Transference Reviews

Transference is ranked in the 48th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
7 / 10
Sep 19, 2018

Transference offers a unique experience. If it scares away with now known gimmicks, its unhealthy atmosphere, exploded storytelling and the imagination left to the player as well as the meta aspect of browsing a faulty software in a video game make it a unique and successful experience.

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3.5 / 5.0
Sep 21, 2018

Transference certainly showcases the potential of VR storytelling in the style Spectrevision are attempting. Even if its short story isn't always effectively told, and some of the puzzles distract, the atmosphere that's been created through detailed world design, incredible lighting effects, and intense sound design makes for a terrifying experience.

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7.5 / 10.0
Sep 25, 2018

Transference's subtlety is meant to create additional depth, but keeping the player at arm's length only works if you eventually let them in. Unfortunately, Transference never fully shows its narrative hand and that's the game's biggest detriment. Gameplay-wise, the game is easy but satisfying to navigate. The surrealist, horror aspects of the shifting environments create a steady stream of tension and intrigue. While its brevity might be a turn off to players who enjoy a heartier game experience, Ubisoft Montreal and SpectreVision succeeded in combining games and movies into one entertaining and eerie walking sim.

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7 / 10.0
Sep 26, 2018

Although Transference is an interesting narrative horror game, it struggles to carve out a space as a VR game and a traditional title. The story is undeniably something worth experiencing, but the gameplay is lackluster enough that more often than not it serves as a barrier to experiencing what Transference does best.

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Sep 27, 2018

Ultimately, Transference weaves an effective, but grim tale of one man's descent into the madness and the horrific fate that he has sealed for his family. The puzzles aren't particularly challenging, but their difficulty works well within the pacing of the story, engaging your brain enough without dragging the story to a halt. Its claims of 'bridging the gap between games and movies' fall flat, but if you can stomach the hefty price tag, Transference is a worthwhile addition to the narrative-driven puzzle game genre.

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6 / 10.0
Oct 5, 2018

Transference will definitely creep you out a bit. Especially while playing in virtual reality and some headphones. Other than that though, 25 bucks is an extreme asking price for something so short and an overall mediocre and repetitive experience.

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8.2 / 10.0
Sep 17, 2018

Singularly short, but also singularly intense. Narrative of high flights with gameplay at height. It is recommended to play in one sitting.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

65%
Sep 19, 2018

While Transference offers something unique in how it utilises sound, throwing in the mechanic of switching between alternate realities for puzzle solving, it sadly falls flat in its narrative and doesn't offer much to encourage you to come back and explore.

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7 / 10
Sep 19, 2018

Transference is an ambitious experience that feels a little bit late to the party. It has an interesting premise and an atmospheric, well realised world brought to life with gusto, especially if playing in virtual reality. But despite all of this, it never truly transcends the slew of similar games that came before it and is over much too quickly.

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7.5 / 10.0
Sep 17, 2018

It's not a normal movie in that the interactivity of a video game provides a personal connection to what's going on. It's not simply a video game because it plays with standard conventions, and — similar to standouts like Alan Wake — manages to leave you with more questions than answers. I might not need to play it again, but I sure as hell want to start discussing it.

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8.3 / 10.0
Sep 6, 2018

Plucking inspiration from several unsettling sources of entertainment, Transference delivers a creepy, cerebral virtual reality tour through a broken family dynamic that is unimpeded by taxing puzzles and relishes in immersing players in haunted house of tragedy.

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8.5 / 10.0
Sep 26, 2018

Transference combines a fantastic story with great acting and smart puzzles for an experience that manages to really stand out from the crowd.

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8 / 10.0
Oct 4, 2018

All said and done Transference is a wonderfully executed, narrative, puzzle thriller that kept me entertained through the entire story.

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3.5 / 5.0
Sep 28, 2018

Transference is a novel concept with with adequate execution.

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6.5 / 10.0
May 3, 2019

In the end, Transference is in an odd position. The atmosphere is completely engrossing, since the crumbling digital landscape and ominous repeated dialogue and other sounds create an unsettling world. Jump-scares are light, and almost all the puzzles are easy enough to solve even with some fumbling around. With that said, the tale can seem disturbing, but the scattershot way it's told doesn't make the game very memorable when compared to either its horror or walking simulator contemporaries. Transference remains a game that's worth checking out, but it's not one that players should be in a rush to seek out over other similar titles.

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Cubed3
Top Critic
3 / 10
Jan 20, 2019

Transference is wasted on Xbox One, since it does not support VR. It is not only unbelievably short, it is lacking in content and substance. It is a perfect example of a "one and done" kind of game where you never look back after completing it, and then forget all about it. It might get brought up later in life, but even then, memories of playing it will be foggy at best. Half-remembered dreams are more memorable than Transference.

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70 / 100
Sep 17, 2018

Transference is an enjoyable thriller that retains its effectiveness in a non-VR setting. Despite gameplay simplicity and underutilized live-action videos, the strong atmosphere and a few memorable scenes help this sci-fi adventure leave a lasting mark.

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8.5 / 10.0
Sep 20, 2018

Transference is a story about obsession and the lengths someone will go to preserve the very thing they've destroyed. Here's our review.

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6.5 / 10.0
Sep 23, 2018

If you have an extra 25$, you can choose to spend it on a short trip to the world of Transference, though a few exciting and maybe scary moments aside, your trip might not be as good as you have imagined.

Review in Persian | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Sep 23, 2018

Transference presents a unique premise and some interesting ideas but ultimately falls a short in realizing their potential. That said, it’s worth checking out in VR for its captivating audiovisual experience.

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