in shorter bursts.
Insomnis is a well-made horror game with a good atmosphere and a suspenseful story. The puzzles are challenging but will never give you too much trouble to keep you stuck for long. The ghosts are creepy and atmospheric and the game is also relatively short, which is a plus for those who don't have a lot of time to play games.
However, Insomnis is not without its flaws. The game can be a bit too linear at times, and the puzzles can be a bit too easy. Additionally, the game's visuals are not the best, and the voice acting is a bit hit-or-miss.
Pros:
Good atmosphere and suspenseful story
Puzzles aren't too complicated
Creepy and atmospheric ghosts
Relatively short game
Cons:
Can be a bit too linear
Puzzles can be a bit too easy
Visuals are not the best
Voice acting is a bit hit-or-miss
Controls aren't the best
Overall, Insomnis is a good horror game that is worth playing for fans of the genre. It is not perfect, but it is a solid entry in the genre and is well worth an evening of your time. The atmosphere is great and coupled with the lack of combat/danger it means it's much more accessible for people. TOTAL SCORE: 7.5/10
Insomnis was released onto the Xbox store on the 18th July 2023. The game is playable on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S consoles. Priced at £16.74, you can purchase the game HERE.
A copy of the game was provided for this review. A big thanks for that!
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