AI: The Somnium Files

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 366 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 318 out of 366
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 366
  3. Negative: 30 out of 366
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  1. Andrudis
    Sep 29, 2019
    10
    It's a Visual Novel, so there is not much about game-play naturally. It's more like watching interesting anime with you being somewhat involved in what will happen next and see everything from the first person (except cut-scenes).
    Excellent detective story with unpredictable turns. Deep distinctive characters. You naturally get this "just one more dialog/scene/chapter" and its hard to    It's a Visual Novel, so there is not much about game-play naturally. It's more like watching interesting anime with you being somewhat involved in what will happen next and see everything from the first person (except cut-scenes).
    Excellent detective story with unpredictable turns. Deep distinctive characters. You naturally get this "just one more dialog/scene/chapter" and its hard to stop once you get immersed into the story - and that happens extremely fast with each of story branches.
    There are really few games that can match that.
    Definitely can recommend it to anyone interested in highly enjoyable anime-like story experience.    … Expand
  2. MiraiMoon
    Feb 8, 2020
    10
    AI: The Somnium Files is an incredibly intriguing mystery game. While Kotaro Uchikoshi's previous puzzle games (Zero Escape series) had fun puzzles, you can feel that he, Akira Okada, and the rest of the fantastic team have really honed their craft with AI, as the puzzle segments are easily some of my favourite in any video game. With amazing acting from both a cast of insanely talentedAI: The Somnium Files is an incredibly intriguing mystery game. While Kotaro Uchikoshi's previous puzzle games (Zero Escape series) had fun puzzles, you can feel that he, Akira Okada, and the rest of the fantastic team have really honed their craft with AI, as the puzzle segments are easily some of my favourite in any video game. With amazing acting from both a cast of insanely talented English and Japanese actors, and some of the best-written characters I've seen in gaming in a while (Mizuki in particular is a major stand-out!), AI was easily my favourite game of 2019.

