Sanitarium

 PC
User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 105 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 84 out of 105
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 105
  3. Negative: 6 out of 105

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  1. StaticSpine
    Nov 30, 2013
    8
    I've wanted to play this game for a long time and kept it in my GOG.com wishlist for about a year. Lately a very interesting project appeared, it is called Stasis, it's an isometric horror|point-and-click adventure strongly influenced by Sanitarium, so after backing it on Kickstarter I went to GOG and bought a copy of Sanitarium.
    The visuals very neat isometric 2D graphics (I love    I've wanted to play this game for a long time and kept it in my GOG.com wishlist for about a year. Lately a very interesting project appeared, it is called Stasis, it's an isometric horror|point-and-click adventure strongly influenced by Sanitarium, so after backing it on Kickstarter I went to GOG and bought a copy of Sanitarium.
    The visuals very neat isometric 2D graphics (I love everything isometric), nice cinematics and pretty many of them.
    The audio the music is okay and the main thing I didn't expect the full voice-overed dialogues, that was really a nice surprise!
    The story it combines the real world and the hallucinations of Max. It has some generic twists, but overall it's decent. Besides, it's mature.
    The atmosphere it is great, creepy, has a lot of scary details, corpses, gore etc. There is a constant psychological pressure and a feeling of desperation.
    The gameplay I'm not a big fan of Adventure genre, and not a good player in this genre, I had to look for the walkthrough sometimes, but I'm sure I could get everything myself cause the puzzles are pretty logical. As a letdown I'd call the clunky character movement, it's hard to make accurate moves and you can easily find yourself climbing a ladder when you don't need it. The character moves rather slow and it is annoying. Also the movement animation looks odd at times, for example, when you play as Olmec, he moves backwards most of the time. Also because of that the rare combat scenes feel very clunky and annoying. I'd say the combat scenes didn't seem natural in this game, I'd better leave them behind.
    Overall, a really good and atmospheric game and I found some similarity with Planescape: Torment, which I do love.    … Expand
  2. cratecruncher
    Mar 6, 2015
    8
    I recently played Sanitarium for the first time and found it had interesting environments and logical puzzles to solve. The game is getting old so don't expect cutting-edge graphics but they still hold up in 2015. I've not played a lot of classic "point-n-click" adventure games so was relieved to find most all of the tasks and puzzles pretty straight forward. I only got frustrated atI recently played Sanitarium for the first time and found it had interesting environments and logical puzzles to solve. The game is getting old so don't expect cutting-edge graphics but they still hold up in 2015. I've not played a lot of classic "point-n-click" adventure games so was relieved to find most all of the tasks and puzzles pretty straight forward. I only got frustrated at one or two points in the entire game. The real joy for me however, was the variation in environments. Because the PC is "crazy" the writers dump him into increasingly bizarre situations, confronting increasingly bizarre NPC's. The overall story never really develops into anything spectacular but the ride is fun.… Expand
  3. andytimber
    Nov 6, 2012
    10
    I've played this when it came ot like a 100 years ago and now reinstalled it. And guess what: it drew me in just like the 1st time. great eerie setting, wonderful main character, logical & fun puzzles, easy to navigate. Above all it has the one thing that most games of today are lacking: atmosphere, this magical special something. Sanitarium is a veritable gem and I highly recommend it toI've played this when it came ot like a 100 years ago and now reinstalled it. And guess what: it drew me in just like the 1st time. great eerie setting, wonderful main character, logical & fun puzzles, easy to navigate. Above all it has the one thing that most games of today are lacking: atmosphere, this magical special something. Sanitarium is a veritable gem and I highly recommend it to every adventurer who wants to dive into mystery full of twists and turns ...… Expand
  4. Kaimen
    Mar 9, 2011
    10
    Oh... I think I'm the first one here. It is very strange indeed in consideration of what a really magnificent game Sanitarium is. I'll be laconic. Believe 32 years old creaker, you'll never find more deep, touching and smart game as this. Although Sanitarium is pretty easy as representative of adventure genre, it's full of cross-cultural references, to fully understand which is meant to beOh... I think I'm the first one here. It is very strange indeed in consideration of what a really magnificent game Sanitarium is. I'll be laconic. Believe 32 years old creaker, you'll never find more deep, touching and smart game as this. Although Sanitarium is pretty easy as representative of adventure genre, it's full of cross-cultural references, to fully understand which is meant to be very educated and also very unhappy person. Terror of existence of a Single man against the World shines through almost every frame of the game. Part The Mansion is unbelievable. You'll meet your own beloved Big ghosts and find Mister Clown for your dying sister. And maybe you'll become a little better at the end, but if your life lead you to the game, I'm sure you are already exceptional.… Expand
  5. Tgc
    Nov 2, 2015
    9
    Great adventure game with unique atmosphere and graphics (isometric view is rare in this genre). Puzzles are well balanced however there are some minor problems with finding object that you can interact with (i.e. pixel hunting for a small stone that you can pick up). Also problem is with interface, I would prefer classic point&click + ability to run, than kinda strange way to hold mouseGreat adventure game with unique atmosphere and graphics (isometric view is rare in this genre). Puzzles are well balanced however there are some minor problems with finding object that you can interact with (i.e. pixel hunting for a small stone that you can pick up). Also problem is with interface, I would prefer classic point&click + ability to run, than kinda strange way to hold mouse button and keep pointing place where to go.

