Security 51
Critic Reviews for Security 51
Security 51 manages to stand out for its ability to transform administrative tedium into psychological terror, offering a unique and sufficiently compelling experience.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Security 51 nails the checkpoint gameplay and backs it up with genuinely gorgeous pixel art. But it forgets the other half of what makes this genre work: there's no one to actually care about, no moral weight to your decisions, and almost nothing tying your daily grind to the story. Worth playing for the loop and the visuals, just don't go in expecting a narrative to match.
Security 51 turns the mundane routine of a security guard into a tense bureaucratic thriller, sitting halfway between Papers, Please and the horrors of the SCP Foundation. Backed by a claustrophobic atmosphere that still knows when not to take itself too seriously, polished pixel art, and oppressive, Carpenter-esque soundscapes, Alawar’s title surprises with its variety: beyond stamping paperwork, you'll manage elevators, conduct bizarre cell experiments, and contain an outbreak with devastatingly weighty choices. Despite occasionally punishing difficulty and a core gameplay loop that might not win over those outside this niche, it remains a cynical and thoroughly successful inspection simulator—highly recommended for fans of the genre.
Review in Italian | Read full review
I mentioned that this game reminds me of Papers, Please and if you enjoyed that game, then pick this up. It has really great game mechanics and the changing of the rules keep you on your toes. At first my attention felt split for just understanding the new items and looking at the time. But, once you get a rhythm to bounce on, you can blaze through shifts like butter. It’s fun, creative and some of the surprises you’re exposed to are rather enjoyable. I give Security 51 the Thumb Culture Gold Award!
Security 51 is an atmospheric horror security simulator developed and distributed by Alawar. Your job is simple, or at least it seems simple: ensure that no one who isn't authorized to enter does so. Whether it's simply checking if documents are correct or going deeper and detecting anomalies, you're given a different order every day. If everything is in order, allow the person to use the elevator, but if not, prohibit their entry or send them to a worse end. Progress through the days, gain new tools and responsibilities as you try to prevent the apocalypse. Security 51's inspiration from Papers, Please is quite obvious and has been explicitly stated by the developers themselves. The only problem is that Papers, Please is so well executed that any comparison is unfair. Security 51 tries to innovate, but ends up getting bogged down with so many mechanics, many of which have vague or confusing explanations. Managing everything other than freeing people is quite tedious and completely distracts the player from where it's most fun. Although Security 51 tries to simplify its gameplay in a certain way, it errs by trying to do more than it needs to in order to be more enjoyable. I hope improvements are made, because it's a game with a lot of potential.