    My sole complaint is how horny the men (especially the main protagonist) are in the game - it's a joke that's overused to the point of it being more annoying than entertaining.    … Expand
  3. Morriganfaye
    Dec 27, 2019
    10
    One of the best games I have played. I have been a gamer for 31 years. I play all genres and this was overall one of the best story telling, great voice acting (especially when the main character laughs at the ai when she does odd stuff) the stories are all different and you can choose so many paths. I normally don't like games with multiple endings but this one found a way to make youOne of the best games I have played. I have been a gamer for 31 years. I play all genres and this was overall one of the best story telling, great voice acting (especially when the main character laughs at the ai when she does odd stuff) the stories are all different and you can choose so many paths. I normally don't like games with multiple endings but this one found a way to make you want to do every possible one.… Expand
  4. valenti
    Feb 8, 2020
    10
    Amazing game and easily one of the highlights of 2019. One of the best Visual Novels I've ever played.
  5. nintendana
    Feb 9, 2020
    10
    If you like murder mystery storylines, visual novels, and don't mind a hint of perverted cringe this game is fantastic. I enjoyed playing through each individual route and seeing how differently they played out, yet still involved all the characters. I was very pleased with the character design, it was fully voiced, and overall visually pleasing to look at. Great game!
  6. Jimb
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    Uchikoshi back at it with the amazing work. For the first of it's series, it has a lot of potential to grow into something even better in later installments.
  7. Darigandevil
    Oct 7, 2019
    10
    A brilliant follow up to Zero Escape fleshed out with meaningful characters, bad (amazing) puns and ongoing jokes lasting throughout the game.
    The story was great and as is typical of Uchikoshi had a brilliant twist to wrap it all up amazingly. The production quality with full voiceacting throughout was excellent.
  8. Sigerson317
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    Fantastic work as usual! Uchikoshiā€™s games are always enjoyable, and this is no exception!
  9. riceandpotato
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    Ai the somnium files is a wonderful game, I love the story and the character. It is really sad that there are review bomb of this game.
  10. WeedleSenpai
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Easily the best game released in 2019, if not the best game released in the past few years. An excellent find for any fans of the visual novel detective mystery genre. From the mind of the man who brought us the Zero Escape series, fans will see welcome returning elements such as the timeline flowchart, however it does depart from the zero escape formula at times, with pleasing results.Easily the best game released in 2019, if not the best game released in the past few years. An excellent find for any fans of the visual novel detective mystery genre. From the mind of the man who brought us the Zero Escape series, fans will see welcome returning elements such as the timeline flowchart, however it does depart from the zero escape formula at times, with pleasing results. This game is a lot more emotionally charged than zero escape titles ever were, focusing a lot on comedic dialogue, paralleled with some deep and often heart wrenching character development moments. Make no mistake, while this game does seem to focus on emotional impact there is no shortage of clever twists and turns in the narrative, as one would expect from the genre… Expand
  11. Phosics
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Great game and awesome twisted story.
    One of the best visual novel that exists.
  12. ParkerDk
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    So good game.It's better than Zero Escape 999.And the The quality of the game performance has improved a lot.And I love aiset.She is sweet.
  13. Devinpd15
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    Another amazing work from Uchikoshi, this time displaying his outstanding narrative skills as always while also showing off an amazing character study.
  14. noteven_jupiter
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    I adore this game. I've been a long time fan of Uchikoshi for a long time, and this game was everything I could have hoped for. If you love wacky murder mysteries, found family, funny tit-man jokes, and lovable characters, this is definitely for you.
  15. BaconBiscuit
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    This game was awesome, hilarious, and best of all: super weird. It has an incredible story but never takes itself too seriously. The fact that people are review bombing this fantastic game is incredibly disheartening. Don't listen to the bad reviews, check this game out! It will definitely be worth your time.
  16. midgart
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    Great visual novel style game! If you've played and liked the Zero Escape series, you're likely to enjoy this one as well!
  17. eonflamewing
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    all around lovely and fantastic game. if you're review bombing this because it's pro lgbt then you are a coward and will be removed by natural selection.
  18. MizukiOki
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    One of the best game Iā€™ve played, I was pleasantly surprised by the many plot twists. A must play for everyone who loves murder mysteries!
  19. betternamefever
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Another amazing game by Uchikoshi! This game was unique and interesting the whole way through. I can't wait for what he makes next!
  20. fuzi
    Feb 11, 2020
    9
    My English is poor, but I still want to say that this is a good game. This girl is a mature child. She may not have contact with LGBT people, so she has limited information. But it doesn't represent the producer's viewpoints, these are the role's viewpoints.The ā€œMAMAā€in the game is a kind person, a common person, I like her very much. This is a complete and interesting game, and some ofMy English is poor, but I still want to say that this is a good game. This girl is a mature child. She may not have contact with LGBT people, so she has limited information. But it doesn't represent the producer's viewpoints, these are the role's viewpoints.The ā€œMAMAā€in the game is a kind person, a common person, I like her very much. This is a complete and interesting game, and some of the content is touching. I don't want this game to get a bad score because of misunderstanding.… Expand
  21. Tatsu_chan
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    I'll keep it short. A great game from the creator of Zero Escape with a nice story and characters. Also it may be a small line but as a gay guy myself I love the positive LGBTQ+ message.
  22. Kenmei
    Nov 10, 2019
    8
    This game was brought to us by the people who did the Zero Escape series, something that I don't feel got enough attention during what little advertising was done for it. This is a visual novel told in the same style that the Zero Escape series was. in the fact that the story is told in different branches of the overarching narrative and answers questions that are brought up in differentThis game was brought to us by the people who did the Zero Escape series, something that I don't feel got enough attention during what little advertising was done for it. This is a visual novel told in the same style that the Zero Escape series was. in the fact that the story is told in different branches of the overarching narrative and answers questions that are brought up in different points of the other parts of the story.
    The story here is pretty good, with a few minor missteps along the way. You are Kaname Date, a detective trying to solve the murder of one of your friends ex-wives. You have an AI partner implanted in your left eye that is the crux to figuring out puzzles and completing the other component of the game, entering into peoples dreams to figure out the answers to your questions. Without giving anything away, the story is about on par with the Zero Escape games. Its definitely in the realm of Science Fiction but its got a surprising amount of heart to go along with its narrative.
    However not everything works. The "action sequences", if you can call them that, are horribly out of place and do nothing to move the narrative forward other then to have action set pieces put into a Visual Novel. Plus some of the story kinda falters in the end and doesn't answer a very important question that I personally thought would have been a fairly obvious thing that anyone who has played the Zero Escape series would know about.
    In the end AI is a game I would recommend to people who very much enjoy a very good narrative focus and some decent puzzle solving. Basically if you enjoyed the Zero Escape series then you'll enjoy this very much so. Hopefully they don't include any unnecessary action sequences for the next game though.    … Expand
  23. pyrofire95
    Feb 10, 2020
    8
    From the brilliant mind of Kotaro Uchikoshi who made the Zero Escape series and Ever17 here is yet another mind bending hard science game that begs you to just try to figure out what's going on. There is a ton of heart put into the dialog and a world that goes beyond the game as Tessa has a YouTube channel like many Vtubers and some charactes have To-witter (Twitter)
    Both the mystery and    From the brilliant mind of Kotaro Uchikoshi who made the Zero Escape series and Ever17 here is yet another mind bending hard science game that begs you to just try to figure out what's going on. There is a ton of heart put into the dialog and a world that goes beyond the game as Tessa has a YouTube channel like many Vtubers and some charactes have To-witter (Twitter)
    Both the mystery and the search for legitimately funny scenes will keep you interested all the way through. Some of the action scenes are pretty cringy but over the top and fun.You may like Zero Escapes story more overall as I did but there is still so much to love and if you crave a complex narrative and interesting problem solving grab this game. You will laugh, you might even cry.    … Expand
  24. Serendras
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    A nice game about murder and dream world with some nice plot twists and different endings. It's close to other Spike Chunsoft games like Danganronpa and has a really fun atmosphere and interesting characters.
  25. yoho
    Apr 29, 2020
    10
    If you like anything with a good story, you will love it. Don't expect too much about interactivity and somnium scenes, as you will only have to follow predefined paths. But my! It's the fist visual novel I play and what a game !!! Even in movies, I've never seen a scenario which is so deep while still being coherent and understandable. Definitely deserves 10/10
  26. ChatonPute
    Feb 11, 2020
    9
    Fantastic game for anyone who like visual novel
    Great characters, cool art
  27. Arma15
    Jun 9, 2020
    10
    As always, amazing story from spikechunsoft. Unpredictable as always, extremely twisted in every way. I loved it.
  28. katpjs
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    This is one of the best VNā€™s ever made! This story is interweaving and complex and features lovable characters throughout. It has multiple different endings that leave you guessing and filled with theories till the end. Highly recommend to any fan of good ole fashioned VN mysteries with incredibly good stories!
  29. Digiclone
    Jul 19, 2020
    9
    story: Inspired by Freud's work on dream interpretation, we follow a story that revolutionizes the concept of police investigation in fiction. The game is divided into routes with countless charismatic characters and funny or bizarrely violent dreams that can even look like a horror game. There are several twists and turns that will leave you jaw-dropping.

