Observer

 PC
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 316 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 206 out of 316
  2. Mixed: 68 out of 316
  3. Negative: 42 out of 316

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  1. Kamamura
    Aug 16, 2017
    3
    Despite the fact that the game borrows many props from the Blade Runner movie - eerie volumetric lighting, desolate future mixing futuristic looking tech with decaying old buildings, even Rutger Hauer's voice (who sounds really old and tired, and does not deliver the lines with much energy, to be honest), despite all that, and all the flickering, motion blur and distorted sound, the gameDespite the fact that the game borrows many props from the Blade Runner movie - eerie volumetric lighting, desolate future mixing futuristic looking tech with decaying old buildings, even Rutger Hauer's voice (who sounds really old and tired, and does not deliver the lines with much energy, to be honest), despite all that, and all the flickering, motion blur and distorted sound, the game fails to cover the simple fact that it has nothing to say. It drags you from one cheap jumpscare to another (especially during the scenes where you rummage through other people's minds), hoping to somehow impress, but it fails miserably.

    There is no poetry combined with a brilliant soundtrack Blade Runner had, there is not deep theme to ponder about, it's an incredibly shallow show that in the end will give you only a headache from all the flashing lights.

    It's pretentious, it drags on without saying anything, it uses dark interiors and visual distortions to cover the fact that the levels and objects are lazily designed, and it has no meaningful gameplay.

    I understand why companies make walking simulators like this - it's cheaper, easier, there are no complex mechanics that must be debugged and balanced, but let's hope this style of games won't become the prevailing trend. It was so bad I did not even finish the game, which does not happen often.    … Expand
  2. rogerxman
    Sep 1, 2017
    0
    I mean, to be honest, this game is a walking simulator which makes me sick. The illumination feels the game developer just chuck every filter in a unity plugin into the game. It is a harsh game.
  3. Keskin
    Jul 5, 2020
    1
    ı dont likeı dont likeı dont likeı dont likeı dont likeı dont likeı dont likeı dont likeı dont likeı dont likeı dont likeı dont likeı dont likeı dont likeı dont likeı dont like
  4. Lumic
    Mar 3, 2022
    0
    don't mix politics and games, how do you treat us the way we treat you, now I know what kind of company you are and how you deal with players, I will never buy your games again
  5. PeakZach
    Jun 20, 2020
    3
    This game is absolutely stunning and fun to look at and explore. Unfortunately, the robotic futuristic world also affects your character's sense of vision and with the memory plug things get trippy quite fast. This leads for an exciting play, at first. However, realizing this is the bulk of the game, with either wayy too difficult puzzles that have no bearing connection, or puzzles thatThis game is absolutely stunning and fun to look at and explore. Unfortunately, the robotic futuristic world also affects your character's sense of vision and with the memory plug things get trippy quite fast. This leads for an exciting play, at first. However, realizing this is the bulk of the game, with either wayy too difficult puzzles that have no bearing connection, or puzzles that are too easy to be even considered one. The play becomes boring and effortless and the memories/experience leads to headaches and motion sickness trying to live through the otherwise haunting/terrifying experience that would have been such a thrilling journe.… Expand
  6. hoanns
    Jan 31, 2021
    4
    Felt cheaply made, cypberpunk effects are over the top with annoying effects everywhere. Didn't play for long.
  7. OldManGamerOMG
    Feb 2, 2021
    3
    This has been an interesting experience. While I did not completely dislike the game, I found the audio and visuals to be chaotic and overall ruining the experience. The story seems ambiguous, which could be due to the writers/developers not knowing what direction to take the story, or that they did not want to give away a possible sequel game yet to come. In short, Observer is definitelyThis has been an interesting experience. While I did not completely dislike the game, I found the audio and visuals to be chaotic and overall ruining the experience. The story seems ambiguous, which could be due to the writers/developers not knowing what direction to take the story, or that they did not want to give away a possible sequel game yet to come. In short, Observer is definitely a niche game.

    The gameplay feels a bit rough around the edges, leaving much to be desired in clarity of what is expected of the player in utilizing the controls and their end goal. The inconsistent interaction with the surroundings leads to many moments of uncertainty, if something was no completed, or if you were wasting your time fiddling with the environment. For example, the tattoo shop has several items which are delightfully detailed and interacting with them accomplishes nothing, while the stereo and other computer is just background without any ability to interact with.

    The character interactions are lackluster. While it is good for a laugh at first, the door to door interactions become tedious. The linear quest input from the interactions often felt forced. When considering this is how they are talking to an identified police officer, it also comes off as a group of people who clearly have no respect nor fear of the law, or maybe they do not believe he is with the KPD. Either way, it felt like he was shrugged off at best, and at worst, disrespected completely. Perhaps that is how law enforcement is treated there, which if that is the case, then it was on point.

    I found the environment to be repetitive to a fault. This game reuses the same area and effects over and over, until you can remember every detail of the same wall/door/lock/laundry machine and so on. There is a very limited variation to the presentation of this game. Even the same tin can of food to be found over and over, opened exactly the same and to the same not completely open top each time. This was made painfully impossible to miss when going through certain sequences where the game has you going through some kind of brain sequence, which I would describe as a bad trip on drugs.

    The worst part of this game, for me, was the blandness of the main character. He could have been a speak'n'spell, and it would have come off about the same. I would describe him as a morbidly depressed and suicidal individual, who was just going through the motions of life.

    I do not recommend this game, due to the audio becoming headache inducing, visual being lackluster at best, and a complete lack of character development. The only positive was the ambiguous niche story, which could be explained in a single paragraph.    … Expand
  8. pizzastation
    Jun 10, 2022
    0
    This is a horror game?
    The Bloober Team has created another boring walking simulator.
    They started destroying my eyes as well as frustrating.

Awards & Rankings

99
#99 Best PC Game of 2017
50
#50 Most Discussed PC Game of 2017
15
#15 Most Shared PC Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 43 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 43
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 43
  3. Negative: 1 out of 43
  1. RPG Fan
    Nov 12, 2018
    79
    A brilliantly unique experience later soddened with unusual game design decisions.
    Read full review
  2. Adventure Gamers
    Nov 20, 2017
    80
    Bloober Team’s >observer_ marries cyberpunk and body horror tropes into an intense, disturbing sensory feast, for the most part successfully.
    Read full review
  3. CD-Action
    Oct 30, 2017
    80
    During 8 hours I spent with Observer I never felt that the developers’ creativity is waning. [10/2017, p.45]
See all critic reviews »