Noise
The USSR era is coming to its end – it is 1988.
The radio amateur catches a strange signal that emits incomprehensible noises. It is broadcast around the clock and only sometimes a human voice makes its way through the air. However, it is impossible to make out what the person is saying. The most mysterious thing, though, is related to the fact that according to the maps the place the signal is coming from does not exist. As a main character, you will have to uncover terrifying secrets about this enigmatic signal.
There is no weapon in the game. The protagonist does not know how to handle it.
The most useful thing you have is a radio.
With its help you can understand what is happening in this place. You choose the radio wave on your own in order to catch the desired signal, contact people, or simply listen to the radio of the USSR. There are a lot of moments in the game related to the use of the radio.
The story in Noise is not a typical faceless horror.
We’d like to tell you an interesting yet sinister story in Stephen King’s manner. The story will be rendered through conversations and thoughts of the protagonist as well as through the study of locations. Some details of the story can remain unnoticed if you don’t study the locations carefully. The story is set in the USSR which gives it a peculiar flair.
The main antagonist of the story is the creature which is constantly wandering around, exploring the location the same way you do. It hunts you and reacts to your actions. If you turn on the light or use a flashlight, the creature will go and check what is happening. You need to try hard to hide from it because you cannot kill it. The creature sees nothing in the dark, so sometimes it will be enough to simply turn off the light and wait for a while.
The creature emits radio waves, so you can track it with your radio. We tried to implement the artificial intelligence system in the game, being inspired by the monster from the Alien film and game.
The creature is important to the story. It is no less important than the protagonist.
Game Discussion
Steam User 0
Noise is a psychological horror experience developed by Talentplace and published by KishMish Games that blends exploration, suspense, and narrative mystery into a tense first-person adventure. The game revolves around a mysterious radio signal that draws the protagonist into an increasingly unsettling investigation. Set against the backdrop of a bleak, isolated environment inspired by late-Soviet settings, the story follows a man who begins receiving strange transmissions filled with static, fragmented voices, and cryptic messages. What initially seems like an unusual radio broadcast gradually reveals itself to be something far more disturbing, pulling the player into a narrative built around paranoia, isolation, and the creeping sense that something unnatural is lurking nearby. From the moment the game begins, it establishes a slow-burn atmosphere that emphasizes psychological tension rather than relying solely on traditional horror tropes.
A defining feature of Noise is its unusual reliance on radio mechanics as both a narrative device and a gameplay tool. Instead of equipping players with weapons or traditional survival gear, the game centers around tuning frequencies and interpreting transmissions in order to progress through the story. The radio becomes the player’s primary method of uncovering clues about what is happening in the surrounding environment. By carefully adjusting channels and listening to distorted voices or unusual signals, players gradually piece together fragments of a larger mystery. This mechanic gives the game a strong investigative tone, encouraging patience and curiosity. Rather than simply moving from objective marker to objective marker, the player must pay attention to subtle auditory hints and environmental cues that help reveal the next step in the journey.
The gameplay itself focuses heavily on exploration and tension. Players traverse abandoned areas, dimly lit structures, and desolate landscapes while attempting to uncover the source of the strange signal. Unlike many horror games that emphasize combat, Noise deliberately removes the ability to fight back against threats. The protagonist is completely defenseless, forcing players to rely on stealth and awareness rather than confrontation. A mysterious creature inhabits the environment and reacts to light and movement, meaning players must carefully manage their flashlight and avoid making unnecessary noise. Because the entity cannot see in darkness, the game frequently pushes players to move cautiously through shadowy areas, creating a nerve-wracking cat-and-mouse dynamic that heightens the sense of vulnerability. This design choice reinforces the feeling that survival depends on caution rather than bravery.
The atmosphere of Noise is arguably its strongest element. The visual presentation favors subdued lighting, abandoned Soviet-style buildings, and fog-covered outdoor spaces that evoke a strong sense of isolation. While the graphical fidelity may not rival larger budget titles, the environmental design does an excellent job of creating a haunting mood. The world feels empty yet threatening, as though something invisible is always lurking just beyond the player’s field of vision. When combined with the immersive soundscape, the result is an environment that constantly keeps the player uneasy. Even moments of quiet exploration feel tense because the game effectively convinces the player that danger could appear at any moment.
Sound design plays a critical role in shaping the horror experience. Static-filled radio transmissions, distant echoes, and subtle environmental noises create an auditory landscape that reinforces the game’s themes of uncertainty and paranoia. The radio signals themselves are especially effective, often delivering fragmented pieces of dialogue or mysterious sounds that hint at the story’s deeper secrets. Because these transmissions rarely explain things directly, players are encouraged to interpret the clues themselves. This method of storytelling makes the narrative feel more organic, as if the player is uncovering forbidden information rather than simply following a scripted storyline.
The narrative unfolds gradually as the player explores more areas and intercepts additional broadcasts. Instead of presenting a straightforward plot, the game builds its story through scattered clues, environmental details, and cryptic radio messages. This approach allows players to form their own theories about the events taking place and the nature of the signal. The mysterious entity that stalks the environment further deepens the intrigue, suggesting that the broadcast may be connected to something supernatural or otherworldly. While the story can sometimes feel intentionally ambiguous, the sense of mystery it creates keeps players engaged throughout the experience.
However, Noise is not without its shortcomings. The pacing occasionally slows to a crawl during exploration segments, particularly when players are unsure where to go next or which frequency to investigate. Some of the gameplay systems are relatively simple, meaning the experience can feel repetitive after extended play sessions. Additionally, the modest production values are noticeable in certain animations and environmental details. While these issues do not completely undermine the experience, they may stand out to players accustomed to larger, more polished horror games.
Despite these limitations, Noise succeeds in delivering a distinctive indie horror experience built around atmosphere and psychological tension. Its focus on radio communication as a core gameplay mechanic sets it apart from many other titles in the genre, and the decision to emphasize stealth and vulnerability creates a constant feeling of unease. The game’s slow pacing and mysterious storytelling may not appeal to everyone, but for players who enjoy atmospheric exploration and narrative-driven horror, it offers a memorable journey into a strange and unsettling world. By combining eerie sound design, investigative gameplay, and an oppressive sense of isolation, Noise manages to create a unique horror experience that lingers long after the final transmission fades into static.
Rating: 7/10