    gameplay: The game has two    story: Inspired by Freud's work on dream interpretation, we follow a story that revolutionizes the concept of police investigation in fiction. The game is divided into routes with countless charismatic characters and funny or bizarrely violent dreams that can even look like a horror game. There are several twists and turns that will leave you jaw-dropping.

    gameplay: The game has two styles of gameplay, one where it looks like a visual novel where you can interact with the scenery and characters by pressing a single button to advance the dialogue. And the other you against a character with a camera in third person in dreams being able to perform actions that discount time within your limit to solve the puzzles. And yes, the puzzles are incredible.

    art: Even having an anime style, the characters have a character design that resembles futuristic stories and each one is very unique. The dreams gain all the attention in this aspect, some seem to have come out of horror stories, others inspired by other video games, there is a lot of design variation.

    soundtrack: That was the point that convinced me to buy the game, the music of the first dream, damn it, the soundtrack of that game can accurately convey all emotions and create unforgettable moments.    … Expand
  30. mrfroglegs
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    a fantastic game. An excellent detective story, with some truly bizarre plot twists. I highly recommend it fully.
  31. lazycomplife
    Feb 13, 2020
    10
    Wonderful story with great writing & excellent characters. Kotaro Uchikoshi is the best video game writer, hands down.
  32. otterone
    Dec 15, 2019
    8
    Captivating dialogue, enjoyable but quite predictable plot, good characters, great voice acting (I played the game in Japanese) and interesting gameplay. This game probably ticks most boxes for players, who already enjoy Uchikoshi's work.

