Sleep Awake Reviews
Sleep Awake gets stronger in its second half, when the surreal imagery and routine stealth stop living in separate silos.
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.
There's a lot of promise to Sleep Awake, which makes its short runtime all the more frustrating. The fusion of visuals, music, and narrative are reminiscent of peak Remedy titles and the inevitable cliffhanger ending definitely leaves me wanting to find out more about Katja's story. I'll be listening to that Robin Finck soundtrack in the meantime and crossing my fingers.
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 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'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.
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.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Interesting first-person psychedelic horror narrative experience on PS5
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 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.
Review in Italian | Read full review
I’m in two minds about Sleep Awake. Half of me thoroughly enjoyed the psychological aspects and hints at what is behind the Hush. However, there is a lot left to be desired, with easy gameplay sections, less than top notch graphics, and low replayability. Whilst the soundtrack is fantastic, the narrative is your only thread to keeping your attention even in the light of the ambiguous ending. If you want a quick psychedelic trip with some interesting ideas then you might enjoy this, but you could probably squeeze in a nap or two first.
A hypnotic descent where sound, visuals, and story fuse into one unforgettable nightmare. Sleep Awake delivers a vivid, unsettling ride with striking visuals, oppressive sound, and a fragile narrative
Sleep Awake is an extremely intriguing title that draws strength from its creative and captivating worldbuilding, capable of capturing our attention from the very first minutes of gameplay. However, what prevents the game from really taking off are its gameplay issues, which end up making it far too linear. It is still a good product, though, and one that deserves a chance, especially if you are a fan of the genre.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Given this, and the fact that Sleep Awake is overall a very enjoyable and well crafted experience, with a few hitches in its story that can mostly be ignored due to the absolutely beautiful presentation of its world and characters, I would say it's worth the price tag, but not to expect a total game changer in the horror genre.
Overall, Sleep Awake is an ambitious horror game that swings big with its ideas, and even when it stumbles, it does so with intention. If you're looking for a bite-sized horror game you can finish in a day and still feel terrified, then I'd happily recommend Sleep Awake.
It may sound terribly cliché, but Sleep Awake is the kind of obscure, brain-prodding project you have to open yourself up to in order to appreciate its intent, bombarding you for four hours with cryptic clues and disorienting FMV dreamscapes whose confusing lore and rock-opera delirium seem designed to confront you with the hallucinatory effects of sleep deprivation—an experience not meant for everyone, but one that will gladly pull you under for a few digital hours if you dare.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Sleep Awake captivated us with its dreamlike atmosphere bordering on the surreal. Katja's wanderings in a world trying to resist sleep will take us to disturbing and horrific landscapes. However, our adventures will be very short-lived and, apart from a few stealth sessions and some simple puzzles, we won't have many opportunities to interact with the game world.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Sleep Awake prioritizes mood and story over mechanical complexity. It chooses psychedelic weirdness over conventional scares. You'll either connect with that vision or bounce off completely.
Sleep Awake is a few hours long horror-themed walking simulator. For a horror game, it's not scary at all, and playing it is a frustrating and boring experience.
Review in Finnish | Read full review