Chris InglisEdge of Sanity is a 2D survival horror game developed by Vixa Games and published by Daedalic Entertainment. There’s something nostalgic about the Daedalic intro logo and I am delighted to play any of their published products. This game launched on PC and consoles on September 13, 2024, and blends Lovecraftian horror with a gripping narrative and resource management mechanics. We take on the role of William Carter, a man struggling to survive in the Alaskan wilderness while grappling with the horrors of a mysterious industrial accident.
The game begins with Carter and his colleague Frank setting up a camp after escaping from their outpost. As they explore the wilderness, they encounter strange phenomena, cosmic horrors, and mutated creatures. Frank gets injured, so it is Carter’s mission to search for and rescue scattered survivors and gather resources essential for survival, all while trying to uncover the truth behind PRISM’s sinister experiments. The story is filled with unsettling events and a deeper, darker element that kept me engaged and wanting to explore further.
The game excels in creating a tense and unsettling atmosphere. The hand-drawn pixel art style conveys the bleak and desolate landscape of the wilderness with caverns and mine-shafts to explore, sometimes requiring a torch in the darkness which adds to the tension. The sound design is equally impressive, with eerie ambient noises and haunting music that constantly keep you on edge.
Gameplay revolves around completing short expeditions with specific objectives. While on the expeditions, you will also be scavenging for resources, crafting items, and managing your health, hunger, and sanity. The sanity mechanic is particularly interesting, as it gradually deteriorates as you encounter strange creatures and delve deeper into the mysteries of the accident. This mechanic adds a layer of psychological horror to the game, as your perception of reality becomes increasingly distorted which flashes of ghastly beasts in the corridors.
While the game’s combat system is relatively simple, it’s effective in creating tense encounters with the various creatures that lurk in the darkness. You start by throwing small rocks and you can change the arc of the throw, requiring some practice to get accuracy. Later you will have a small knife to go hand-to-hand with these creatures. There is a focus on stealth and avoiding conflict by hiding inside cave entrances, or observing the monster’s walk path to ensure you hit them from behind. As you move, you make sound, so direct confrontations often end in death.
Once you complete some expeditions and rescue other survivors, you will have enough items to craft water and food processing stations. These can be upgraded with more resources, and manned by survivors you allocate to enhance their output. To gain greater resources, you will be searching through abandoned buildings, exploring dark caves, or deciphering cryptic clues to locate hidden supplies. You’ll encounter various obstacles in your journey, such as blocked paths, locked doors, or hazardous areas. Overcoming these obstacles may require using specific tools, solving simple puzzles, or timing your movements to avoid danger.
The voice acting for the characters is generally excellent, with William Carter’s voice actor delivering a convincing performance as they convey Carter’s growing desperation and madness as you progress through the game. The other characters are great too in their situations, helping bring the overarching story to life.
Overall, Edge of Sanity is a compelling and atmospheric survival horror game that blends psychological terror with survival mechanics. The game’s atmosphere, story and hand-drawn art style creates and immersive and engaging experience. If you’re a fan of Lovecraftian horror and are looking for a challenging and thought-provoking game, Edge of Sanity is definitely worth checking out.
This review utilised a key provided by Daedalic Entertainment and Edge of Sanity is out now on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.
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Yonan