    The game consists of heaps of dialogue, point-and-click style investigations and 3rd person dream sequences, where you fight against the clock to    Captivating dialogue, enjoyable but quite predictable plot, good characters, great voice acting (I played the game in Japanese) and interesting gameplay. This game probably ticks most boxes for players, who already enjoy Uchikoshi's work.

    The game consists of heaps of dialogue, point-and-click style investigations and 3rd person dream sequences, where you fight against the clock to solve the puzzles within the dream. Apart from the sometimes aggravating and rather trial-and-error-esque puzzles the gameplay is surprisingly fun and properly complements the storyline.

    Although it is important to note, that this game requires multiple playthroughs to experience the whole storyline. There IS a timeline which you can use to jump from point A to point B anytime, but you will have to experience at least some parts of the game a couple times!

    One of the best visual novel adventures of 2019!    … Expand
  33. iuk123
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    This is a Kotaro Uchikoshi game, so you know it will have an amazing story.
  34. astronomia
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    i truly loved this game from the bottom of my heart. have replayed it twice and look forward to a third time. excellent characters, a very well set up mystery that is fun to theorize about, a good sense of humour, really rewarding to go through all the dialogue in every scene possible (make sure to click on the items/environment as much as possible!). the ui is very friendly, the flowcharti truly loved this game from the bottom of my heart. have replayed it twice and look forward to a third time. excellent characters, a very well set up mystery that is fun to theorize about, a good sense of humour, really rewarding to go through all the dialogue in every scene possible (make sure to click on the items/environment as much as possible!). the ui is very friendly, the flowchart helps immensely and is clean. the somnium dives are fun and yes, it's positive about lgbt matters, which is a plus for me. it definitely won't be everyone's thing (the perverted humour was fine for me but i understand why that can drag on others) but it was such a fun experience. i enjoyed it so much. if you enjoyed 999 and games like dangan ronpa, i say give it a shot. it should be up your alley.… Expand
  35. epigz
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    AI is a fantastic story with lovable characters and plot twists that will blow your mind. Any visual novel fan who likes mysteries and thrillers will love this game.
  36. dr_nacht
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    Another masterpiece written by Kotaro Uchikoshi. It's really fun and the puzzles are awesome.
  37. shoyz
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    Trademark Uchokoshi storytelling with fantastic characterization and finally a decent enough budget to fully realize the vision.
  38. shedvolans
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    An absolute masterpiece of a game from the mind of Kotaro Uchikoshi. An extremely well-plotted murder mystery with phenomenal characters (brought to life by equally phenomenal voice talent), incredible music, and an interesting gameplay loop of exploring dreams.

    Also quite possibly one of the funniest yet heartwarming games I've played in a while, with patently absurd humor spread    An absolute masterpiece of a game from the mind of Kotaro Uchikoshi. An extremely well-plotted murder mystery with phenomenal characters (brought to life by equally phenomenal voice talent), incredible music, and an interesting gameplay loop of exploring dreams.

    Also quite possibly one of the funniest yet heartwarming games I've played in a while, with patently absurd humor spread throughout and a genuine sense of sincerity that occasionally goes intentionally full-cheesy because you know what sometimes cheese is the best.

    If you like good murder mysteries and fleshed out characters that can make you cry both from laughter and from feels, sometimes simultaneously, then get this game.    … Expand
  39. thomasgdocs
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    This game is really excellent! It's like a combination of Ace Attorney and Zero Escape, with a super cool cast of characters, amazing art, and really great music - I really can't recommend it enough!
  40. Aeming
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Incredible game. Give it a chance, you won't regret it, it's beautiful, touching, really well written.
  41. hfuhah
    Feb 12, 2020
    10
    Really compelling and brilliantly told murder mystery story. A great intro to Uchikoshi's works with a 10/10 ending
  42. seiiun
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Ignore the trolls that dropped a negative review bomb. This game is one of my favorites and easily made my personal GOTY list for 2019.
  43. Melharari
    Feb 11, 2020
    9
    The game was such a wonderful experience. It felt like a wacky sci fi version of the Ace Attorney games with some of Uchikoshis most likeable characters to date. The endings were emotional, deep and you connected with the characters in the story a lot. The gameplay was good fun as you got to inverstigate and interact with several dreams and unconver the truth that was going on in the caseThe game was such a wonderful experience. It felt like a wacky sci fi version of the Ace Attorney games with some of Uchikoshis most likeable characters to date. The endings were emotional, deep and you connected with the characters in the story a lot. The gameplay was good fun as you got to inverstigate and interact with several dreams and unconver the truth that was going on in the case through the different endings. Uchikoshis writing shines once again and I really like the scientific theories he introduces into these games. You can tell he likes to read a lot in his own time.