    BTW I had huge problem with playing this (version from GOG) on modern machine. Random crashes with are hard to deal with (there are no direct patches, you could try limit execution of the game to 1 core, which helps but still i was playing with constant fear of crash...).    … Expand
  6. Voyou
    Dec 2, 2017
    9
    In my top 3 point n' click adventure games, I still replay it once in a while, when I have forgotten the details enough to enjoy it anew. And 20 years later, it has lost nothing of its terrific atmosphere, its immersive weirdness, its protean protagonist and its perfect difficulty level. I've loved this game for two decades and it has nothing to do with nostalgia : It's just that damn good.
  7. UncleEd
    Oct 17, 2018
    10
    Sanitarium was one of the games that I have played in my childhood (had gotten stuck at the fountain puzzle), which always stayed with me somewhere in the dark corners of my mind. Years later, I have decided that it was time to play it through and it was a mind-blowing experience. Sanitarium is an isometric adventure game. Although categorized as horror, it is more a surrealSanitarium was one of the games that I have played in my childhood (had gotten stuck at the fountain puzzle), which always stayed with me somewhere in the dark corners of my mind. Years later, I have decided that it was time to play it through and it was a mind-blowing experience. Sanitarium is an isometric adventure game. Although categorized as horror, it is more a surreal psychologically thrilling experience rather than a scary one. Game starts in a very creepy atmosphere with very dark tones, great sound effects and music. You wake up in an asylum with no memory of your own identity. Interestingly enough, this was not the only time Sanitarium reminded me of another masterpiece, Planescape: Torment. Whether it is the isometric style, occasional surrealistic dark fantasy setting, use of a similar color palette, spectacular writing, or how much it pushes the video games as a form of art, Sanitarium (despite being a point-and-click adventure game) managed to capture a similar space in my subconscious only Planescape: Torment had before.

    The general psychologically disturbing tone of the game takes different turns in later chapters to the extent it may get confusing. Fortunately, the game awards the patient player with how it wraps up everything in the end into a cohesive, unforgettable story. It delves deep into sensitive subjects like insanity in a remarkable way. Sanitarium has taken the spot as my favorite adventure game ever and if you are even remotely interested in this genre, you owe yourself to “experience” Sanitarium.    … Expand
  8. buerere
    Aug 21, 2017
    10
    Completely underrated masterpiece,
    An adult storytelling surrounded with an amazing ambience, and dark atmosphere,
    full of twists and suspense.
    Briliant!
  9. gold
    Jun 4, 2021
    8
    История средняя, но нормально поставленная.
  10. beeanadou
    Apr 16, 2018
    9
    Games like this are basically rare these days, an old work it may be, it challenges many nowaday RPGs. Bizarred atmosphere, goose bums arousing music and unexpected ending makes it the masterpiece of its kind.

    It really should achieve better reputation, don't know why it's not very well-known.
  11. Solaris123
    Dec 23, 2019
    10
    Great story, character, cool puzzles, plot twist and all voice acting is brilliant.
  12. bancandrei
    May 16, 2020
    8
    What this may be lacking as an adventure game it makes up for in the departments of imagination (and creepiness). This game is one of those worthy to be called an experience
  13. silverQ1
    Aug 14, 2022
    10
    The game is excellent, good plot . ........................................