Among the Sleep Reviews
That's what's most disappointing; there's absolutely the spark of a really cool whatever-this-genre-is game in Among the Sleep, and for a while it looks like it's going to get there. Too bad it ends barely a quarter of the way in, passing the baton to something both much less interesting and perpetually trapped in its shadow.
It's a shame that a mechanic as promising as playing as a toddler — and all the repercussions surrounding it — is underplayed here, as tied in with a psychological leaning in horror, Among the Sleep could have offered a fresh take in what is a painstakingly underused concept in games. [Hardcore Gamer separately reviewed the PS4 (2.5) and PC (2.0) versions. Their scores have been averaged.]
After waiting more than a year to get my hands on it, I was quite excited to finally play through Among the Sleep. However, that excitement didn't end up paying off. Although it's not a bad game, per se, this is unfortunately a rather slow, predictable, ho-hum and sluggish horror game, which prefers fetch quests over interesting and involved gameplay.
The game's images convey less the abstract terror of an unknown world than they do a sub-American McGee warping of childhood innocence.
Among the Sleep has some incredible ideas, but its execution is simply not strong enough to stir you from your slumber. The game squanders its impressive opening by spending too much time in generic environments, and the puzzles lack the imagination needed to keep you awake. The narrative goes to some nightmarish places, but it ends all too abruptly, and technical issues apply the sleeping cap to an already mixed release.
An interesting take on the survival horror / puzzle game, but lacking in areas that would set it apart from its peers. The dark twist in the plot may upset some players.
Among The Sleep was a bit of a letdown on the horror front, but if you're looking for an interesting interactive story, you should definitely give it a shot. The immersion mechanics were great and they managed to make you feel powerless, if only for a brief period. It would've been nice to see some more realistic environments and subtle scare tactics and, if these were added, it would've been a fantastic game, rather than just a good one.
Among the Sleep is a nice concept and interesting story that looks great, but is let down through some dull gameplay and horror elements that aren't that effective.
But little moments don't sustain a whole game, and Among the Sleep deals with a real monster — just one it doesn't quite know how to talk about.
Among the Sleep would be a good buy at $9.99 or under. As it stands now, $14.99 is a bit too steep a price to ask for a game that is very short, and not particularly emotionally investing. A game that deals with alcoholic parents is supposed to get you to care about all the people affected by one person's addiction, but Among the Sleep ignores that, instead opting to be yet another game where you're defenseless against the enemy and must run and high whenever you're found. Between the average presentation, short play time, and predictable story, Among the Sleep is a game best purchased on sale, and is, perhaps ironically, only recommended for horror game junkies.
Cute, and sometimes unnerving, Among the Sleep draws the player to an affecting conclusion, but its banal puzzles and shallow storytelling doesn't do a lot to inspire many thrills.
A curious, frightful take on childhood trauma that whips up scares from the most seemingly mundane sources. Among the Sleep is unpolished and scrappy, yet eerily memorable.
Among the Sleep succeeds at being a creepy baby simulator, but the real monster turns out to be boring, buggy puzzles and a shallow world and story.
Among the Sleep is a very short experience that thrives on its ability to craft an interesting narrative while not needing to burden the scenario with words. Like a piece of art, Among the Sleep should be examined and thought about.
With a bit more time and cash or just a more solid plan of how to make their creatures scary Krillbite could eventually make the greatest survival horror ever (remember it took Frictional three Penumbras before they made Amnesia), but Among The Sleep is not that game. Waaaaaaaah.
Among the Sleep features a very interesting story with a great plot twist, but it fails to deliver a good quality survival horror game. The duration is too short for this kind of story and it does not reach a good level of fear for a horror game.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Among the Sleep does its job in presenting a powerful message, one that seems all too familiar in today's world of emotional video games, yet it lacks solid gameplay and only presents brief challenges.
Although light in content and devoid of any real scares, Among the Sleep is a curious little game with a great deal of charm
Among the Sleep is a fun way to kill a couple of hours.
Among the Sleep is ultimately a cool experience worth seeing through to the end. There's a novelty to the perspective that's hard to deny, and when the game focuses on that it's great. If you enjoy a brisk, atmospheric journey from a fresh perspective, Among the Sleep is a solid choice.