    Give this game a shot if you like visual novel games like the ace attorney games or Danganronpa.    … Expand
  44. Plithondaweb
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Play ai the somnium files Play ai the somnium files Play ai the somnium files Play ai the somnium files
  45. Missingno801
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Made an account just to try to counter the negative reviews this game is getting. This game is AMAZING. If you like visual novels or even if you don't GIVE THIS GAME A TRY!!!
  46. taterboi
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Play this and the zero escape series. Ignore the negative reviews, this game got review-bombed for some reason I don't know of
  47. JoueurCitoyen
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Thank you Mr. Uchikoshi! I subscribed to Metacritic to share nice words about your games. AI is incredible, it's beautiful, well-written and surprising too. Cheers!
  48. PhantomthiefFox
    Feb 11, 2020
    9
    I didn't personally play the game but my friend streamed the whole thing like twice, and I did vote which options she should choose. From what I saw, this game is visually interesting. It has a good story and wholesome parts. Plenty interactive. If you like murder mystery games, great visuals, wholesome parts, this is the game for you. I would play it myself once it's not as fresh in myI didn't personally play the game but my friend streamed the whole thing like twice, and I did vote which options she should choose. From what I saw, this game is visually interesting. It has a good story and wholesome parts. Plenty interactive. If you like murder mystery games, great visuals, wholesome parts, this is the game for you. I would play it myself once it's not as fresh in my mind. The comedic parts is enough reason for me to replay myself.… Expand
  49. bryanfaffer
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Wonderful game, a totally unique experience and one of my favourite games of 2019. I'd highly recommend it for anyone with a passing interest in visual novels or japanese gaming.
  50. decksid4
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Absolute favorite. Charming, engaging, visually and thematically interesting, with a great cast and story.
  51. Betagross
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Here to offset the rating bomb. Such a cool game, as a long time fan of the ZE franchise, it was great to play another game by the brilliant mind behind ZE. I didnā€™t like the game as much as ZE, but it was absolutely addicting. This game had the twists and turns of ZE that kept me constantly anxious (in a good way, really suspenseful) but also shared mechanics with games like dangan ronpaHere to offset the rating bomb. Such a cool game, as a long time fan of the ZE franchise, it was great to play another game by the brilliant mind behind ZE. I didnā€™t like the game as much as ZE, but it was absolutely addicting. This game had the twists and turns of ZE that kept me constantly anxious (in a good way, really suspenseful) but also shared mechanics with games like dangan ronpa and ace attorney. I would recommend this to any fan of visual novels!… Expand
  52. SisterofGachupo
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    all around lovely and fantastic game. if you're review bombing this because it's pro lgbt then you are a coward and will be removed by natural selection.
  53. ZeroSomniumFile
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Somnium Files was such a funny and interesting story and I haven't laughed as much in a long time!
    Weird enough at first I was not really interested in the characters and the character design at first but throughout the game they grew to me so very much. They had interesting endearing character arcs and I really loved to dive deeper into their personalities by trying out different things    Somnium Files was such a funny and interesting story and I haven't laughed as much in a long time!
    Weird enough at first I was not really interested in the characters and the character design at first but throughout the game they grew to me so very much. They had interesting endearing character arcs and I really loved to dive deeper into their personalities by trying out different things in the somniums.
    The music was so very fitting and I still like to listen to it. Before the game came out those promotional youtube videos made me very interested and I loved to solve puzzles with the community Date and Aiba have such a great dynamic and all the references you can find throughout the game were amazing! I do hope however if there ever comes out a sequel that we find out more about Naixatloz and a few other things that came up but weren't addressed in more detail.

