The Bunker Reviews

The Bunker is ranked in the 28th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
B-
May 3, 2018

The Bunker won't appeal to players looking for a long, deep experience. It's short, and the interactive elements are sparse, with little punishment for making any mistakes. Horror film buffs will likely appreciate the game's strong narrative and its atmospheric tension, though. If you fall into the latter category, The Bunker is certainly worth checking out on Switch.

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Digitally Downloaded
Trent P.
Top Critic
Apr 24, 2018

The Bunker weaves a decent plot, is well cast, and certainly has its moments of intensity

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6 / 10.0
Apr 17, 2018

While The Bunker lets you explore an actual nuclear fallout shelter, accompanied by great sound design and decent acting, it can be completed in a single sitting. There's very little in terms of gameplay variance, and there are other games out there that'll give you more playtime for your $12. Unless you like the novelty of an FMV game on your Switch, give it a pass unless there's a sale.

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7 / 10.0
Apr 9, 2018

Since it isn’t a very long experience (maybe 2 - 3 hours, total) I suppose you could go back through to try to find everything or see how it could play out differently but I found my one run to be satisfying enough. Overall, if you’re down for an experience in this bleak sort of setting, with a story that intrigues and an outcome that may telegraph a bit but is still interesting to watch unfold, The Bunker is a very different kind of experience you haven’t yet had on the Switch.

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6.5 / 10.0
Apr 9, 2018

It's short, and replayability is pushed for because of the insertion of collectibles and a branching path ending. But I didn't find these enticing enough to come back. Once in the Bunker, was enough for me.

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55 / 100
Apr 9, 2018

The Bunker on Nintendo Switch is a little hard to recommend, but will certainly find an audience in those who love horror films and want something dreary and dark on their console. While visually impressive and ambitious, it unfortunately falters with its execution and replayability.

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7 / 10
Apr 9, 2018

The Bunker puts legacy FMV games to shame, delivering a slickly produced psychological horror experience for the price of a trip to your local cinema.

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4 / 10
Apr 8, 2018

The Bunker was a game I really wanted to enjoy. I love the idea of mixing movies and video games as they are two things I am massively passionate about but this just doesn’t work. It doesn’t work as a video game and it doesn’t work as a movie. While it looks great, the acting leaves a lot to be desired and there just isn’t any involvement for the player as you’re just pressing the A Button a couple of times here and there without ever really having to make choices. It had potential and any future games can certainly learn a lot from this, but my advice is to stay well away unless you’re absolutely desperate for something to do for an hour or two.

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60%
Apr 8, 2018

The Bunker is a decent enough FMV experience and the genre has come a long way since the early 90s, The Bunker certainly shows that. The movie studio Splendy have done a pretty good job and if you look at it like that I can recommend this as good entertainment for a couple of hours. I quite enjoyed it and I think there is a future for this type of experience on the Switch or any console for that matter. As a game, though I think this falls short and my thoughts in the gameplay section reflect that. Unfortunately, the merging of a game and a movie don't really work. This is saved by the fact that it's unique on the Switch and as a movie, it's rather good. I would like to see more like this in future with more emphasis on key decisions affecting the overall story and having more emphasis on gameplay so the player has more to do. In that respect, I think there is still a long way to go till the balance is right.

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Renan Fontes
Top Critic
4 / 10
Apr 7, 2018

Despite a compelling performance from Adam Brown, The Bunker fails to capture that same talent in regards to its writing and direction, leading to a messy pseudo-film filled with pacing issues and a lack of commitment to either of the two mediums it's trying to merge.

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7 / 10.0
Nov 16, 2016

Fans of the narrative genre will enjoy The Bunker, but there really isn’t much of a reason to go back once it’s over.

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5 / 10.0
Nov 4, 2016

The Bunker is a well written short film with some good acting. It’s not really a game though, so it ultimately fails to live up to expectations.

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3 / 5.0
Oct 12, 2016

If you were trying to convince your past self as to why FMV games would have a miniature comeback, The Bunker probably wouldn’t be the best example to use.

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Digitally Downloaded
Jim S.
Top Critic
Oct 10, 2016

The game is about as long as a movie, making it short at three or so hours in length, but I enjoyed the ride. The gameplay is a tad weak due to the puzzles being very easy to figure out, but realistically you are in this one purely for the storytelling. Also, the game has a satisfying ending which a lot of games seem to be lacking these days.

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Oct 8, 2016

The Bunker won’t be for everybody, but those enticed by a slower-paced experience that’s rich in atmosphere are in for a treat, even if it is over in just a couple of short hours.

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Oct 8, 2016

I had a tough time taking 'The Bunker' seriously. It was an admirable attempt at live-action psychological horror, but the John segments meander on and stumble around like the main character. It's not entirely predictable, but nor is it treading new ground.

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82%
Oct 7, 2016

Did I like The Bunker? Certainly. It’s a 21st Century game that pays homage to how things were done many, many years ago for FMV games while also doing its own thing and showing what new tech and a bigger budget can do. Sure, some might complain that the game is only a couple of hours long at most, but it is an interesting and fun game. It’s basically a feature-length interactive movie, and considering the current price of a movie ticket, the asking price of $19.99 for The Bunker is not a problem. I enjoyed my time with the game as I wrote this The Bunker review, making this one an easy game for me to recommend to you to buy.

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Adam Riley
Top Critic
4 / 10
Oct 4, 2016

Do not be sucked in by the intrigue of Full-motion video 'making a comeback,' as despite good intentions, The Bunker is a bland story with an over-reliance on button mashing that never engages those…well, not really 'in control,' more 'viewing' the interactive video sequences. The concept is indeed a good one, but so poorly executed, leaving an overall feeling of emptiness when all is said and done.

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Cubed3
Top Critic
8 / 10
Sep 30, 2016

Dripping with a rich atmosphere, The Bunker brings FMV back in a big way. Its intriguing story setup, the setting, and plot twist provide an unforgettable experience. While it's not hugely interactive, it is hugely enjoyable, and well worth a look from people who like horror, BBC programmes, and the tasty spices of a period drama. Stellar work from a team that will hopefully want to make more games in a similar style!

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7.5 / 10.0
Sep 29, 2016

While The Bunker is a rather straightforward adventure game, its FMV trappings are enough for it to stick out from the crowd. It’s proof that full-motion video doesn’t have to be campy in order to succeed, and can be just as viable as any other form of animation for the right type of game. Check it out if you’re looking to experience a solid story, and play something a bit different.

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