Predy Media ＞ Survival horror ＞ Game page
Game pageSOMA — the question of who you are follows you out of the depths
The unsettling part is not only what might be waiting down a corridor. Players describe the story turning the question of identity into something personal, which they keep thinking about after playing.
Notes, recordings and small traces of the people who lived here invite you to stop and investigate. Reviewers wanted to read and listen, not merely reach the next objective.
What makes it fun
Piece together the station's past
Follow computer logs and recordings to uncover traces of the people who lived at PATHOS-II. As you connect their accounts, you begin to see what happened at the station.
The fear lingers
You cannot fight back, so an encounter means deciding whether to run or hide. Even after you get through it, the metal creaks and quiet halls make the next corridor uneasy.
Follow Simon's questions
Simon reacts to what he finds and voices his doubts in conversation and to himself. When he puts your own questions into words, the ideas about consciousness and humanity feel personal.
Game details
As of Oct 29, 2026- Steam Deck
- Verified
- Release date
- Sep 22, 2015
- Developer
- Frictional Games
- Languages
- English (Full audio), Simplified Chinese ／ 8 languages total
A typical run
Investigate the underwater facility PATHOS-II through terminals and documents.
You cannot fight back; escaping or outsmarting threats is the way forward.
Players describe the creaks and mechanical sounds of the underwater setting making empty spaces feel uncertain rather than safe.
Core systems
Safe Mode
Creatures remain and cannot kill you, even if they attack when provoked.
Choose it when starting a new game to explore without mandatory stealth.
What sets it apart
The philosophical unease can matter more than mastering an enemy encounter. Reviewers who loved the narrative still sometimes found hiding and waiting an interruption.
Learning curve and difficulty
One player overlooked a removable wall panel because it resembled the scenery they had already passed. The example draws attention to interactive details that can blend into the surroundings.
Another player explored corners and picked up objects hoping to hear more dialogue. Their way of going deeper was to give the characters and surroundings more time, rather than hurry between objectives.
Builds and playstyles
Look around without rushing
One player preferred Safe Mode because avoiding enemies had discouraged them from examining corners and environmental details. It suited the kind of exploration they wanted.
What longtime players say
A long-time player still finds the atmosphere frightening even when speedrunning. For them, familiarity with the route has not erased the effect of the setting, art and story.
What players like
The question of what makes a person themselves stays with these players after the story ends.
Recordings and documents make investigating the facility rewarding in its own right.
Simon’s reactions and conversations make the situation feel personal rather than like a distant sci-fi premise.
Metallic noises and the underwater setting give apparently empty spaces an oppressive sense of isolation.
Common complaints
Hiding from enemies can interrupt the urge to explore and follow the story.
Finding the next route can be unclear, leaving players unsure where to go.
Who it’s for
It suits readers of science fiction who enjoy thinking about identity and consciousness without expecting the story to settle every question for them.
It also suits players who like learning about a place through recordings and documents, taking time over details rather than treating them as optional clutter.
Who might not enjoy it
It is not a reassuring escape if you want a comfortable story: reviewers describe the themes leaving them unsettled, even after the danger has passed.
Players looking mainly for brisk action may find the reading, walking and hiding too slow.
FAQ
- Does Safe Mode remove the story’s horror?
- It can still be frightening: the atmosphere and themes remain, as do puzzles and events.
These impressions are based on 100 Steam reviews sorted by “Most Helpful.” They do not represent the views of all buyers.
Image: SOMA on Steam