    All in all this game became my absolute favourite game of 2019 and I thank Uchikoshi and his team for this marvelous experience one again!    … Expand
  54. pasturefields
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game was an incredibly endearing yet emotional. I haven't cried since November of 2019 but I assure you I had to put the game down when completing the Mizuki route. I am not the most manly dude on the planet but a video game has never driven me to tears. The psyche of a traumatized 12 year old girl (loosing and witnessing both of her parents dead body) made me absolutely go ham. I haven't actually truly genuinely felt the protagonists emotions towards the envents in the game was playing EVER. The amount of thought (and very likely research) to create a game with such an in depth emotional draw on multiple aspects, not only Mizuki's abuse and trauma. I feel the connected to the story and characters more than any game i've ever played. Ever mistake I made in the somniums made my gut twist or blood boil. I knew I could restart or move to a check point, but in an instance (and as much as I LOVE the music) i could not bring myself to hear some in the bg because it brought me to such emotional distress. I love this game to death, thank you so much Uchikoshi.… Expand
  55. Fortfite
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    This game is really great, story SSR tier and visuals are amazing. Just watch it as the credits roll and you'll be blown away.
  56. YubBoidon
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Epic aparentlyi need ti have to have 75 characters so here they are ghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhuuuuhhhhh
  57. clickywrist
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is not an LGBT oriented game HOWEVER, it gives the LGBT characters realistic, non-stereotypically offensive representation. Coming into this game you would imagine (just as I did) the closest to romance it would get is Shoko and Renju's broken marriage and Date's insatiable hunger to **** any willing human woman his age with a pulse. If you think/thought this you are just as incredibly wrong as I was. Not only does it represent sexuality as a trait and not an entire personality of a character, it also hammers the nail and puts the cherry on top when it acknowledges that these characters ARE queer. For instance Pewter is irrefutably gay, we know this by looking around the lab and finding some items (that personally I would not keep in my workspace but go crazy dude you probably sleep at your desk more than your own bed anyways) that subtly indicate that Pewter is attracted to men sexual/romantically. This is confirmed in one of the routes when we learn Renju and Pewters relationship is beyond platonic and they are canonically together as partners or "lovers". It's clarified that Renju's relationship with Pewter started AFTER his divorce with his ex-wife but doesn't diminish the fact that he perhaps did love her at one point and did NOT have an affair against her back, which most queer characters in media are shown doing when separating from their heterosexual relationships. Although I have not seen the confirmation yet, the implication that I am interpreting is that either Renju is bisexual/pansexual or feels comfortable enough to explore his sexuality to discover that he cares deeply for a man the way he does. There is even an endearing plot point where Date almost spills alcohol on Renju's favorite watch, which was grifted to him by Pewter on their 1 year anniversary, and Renju loses his **** because this object represents so much more to him than a watch. This watch is regarded as an important detail as it was what helped Date in the investigation after Renju was killed (they found his watch somewhere deducing he was not killed where the body was found.) Which of course broke my heart to see him dead, but do not fret this is not a "kill your gays trope" and Renju's death is dealt not only as tragic/significant to the game itself but also doesn't hit you with the "maybe the death was related to him being queer." Pewter's mood is seen shifting in every route (even before we find out about their relationship) after Renju dies. He doesn't do with any of the other victims deaths and it's not as if we need to notice this ourselves. Date makes mention of Pewters more serious mood, which he finds unusual since Pewter keeps a comedic energy in the office despite their work consisting of horrible and gruesome crimes. Their characterization is not seen as **** or gross, it's as genuine as a heterosexual relationship, with all its ups and downs. These are only two of the characters that we see. Mama probably the most openly LGBT character in the game, her pronouns are respected by all seen characters. Her "sex" is disclosed as gender-neutral, which agreeably strange to note, but i enjoy the fact that the assigned sex was not disclosed to us definitively. She does meantion she wears a "costume" but the player can interpret what part of her is a costume or not. This is a good representation of nb/gnc individuals who use binary pronouns. Even Kaname Date, woman lover supreme, doesn't feel uncomfortable flirting or implying he is attracted to a man. I first saw this when Date (an idiot) says out loud that he's glad he didn't hit on Iris (she reveals that she is 18) and when Iris acts flattered at this comment he feels uncomfortable at the implication that he was going to make a pass at someone that much younger than him. He resorts to clarifying (this is false of course) that that comment was towards Ota (a man closer to his age) and Ota acts flattered just as Iris had been before. Date doesn't seem to mind the implication of him being attracted to a man if it meant him not being attracted to someone much younger than him even if she is "legal" in most of not all countries, which ai can not personally say for other heterosexual men (if he even is, it's not ever confirmed.) Date also does have a strange relationship with forensic investigator (Kagami) where he bluntly tells him that if he were a woman (ahaha kidding... … Expand
  58. cjmms
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Good game, highly recommended. Both story telling and character designing are wonderful.
  59. andresitobboy
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    esta bien bueno, me recuerda a la sopa de mi abuela ..mmm que rico le quedaba esa hp y no siendo nada mas me despido ..los anti geis me la pueden chupar
  60. Tomyou
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Wonderful game, with a lot to offer. Doesnā€™t deserve that mutch hate. Give it a try!
  61. yakitori
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    This is the work that show you Kotaro Uchikoshi's personality. The main story is dark, but Date's dirty jokes will cover it. Story had full of hints and will going logically, just like Kotaro's previous series. Players need to think differently between traditional mystery game, when they trying to find a way in somnium part. After playing, players will use their EYE to find truly "I" andThis is the work that show you Kotaro Uchikoshi's personality. The main story is dark, but Date's dirty jokes will cover it. Story had full of hints and will going logically, just like Kotaro's previous series. Players need to think differently between traditional mystery game, when they trying to find a way in somnium part. After playing, players will use their EYE to find truly "I" and feel ēˆ±(love which pernounced 'AI') with a best partner AI.… Expand
  62. mikubag
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Created an accout just for fighting with bombed reviews.
    If you tried this game you will know this new masterpiece which created by Kotaro Uchikoshi is much greater than those poor reviews.
    The ending of story was totally shocked me, I can give a full positive just for scenario.
  63. Ricky-Pedia
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    A new hidden gem in my collection with everything you want in a visual novel. Wonderful cast of memorable characters, intriguing puzzles, great soundtrack, and a story that keeps you guessing until the final twist.
  64. Arlenemusume
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    I'm a mega fan of the Uchikoshi-San work, Zero escape is one of my favorite sagas ever. So, when AI The Somnium Files was announced I can't hide my happiness and hype for getting it on my hands, and I have to say, I didn't get disappointed.

