SOMA

I played SOMA when it came out, I was 16. At the time I was already going through some strange existential dread and I played this game thinking "Oh another Amnesia game!" and oh was I so wrong. This game's concepts and philosophy took my already struggling-with-reality mind and dropped a horrific but deeply moving nihilism bomb onto it. SOMA was the final straw that sent me into a state of derealisation that lasted up until I turned 19, about 2 and a half years.

Now this sounds traumatic and awful, and it was, but it also served as a slow-burn challenge to my beliefs and sense of self. This game is deeply meaningful to my outlook on the world and I am grateful that it came out in such a formative year of my life. I am 25, and have been in a significantly healthier state of mind for a long time now. It sounds very silly, because how can a game have such an effect on me? But it did. SOMA straight up changed my life, thrust me into a breaking point in my ego. It made me realise that if consciousness is such a vague concept and blurry picture, then I can refocus it into what I make out of it. My personality and way of thinking didn't need to be concrete, because just like a copy of yourself can go off to make different choices and fundamentally become a different person, you also have those paths ahead to choose from. Who you are 5 years from now can be vastly different depending on choices you make in the present.

This is why it is my favourite game of all time and will always be my favourite game. No game or story has ever changed my brain chemistry on such a deep level as this did.

This game is a true testament to the idea that video games are just as powerful an art medium as any other when created with intention and thoughtfulness. This game will never leave my brain, it offers more philosophical insight than most books do.

The less you know the better, stop reading reviews and play the game!
I don't typically play horror games but this was an exceptional experience, highly recommended.

This isn't just another horror game — it's a masterpiece with an amazing atmosphere, captivating story, and voice actors who brought the characters to life with incredible depth and emotion. The fact that I can never experience this game again for the first time is agonizing. Truly an unforgettable game.

This game isn't scary as a game. It's scary as an illustrated reflection about us, humans - about our fundamental loneliness and mortality, about unconquerable mystery of our consciousness, our essence.
It's still the best project of "Frictional Games" and one of the best games ever.

SOMA is one of those games you wish you could forget so you can experience it again for the first time. 8 years after release and many story-rich games played later, this game still has one of the most impactful stories I've experienced in a game. At a glance, SOMA looks like any horror game, but after you play through the game you realize it is so much more. The graphics hold up amazingly, voice acting is well done and full of emotion, and the world and environment are very fleshed out and full of detail. The story is another level, though - it's incredibly deep, depressing, emotional, etc. and really immerses you into the world and the existential struggles of the characters that are revealed as you progress. I couldn't get it out of my head for days after playing, and I still think about it from time to time. This is an experience you can't pass up. Just buy it!

Quite possibly one of the best games i've ever played.
Incredibly well written story, very nice gameplay, and excellent sound design are all essential parts of this game
It has such a great atmosphere, any fan of horror/sci-fi needs to play this game.
For people worried about this being a jumpscare-fueled shallow horror game, fear not. There are only a few "jumpscares" throught the whole game, the primary method of stress and fear being good enemy AI and the feeling of isolation and helplessness that this game is excellent at.
Definitely worth it