Soma

About Soma

SOMA dropped in September 2015 from Frictional Games, the studio behind Amnesia: The Dark Descent. This single-player adventure blends puzzle solving with sci-fi horror on platforms like PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. You play as Simon Jarrett after an accident strands you at PATHOS-II, a deep-sea research facility sinking into chaos. The story tackles heavy questions about consciousness and what defines humanity while you navigate dark corridors filled with malfunctioning robots and twisted organic horrors. There is no combat system here. Your only tools are your wits and the ability to hide or run when things go wrong. It feels like a personal nightmare played out in an underwater tomb where the machines have decided they are alive.

Gameplay

Sessions consist mostly of exploring dimly lit corridors, flipping switches, and hacking terminals to unlock new areas. You will spend minutes reading log entries on locked computers to piece together the station's collapse. Progression requires finding specific keys or bypassing security systems using logic puzzles that often involve moving heavy machinery or rerouting power. When enemies appear, you cannot fight them. The game forces you to sneak past corrupted humans and robotic monsters or sprint to safety. I usually spend twenty minutes just trying to figure out a puzzle before moving forward. Sometimes the tension comes from waiting in a dark room while a machine patrols outside. The controls feel tight and responsive during these high-stakes moments, making every jump scare count.

What Players Think

Players rate this title highly with an 84 on Metacritic and 81.9 on IGDB based on over 650 reviews. The average playtime sits around 13 hours for most people who finish the main story. Community moods lean heavily toward atmospheric vibes, with five specific votes for that feel alone. Three users tagged it as story-driven while others noted mind-bending elements and a strange nostalgia. Review snippets often mention the emotional weight of the ending rather than just the scares. The game holds up well years later because the writing remains sharp even if graphics have aged. People return to discuss the philosophical questions long after they beat the final boss. It is clear that fans value the narrative depth over traditional horror mechanics.

PlayPile's Take

Buy SOMA if you want a story that lingers in your head days later. The price point makes it an easy entry for anyone who missed it at launch. You will earn 50 achievements, many of which require finding hidden documents or making specific choices during key moments. This is not a game for people who need constant action or loud jump scares to stay engaged. Frictional Games delivers a complete experience without any microtransactions or filler content. The puzzle design might frustrate some players at times, but the payoff in the final act makes every struggle worth it. Play this when you have time to focus on the details rather than rushing through levels.

Storyline

The radio is dead, food is running out, and the machines have started to think they are people. Underwater facility PATHOS-II has suffered an intolerable isolation and we’re going to have to make some tough decisions. What can be done? What makes sense? What is left to fight for?