    Somnium Giles it's a very good game, you can feel the touch of Uchikoshi san, in the story, the jokes, everything. I bought the Nintendo. Switch    I'm a mega fan of the Uchikoshi-San work, Zero escape is one of my favorite sagas ever. So, when AI The Somnium Files was announced I can't hide my happiness and hype for getting it on my hands, and I have to say, I didn't get disappointed.

    Somnium Giles it's a very good game, you can feel the touch of Uchikoshi san, in the story, the jokes, everything. I bought the Nintendo. Switch version because I love to enjoy this kind of games on a handheld console. I devoured the game. I can't said much because I can't give a spoiler, but if you love visual novels, and games like zero escape or Danganronpa YOU CAN'T MISS THIS GAME!!!    … Expand
  65. korewa
    Feb 12, 2020
    9
    Another piece of masterful storytelling from Kotaro Uchikoshi. 9.5/10. Marred only by some clunky and incongruous QuickTime segments that frustrate the flow of gameplay (and a few loose plot ends that, in the grand scheme of things, are forgivable), Somnium Files is an unforgettable visual novel experience that manages to feel unique from Uchikoshi's other works. Uchikoshi is continuouslyAnother piece of masterful storytelling from Kotaro Uchikoshi. 9.5/10. Marred only by some clunky and incongruous QuickTime segments that frustrate the flow of gameplay (and a few loose plot ends that, in the grand scheme of things, are forgivable), Somnium Files is an unforgettable visual novel experience that manages to feel unique from Uchikoshi's other works. Uchikoshi is continuously proving himself to be a master of his medium, and is pushing the boundaries of game-based storytelling. His style is certainly not for everyone, but if you like VNs and are in the market for a unique experience, AI is amust-play.… Expand
  66. Spacesenpai0830
    Feb 13, 2020
    8
    Iā€™m not a fan of visual novels but I am a lover of detective games and this was a great combination of both. This introduced me to the world of visual novels and itā€™s potential as a genre. However what sold me the most about the game where the characters and their dynamics. The story and the twist are also great but without this cast of characters, I fear the game would not have hit myIā€™m not a fan of visual novels but I am a lover of detective games and this was a great combination of both. This introduced me to the world of visual novels and itā€™s potential as a genre. However what sold me the most about the game where the characters and their dynamics. The story and the twist are also great but without this cast of characters, I fear the game would not have hit my heart the way it did when I first started playing. With a great cast, story, and humor (it ranges from dad jokes to crude humor) this is a solid game to sit down and interact with as you immerse yourself into the world of AI: The Somnium Files.

