Somerville

 PC
Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 40 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 40
  3. Negative: 2 out of 40
  1. PC Gamer
    Nov 14, 2022
    45
    Somerville never hits its stride, thanks to flat direction and frustrating mechanics.
  2. Checkpoint Gaming
    Nov 15, 2022
    40
    Somerville relies on its fantastic animations and settings to tell a story of a father trying to reunite with his family. But without important story fundamentals such as exposition, you have no idea what is going on. Coupled with the fact that the adventure consists of simply solving puzzles while walking around, it is hard to immerse yourself in the story or even care about what will happen. Solving puzzles can also be difficult because you are expected to fumble around and discover what can be interacted with. There’s no guidance or assistance, which leads to frustration when you have no idea what to do next. There’s a good attempt at telling a story here, but it’s difficult to find yourself wanting to reach the end.
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  1. 3DJuegos
    Jan 20, 2023
    Somerville does not go as smoothly as we would like, with many transient moments and lack of rhythm, an irregular design and many flaws in the control and optimization that detract from the experience.
  2. Giant Bomb
    Nov 16, 2022
    Somerville's strengths come from its mysterious narrative and storytelling intrigue, but it fails to match the overall polish and cohesive game design language as its spiritual predecessors. [Quick Look]
  3. Polygon
    Nov 14, 2022
    I suppose, then, that Somerville is the most welcoming of the three games, starting with the familiar, and riding the slow, exponential line upward into the bizarre. Wise choice. For all the craft required to make a clear, playable movie, nothing beats the otherworldly weirdness of video games.
  5. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Nov 14, 2022
    With at most 6 hours of playtime, Somerville could perhaps have been just a tiny bit longer to set up its ending more elegantly. Controversial, I know, but after everything I went through with this family, none of the goodbyes Somerville offered really left me as satisfied as the rest.

Awards & Rankings

89
#89 Most Discussed PC Game of 2022

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
4.9

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 65 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 65
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 65
  3. Negative: 27 out of 65
  1. DiasExMachina
    Nov 18, 2022
    0
    I had such high hopes for this title. It shares a pedigree with Limbo and Inside, two games known for their alluring visual style, puzzles,I had such high hopes for this title. It shares a pedigree with Limbo and Inside, two games known for their alluring visual style, puzzles, and atmosphere.

    While I appreciate vague storytelling, I do require a modicum of visual narrative. Somerville doesn't feel like a cousin of Inside or Limbo but rather reminiscent of those painfully derivative knock-offs that don't offer enough puzzles or narrative to be recommended. Not a single puzzle had my head scratching for more than 10 seconds, and there weren't enough of them as often I would walk for ten minutes before encountering one. Given my experience in these types of games, I am usually patient. I take my time and try to enjoy the scenery.

    Given that, I was still able to wrap Somerville in less than 3 hours.

    That's insane for a game charging this much. I know it says 3.1 on my record, but that takes account of me sitting through credits, baffled by the game's logic to end when it decided to. Just when you acquire your third ability, the game barely makes use of it before an ending that makes Inside feel straightforward.

    And let's not ignore the game's polish in that it isn't. You get hung up on terrain, characters vanish and reappear, and navigation can be a real pain as you try to understand where you are supposed to walk to. That ended up being more of a chore than the puzzles. The puzzles were easy. I bet I spent twenty minutes of the game wandering around a room trying to figure out where I can walk to.

    It's such a damn shame as I was really looking forward to this title. Also, most of the trailers ruin the game's most interesting moments, so if you think there is some great revelation or moments the game is holding back, sorry to disappoint, but that won't happen.    … Full Review »
  2. Xax
    Nov 16, 2022
    3
    Starts out quite intriguing and exciting, but there's very little story to grab onto. The gameplay often feels janky and frustrating, with anStarts out quite intriguing and exciting, but there's very little story to grab onto. The gameplay often feels janky and frustrating, with an often inconsistent, amateurish design language (or lack thereof). The final act is a meandering, nonsensical, incoherent mess that goes on long after you're ready for it to just end already. (Side note: the PC Game Pass version of the game is broken. I had to find an alternate source to download a version of the game that worked using keyboard and mouse.)… Full Review »
  3. Dubeau
    Jan 2, 2023
    5
    Somerville has a great start but things gets more touchy after that. The story is silent and greatly atmospheric, which is nice. The graphicsSomerville has a great start but things gets more touchy after that. The story is silent and greatly atmospheric, which is nice. The graphics are fine and different. The gameplay is largely a walking simulator with some puzzles and actions to do. That said, many of the mechanics are not too great. Walking is kind of loose and you get not sens of perspective sometimes. Some things are very tedious like the bucket of water puzzle (that made me quit the game). The sounds and music are really great. I give it 52%. I think the game fails in the mechanical/control parts while it has a good story and atmosphere. Sad they couldn't get around making this game more playable.… Full Review »
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