SOMA

Still think about this game and its ending on a regular basis, even after only playing for 10 hours, 8 years ago. Cannot recommend enough.

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 offers an experience that you won't find in other games.
In my opinion, the most significant aspect of this game lies in its decision-making.
You make numerous choices throughout the game, most of which are between "bad" and "worse." However, what makes these decisions truly unique is not their impact on the game’s ending but their effect on you.
With every choice you make, you come closer to understanding your true self in the real world. Each decision tests your conscience and helps you better define your moral boundaries.
In the end, it’s not you playing the game—it’s the game playing with you.

The narrative that drives this game; It made me think about existential questions again, it's a horror game different from the flashy mold.

And people still wonder whether games are art.

Jeez. It's a horror game but the horror doesn't go away when you shut it down.

Did you ever wonder if you died every time you fell asleep and the you that woke up was just a copy that had all your memories? Well, I mean, I am now.

Friggin game.

It's so good

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.

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.