Sleep Awake

“With the introduction being a bit of a puzzle itself with what it expected me to accomplish, it lacked any true immersion. As I consider immersion to be one of the most important aspects in the horror genre, it made Sleep Awake feel incredibly lackluster overall.”

“Sleep Awake tells an unusual story with an original idea that grabs you… until you realize it's not entirely well executed. Even so, its atmosphere, sound, and psychedelic moments make it a unique experience if you're into experimental horror.”

“Sleep Awake is a frustrating game because its potential screams from every neon-lit corner. It has impressive art style, a great cast, and a premise that should be genuinely terrifying. As a video game, however, it's underdeveloped. It's too linear, the stealth mechanics are outdated, and the story ends before it truly begins. It's a mood piece you play for the atmosphere, but don't expect it to keep you up all night. The biggest tragedy is the contrast between the fascinating world and the limited interaction with it. The Pain Eaters, the Mechanists, the totalitarian government—all these elements could have been the foundation of an epic horror saga. Instead, you pass them by like a ghost, unable to truly engage or fully experience their stories. It feels like you've only played the first act of a much larger tale, a teaser for a sequel that may never come. For those willing to overlook its mechanical shortcomings and embark on an audiovisually stunning journey, Sleep Awake offers moments of true brilliance. The psychedelic sequences, dystopian atmosphere, and hypnotic soundtrack create an unforgettable experience. However, for many, it will feel like wandering through an incomplete dream—beautiful, disturbing, but ultimately unsatisfying.”

“Sleep Awake is a visionary psychological horror, strong in atmosphere and aesthetics but less impactful in gameplay. A short, flawed yet memorable experience for fans of auteur-driven walking simulators.”

“Sleep Awake is a solid game whose story, visuals, and audio design are excellent. The experience is going to have you invested in it from start to finish but isn't likely to have you returning back to it once you're done. That's because of a relatively simple gameplay loop that focuses on traversal and puzzle solving over outright horror, making this an examination of a complex premise that doesn't push its boundaries far enough to stand out.”

“Sleep Awake has a unique idea and world-building full of potential, but in execution it only partially realizes this potential. On the one hand, the eye-catching artistic graphics, melancholic atmosphere and sound design in harmony with the game's theme provide an impressive experience; on the other hand, the shallow characterization, the inability to delve into the depth of concepts, the lack of innovation in the gameplay and the strange decision to lock the frame rate at 30, prevent the game from reaching its full potential.”

“Sleep Awake has an interesting premise, and makes nice use of full motion video to assist in blurring the lines between what's real and imaginary. It's just a shame that it's not as engaging to play as it should be. And it's not all that scary, either.”

“SLEEP AWAKE is by far one of my favorite horror games I have played this year. The story is creative and intriguing, hooking me until the end, so I could see what would happen next. The gameplay has a nice balance that I would expect a horror game like this to have, even though a couple of the puzzles are a little hard to solve, and dying takes way too long to come back. Still, this is one of the more creative horror games I have played, and it is one of my favorites that I have played this year. While it isn't completely solid throughout, the game is still very playable on the Steam Deck. It runs decently in most areas, though there are some unavoidable drops that could go below 20 FPS. Still, it doesn't happen often, and I still recommend playing it on the Steam Deck.”

“Sleep Awake gets stronger in its second half, when the surreal imagery and routine stealth stop living in separate silos.”

“Sleep Awake kicks off a bit groggy but then wakes up and delivers a memorable, unique, and bizarre experience. Katja’s plight might not mesh with many people, but it’s wholly unique and one of the heavier games I’ve played this year.”

“Some occasional subpar stealth sections and an obtuse puzzle or two are the only blemishes on an otherwise incredible journey that had me riveted from start to finish, with a story and main character that were incredible to witness. I want more of this world and premise. I want a book. I want a movie. I'm not sure that I'll be able to sleep till I get it.”

“The death cults are silly, but at the same time, ruminations on how humanity’s self-perceived resilience could work against it. That’s where Sleep Awake really hits. When the monsters do show up it stumbles, and feels more like a normal video game the longer it wades into the Whys and Hows. Not bad for a five-hour rollercoaster.”

“SLEEP AWAKE's psychedelic horror takes players on a delirious journey where the very world shifts and deceives. Mediocre stealth inflicts minimal damage on this mind-bending narrative that exists to confound with its captivating premise.”

“SLEEP AWAKE is a deeply artistic game that feels like navigating a beautiful yet eerie dreamscape. It's a bit light on gameplay aside from its eerie stealth sections. But with a haunting atmosphere of psychedelic visuals, otherworldly sounds, and creepy FMV moments, it's got style for days-or sleepless nights.”