Conarium
Conarium is a chilling Lovecraftian game that follows the gripping story of four scientists and their endeavour to challenge what we normally consider to be the "absolute" limits of nature. Inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's novella At the Mountains of Madness, but largely set after the original story. You, as Frank Gilman, open your eyes inside a room filled with strange, pulsating noises. Patterns of lights executing a Danse Macabre on the walls is presented by a queer device on the table. Having recalled nothing other than that you’re in Upuaut, an Antarctic base located near the South Pole, you find the place deserted and have a distinct feeling of something being terribly wrong. Somehow knowing that your memories cannot guide you enforces a strange feeling of vulnerability, a familiar yet alien sensation of being a part of a peculiar whole…
Game Discussion
Steam User 11
Yes! No jump scares, no monsters, just exploration and atmosphere, like a good Lovecraft game should be.. is it perfect? No yet it's good for that Lovecraft itch you need to scratsch.
Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn!
Steam User 3
If you crave some lovecraftian story-telling with atmospheric sound and level design - this is for you.
Steam User 3
if im dreaming then why does it hurt so much?
have you ever had a dream where you were in pain or felt death?
perhaps you enjoyed those toilet dreams but in waking life you are soaked in your own urine.
what consciousness becomes in the dream like state is still a mystery because we cannot measure it or create it.
what science knows about our minds is a facade between reality and the imagination.
what i was expecting was a sort of "lovecraftian" experience, yes its based on a story and inspired by that lore.
the story i visited was unique, a different but familiar take on those past ideas.
we are transported visually between many different locations, but are we truely experiencing this place or are we on the cusp of death and our unconscious imagination has entered a dream or is it a hallucination?
there is not an answer, a final truth, about what really happened.
the visuals and voices are very well throught out pieces of your experience.
as the medium of senses go this is all you can accomplish is good audio and acceptable perceptions.
as many stories are narrated by the linear path there is not much you can do to avoid the final conclusions.
a curiosity for exploring the world can be rewarding, i thought i was very thorough in my peeking in every corner.
somehow i missed enough things that would add substance to the background of this expereince.
another artist vision repeated as many times as anyone can afford, the same thing again.
they are becomming commonplace as to feel mundane instead of thoughtfully evoking.horror.
this is the moment i just wanted to end it all.
the moment i wanted to stop the adventure was each time your control was removed for a noisy hallucination cutscene which was indicated by your glove tool.
faux jumpscares were entertaining but the worst is being "chased" for simulated effects of fear.
then after this "horrible death" instead of dying, you are tormented again until you figure out (or visit a guide) what to do to get away from this nightmare.
one of the few last remnants of STEAM FOR LINUX gaming,
UnrealEngine4: good settings/options which means the developers put in effort,
the audio has an issue with popping/crackling/clipping here with me...i am unsure what causes it, i do not experience this elsewhere at any time - currently.
played on GNU/LINUX
Steam User 3
Conarium is clearly a labour of love. One can put it in the "walking simulator" catalogue as it is clearly one worth it for the experience and lore. It makes up for its flaws with the ambience and the interesting story that unfolds before you as you progress through the game. It is precisely for staying true to the works of Lovecraft and for creating the right atmosphere that it is worth experiencing. Not one for the horror fans that will be looking for proper scares and complex puzzles, even though that's not what is promised, so no fault there. The "mood" is there, the lore is good, the level design is interesting. All of this makes up for the short time it takes you to complete the game... H.P. Lovecraft enthusiasts (such as myself) can enjoy it and safely add it to the list of the most solid attempts at bringing Lovecraft's work to video games so far.
The price tag... a little high for the content on offer... I recommend that you look for it on promotion (like I did) and then get it at a more reasonable price.
All in all, a very solid H.P. Lovecraft game. Clearly recommend.
Steam User 3
Really unique game! Very unsettling atmosphere, awesome puzzles, and colorful environments. I had a great time playing this and the game ran perfectly. I encountered no bugs as some others have mentioned. Lots of notes and voice recordings to find. If you like hunting collectibles, you're in luck! They have several 'bonus' items available for you to search for with achievements upon completion of sets. Story can be a little confusing if you aren't heavy into Lovecraftian lore, but I appreciate how much story there is to reveal in the game. Normally, I don't like underwater sections due to a slight case of claustrophobia, but I actually really liked the submarine operation (even tho I was a terrible driver lol). If you like horror, puzzles, and lore in your games, I highly recommend this one!
Steam User 3
the story was good, the game was short, it's a puzzle game and your doing a lot of walking in the dark, it's creepy but not fully scary.
Steam User 4
Nice little puzzle game / walking-simulator. Story wise its starts off as Lovecraft's "At the Mountains of Madness" and finishes as his "The Nameless City" tales. I liked it. The atmosphere, lore and graphical elements were its main pluses. Kudos to the small Turkish team who made this game! Also it works well on the Steam Deck - on which I completed it.