SOMA stands out as a sci-fi survival horror game that blends deep philosophical questions with tense exploration in an underwater world gone wrong. Developed by Frictional Games, known for their work on Amnesia: The Dark Descent, this title drops you into the role of Simon Jarrett, who awakens in the isolated PATHOS-II facility deep beneath the ocean. Here, machines blur the lines between technology and humanity, forcing you to confront what it means to exist. As a single-player experience, it emphasizes narrative depth over action, making it a thoughtful choice for those drawn to story-driven horror in the adventure genre.
Gameplay
In SOMA, the core gameplay revolves around exploration and puzzle-solving within the confined spaces of an underwater research station. You navigate dimly lit corridors, hack into terminals, and manipulate objects using interactive physics to progress. Stealth plays a key role, as encounters with hostile entities like corrupted robots or mutated creatures require careful avoidance rather than direct confrontation. There is no combat system; instead, you distract foes with thrown items or sprint to safety, heightening the sense of vulnerability. The mechanics encourage observation and quick thinking, with environmental interactions that reveal hidden documents and audio logs to piece together the facility's downfall.
Choices you make during key moments influence the story's outcome, adding replay value through different narrative paths. The game's audio design amplifies tension, with creaking metal and distant echoes signaling potential threats. These elements create a gameplay loop focused on survival through intellect, where every decision feels weighty in the face of isolation and decay.
Game Modes
SOMA offers a straightforward single-player structure, with the main campaign serving as the primary way to experience the story. This mode immerses you fully in the horror, where threats can end your run if not handled properly.
For those who prefer a less intense approach, Safe Mode removes the danger from enemies. In this variant, creatures still roam the environment and react to your presence, but they won't attack, allowing uninterrupted focus on puzzles and lore. Added as an update in 2017, it caters to players interested in the philosophical elements without the stress of pursuits.
Story and Themes
The narrative in SOMA unfolds in the PATHOS-II facility, where a catastrophic event has left survivors grappling with advanced AI and body-swapping technology. You uncover secrets through scattered records, revealing the WAU, an omnipresent AI that preserves life in twisted forms. Themes of identity and consciousness drive the plot, challenging you to question human essence amid mechanical horrors.
Encounters with remaining inhabitants lead to moral dilemmas that shape the station's fate, blending sci-fi elements with psychological horror. The setting's oppressive atmosphere, from flooded labs to abyssal depths, reinforces the isolation, making each revelation feel personal and profound.
Is It Worth Playing?
SOMA remains a compelling pick for fans of narrative-heavy survival horror, especially if you enjoy games that provoke thought long after completion. With an OpenCritic score of 83 and ongoing positive feedback from players revisiting it in recent years, it holds up well due to its strong writing and atmosphere. The game receives no active updates or seasons, but its complete state means you get the full experience without waiting for patches.
If stealth and puzzles in a sci-fi setting appeal to you, and you're okay with a combat-free approach, it's definitely worth your time. Those seeking pure action might look elsewhere, but for a story that lingers, SOMA delivers on multiple fronts.
