Transference

Every so often, a game comes around to demonstrate the untapped potential of VR technology. Transference is one of those games. It grips you from the beginning with its unrelenting atmosphere and doesn’t let up until the credits roll.

There is a lot to unpack in Transference. It deals with several heavy themes that will likely make players uneasy, and from what I can tell, that’s sort of the point. Ubisoft and SpectreVision have mixed the stylings of Black Mirror and The Matrix with a twisted vision of the future that feels dangerously honest and realistic. While I’d have certainly loved for it to be a bit longer, I also appreciate how well-paced and polished it feels at the same time. It’s not without its flaws, but Transference is an unforgettable VR experience that I won’t soon forget.

Much of the thrill lies in the game's realistic (albeit fractured) atmosphere, although a few jump scares await that should get the pulse of even the bravest horror fan thumping. It treads a fine line between adventure game, with its puzzles and found objects that tell a story, and a dark indie film that sweeps you along at a fast clip. While too short for some, in the end the experience reflects concise storytelling that may have ultimately suffered with a longer format.

Creepy disturbing family drama with feature length and escape-room-flair. Shallow gameplay but intense - especially in VR.

Transference reminds us of Silent Hill. The integrated full motion video makes this a very scary experience, though the puzzles aren't super difficult. This is more than just a walking simulator though.

Transference is an interesting experiment in the blending of horror and virtual reality. Noah and Waller deliver a stressful experience that pushes the player into an uncomfortable space. While the puzzles aren’t going to bend your brain, the tension is more than worth the trip...and it is very much a trip.

A psychological thriller that successfully mixes cinema, videogames and virtual reality. Transference has a thrilling and sufocating atmosphere. Unfortunately, even if it's a narrative success, the game lacks freedom and feels too short.

Transference has an interesting approach to fill the gap between movie and game. Sadly, the content got lost in the process, even if the story about the Hayes family sounds quite catching. Especially the atmosphere and music make Transference a cool game, though the VR does not work very well on the PC.

Transference is a solid, polished experience that plucks equally at your tension wires and heartstrings. Though it seems to end almost as soon as it has begun, it makes the most of its quick pace with some impressive production values and an intriguingly atmospheric narrative of a troubled family.

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.

There’s a lot to like about the way Transference tries to tell its story, but it often lacks direction which pulls you out of the experience.

As an experimental VR experience Transference is interesting, but stays mechanically bland most of the time. Without VR it loses a lot of its fascination.