Observation Reviews

Observation is ranked in the 63rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
May 21, 2019

The gameplay in Observation might be a bit of a slow boil, but it's unusual enough to be engaging in between its fascinating narrative moments.

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May 21, 2019

The setting of the game is the familiar stuff of science fiction, but the lens through which it's viewed is not.

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GameMAG
Top Critic
7 / 10
Jun 8, 2019

Observation is a very strong science fiction game with a rich story. It has excellent graphics and good puzzles, but suffering from pixel-hunting, visual effects and scripts that require consistent execution. But if you want something truly unusual in terms of serious space adventures, then you simply forget about all of these shortcomings while watching the mystical story and development of relations between S.A.M. and the most ordinary person - scientist and cosmonaut Emma Fisher.

Review in Russian | Read full review

KeenGamer
Carl Jones
Top Critic
7.5 / 10.0
Jun 3, 2020

Suspend your disbelief in low gravity as you assume control of an AI program in charge of system administration and maintenance (S.A.M.) inside a space station. Help your crew survive and communicate after an unexplained problem wipes your memory core and leaves the station stranded.

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DualShockers
Ricky Frech
Top Critic
7.5 / 10.0
May 21, 2019

Like Stories Untold before it, Observation is game that I think you really need to play to appreciate how masterful No Code is at setting a tone and building a compelling world for players to explore

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7.5 / 10.0
May 21, 2019

Observation does a lot of things correctly. Honing in on the isolation of space generates a wonderful tension on its own. Some pacing issues keep it from excellence, but there is plenty of appeal here for many different gaming preferences.

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7.6 / 10.0
Jun 3, 2019

As a cinematic experience, Observation can easily be considered one of the highest points of the genre. Cool photography and a great reproduction of the space environment supports a solid and unnerving narrative. On the gameplay side, however, something did not work to the end and at least part of the screams I left to wander in space were not one of terror, but of frustration.

Review in Italian | Read full review

7.8 / 10.0
May 22, 2019

Observation has his flaws (mainly in the technical side), but is a great example of how videogames can come up with new ways of telling stories.

Review in Italian | Read full review

7.8 / 10.0
May 21, 2019

No Code presents another story that catches us from the first moment in which they have taken much care of both the atmosphere and the ambience. A thriller that we will want to play without stopping to solve all the mysteries that it contains.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

8 / 10.0
May 30, 2019

Throughout it’s 5-7 hour campaign Observation will take you on a thrilling journey and put you front and centre inside a space craft. Slowly uncovering the game’s mysteries by completing numerous puzzles. While I really enjoyed my time with Observation I would have loved for some of these puzzles to be more complex to solve. And while the environments on the ship look great No Code haven’t quite hit that AAA level of quality when it comes to the primary character models just yet. But they have definitely produced a quality title here and I’m really looking forward to see what the team puts out next.

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8 / 10
Jun 4, 2019

"Observation" turns out to be an exciting sci-fi thriller that makes use of a unique concept and gives the player a completely new perspective. With each additional puzzle, the player delves deeper into the dark history of space and is driven by the question of the original events. Even though the game concept and storytelling are convincing, the gameplay is sometimes a bit difficult due to the catchy and partly generic puzzles. All in all, players with "Observation" get a thrilling sci-fi adventure, which can convince with its story as well as audio-visually.

Review in German | Read full review

8 / 10
May 24, 2019

Observation will undoubtedly make a lot of best of 2019 lists. Its unique design and mesh of a thrilling space station story that’s bound to get the heart racing and well-implemented puzzles make it a standout.

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May 20, 2019

My own lack of emotional investment doesn’t negate what Observation does so well. No Code has created something truly unique. It defies easy “x meets y meets z” categorization. While there are recognizable component parts—the map of a ship-builder, the numerous small mechanics of a microgame collection, the rubberneckery of an immersive sim—I have never played anything quite like Observation. But, I’m guessing it would be awfully familiar to the AI in my pocket.

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8 / 10.0
May 21, 2019

No Code's sophomore title nails the organic intricacies of feeling like an artificial intelligence system while also telling a compelling and ambitious science fiction narrative.

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Oyungezer Online
Emir Ataç
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Jun 13, 2019

If authors like Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov and Stanislaw Lem excites you, Observation will manage to satisfy your needs.

Review in Turkish | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Jun 5, 2019

Observation is an enjoyable experience. It has its flaws, ranging from an awkward UI to tedious puzzles, but they are overshadowed by the excellent plot and atmosphere. It's pretty much a one-and-done experience (aside from a few collectibles), but the game provides a genuinely fun time. If you're a fan of sci-fi drama in the vein of Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece, give Observation a shot, but be prepared to work through some rough spots.

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Ofisil
Top Critic
8 / 10
May 30, 2019

Observation is far from an easy recommendation. If you can't stand slow-paced games, with an unrelentingly cryptic plot, an extreme emphasis in realism and immersion, and puzzles of the "how the heck does this work" variety, avoid it at all costs. The rest can safely give it a go. It's probably the best hard sci-fi thriller of the year, and a must have for those who are in love with space and cosmic horror.

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GameGrin
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
May 25, 2019

Observation is a smart, atmospheric and creepy sci-fi thriller that subverts the AI-gone-rogue trope by making you think about what it means to be the AI.

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GameZone
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
May 25, 2019

Observation is one of 2019's most unique and interesting games both with its gameplay and overall execution. It delivers a unique sense of horror we typically don't see in games, compelling puzzles, and it has a profound impact on you when the credits roll. While it can sometimes be a tad unpleasant to play with annoying, unsmooth controls and being disorienting, Observation is still a fantastic sci-fi experience.

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Spaziogames
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
May 21, 2019

Observation is a good sci-fi thriller, a step-by-step story made of puzzles and mistery.

Review in Italian | Read full review