In Sound Mind

About In Sound Mind

In Sound Mind is a first-person psychological horror game that mixes shooter mechanics with platforming, puzzles, and surreal boss battles. Developed by We Create Stuff and published by Modus Games in 2021, it casts you as someone trapped inside their own mind, navigating a shifting, nightmarish building filled with mannequins, hallucinations, and a mysterious cat named Tonia. The game leans into disorienting environments and abstract storytelling, with a focus on chaotic combat and cryptic clues about an experimental chemical. It plays like a fever dream, blending action with moments of exploration and puzzle-solving. Available on PC, PS5, Xbox, and Switch, it’s a short but polarizing indie title that aims to unsettle as much as it entertains.

Gameplay

You start in a strange, ever-changing building, shooting at abstract enemies while solving physics-based puzzles to progress. Combat is frantic, often requiring you to dodge or leap between platforms to avoid attacks. The environment shifts unpredictably, walls might rearrange, or the floor collapses, forcing platforming skills. Puzzles involve manipulating objects like floating cubes or triggering sequences to open paths. Boss fights mix action and strategy, like battling a giant mannequin while navigating its collapsing body. Controls are responsive, but the game’s disorienting design can frustrate. Sessions often feel like a 20, 30 minute sprint through surreal chaos. The cat companion, Tonia, appears sporadically; you can pet her, but she rarely helps with the actual gameplay.

What Players Think

Community reactions are split. On Metacritic, it averages 74/100. Players report 7.5 hours average playtime, with 25.7% unlocking achievements on average. The rarest, “Well Medicated” at 8.9%, likely requires completing a specific endgame sequence. Moods among PlayPile users skew nervous (27%), curious (19%), and entertained (14%), with some calling it “creepy but brilliant” and others frustrated by its “unfocused design.” Critics praise the originality of the setting but note inconsistent pacing. One user wrote, “The mind-screws are strong, but the combat feels tacked on.” Another said, “Tonia steals the show. Why is this game not a meme?”

PlayPile's Take

In Sound Mind is $29.99, a mid-tier indie price. It offers 10, 12 hours of gameplay with 32 achievements, but completion rate is low, only 12% of players have 100%. Best for fans of abstract horror and experimental design, but it’s a risky buy for those who prefer structured gameplay. The game shines in its ambition, but its disjointed execution and reliance on vague storytelling may alienate. If you enjoy titles like Manifold Garden but can stomach its tonal whiplash, give it a shot. For most, though, it’s a cult curiosity over a must-play.

Storyline

As you awake in the corridors of an inexplicable building, you find the environment takes on a life of its own and leads you to discover a series of victims, all exposed to the same experimental chemical. In your search for answers, bizarre visions emerge and introduce a host of imposing horrors… and a cat named Tonia. Unexpect the expected. Explore an imaginative and disorienting narrative, featuring sentient mannequins, a feline companion, and much more. And yes, you can pet the cat.