    And I mean it when I say immerse yourself in the world of this game. Although AI is not very long in terms of hours, the game wonā€™t disappoint with the amount of content is inside this short game. It makes you want to interact with every character, object, and everything that you see to solely see how the characters react to it or crack a joke. That being said if youā€™re not the one for dialogue or patience this might not be so important to you. However, it definitely makes the game that much more interesting and it shows how much dialogue/jokes the developers and the crew worked on for the players. The environment and the world of Ai is also beautifully done even in the puzzles that you canā€™t help but want to look and touch everything. The visuals and the soundtrack of the game will definitely make you feel like you have entered another world.

    Itā€™s hard to talk about the characters and the story without spoiling anything but if youā€™re into a story with a dark twist much like Dangan Ronpa with a unique cast then I would highly recommend this game to you. The main cast of this game are frankly great with each branch and story seeing each otherā€™s development, growth, and how one decision can affect each other as a whole. However I will be honest in that there was one branch that was lackluster however it still did not deter me from loving this game since no matter the outcome each path had a purpose. And each path you finish, adds to your overall knowledge and understanding of each character and the story. It keeps you guessing and on your toes until you finally reach the conclusion in the most satisfying twist. Although you can play the game in whatever path that you wish, there are suggestions that others have to make the game experience a little better. In which I have to completely agree and thankful for their suggestions because I canā€™t envision myself playing the game in any other way. With minor spoilers I suggest filling the flowchart from left to right and for your first decision would be to pick the cage with no balloons (I believe itā€™s the left cage or branch A). Then the next important decision is to pick the choice to watch the videos (I believe it is branch B). From there continue to play the branches of the game from left to right. The greatest invention of this game that I wish 999 had is the flowchart in which that it allows you to continue from where you left off to explore the other decision without having you to start from the beginning. The flowchart also allows you to begin at certain points of the game in case if you have forgotten any major plot. The flexibility of the game was definitely a highlight and an important feature to the overall experience.

    Where I knock down two points of the game unfortunately would be the gameplay. For those who are unfamiliar with visual novels, most typically do not have a gameplay and itā€™s much more like reading a story while making decisions that affect the story. Although Ai is close to that spectrum, there are minor games mechanic. However where it falls is that often times the correct choices to move forward in the game does not make sense due to what the game is about. Your actions taking time is a very interesting concept but it deters you from exploring since every movement/choice you make takes time away from the open world puzzle game. It also deters you from making funny choices that the developers set up for you to witness unless you have extra time remaining left which is a shame. It can become a little frustrating but the gameplay portion is very minor and very forgiving. However the meaning behind each puzzles really differentiates the game from other detective games which is a major bonus for my feelings.

    Overall this was definitely the game of the year for me in 2019. The characters, story, and humor were all great that I did feel sad when it ended. Not many new games have made me felt that way in a long time. I will say this is a very niche game for a certain audience but donā€™t let that deter you from trying something new. I had to make a review when I heard someone intentionally review bombing due to a lack of fan service because I refuse to let this game receive such a low score with that reason. Kotaro Uchikoshi deserves better for making this my game of 2019.    … Expand
  67. DeathscytheVII
    Feb 16, 2020
    10
    Made an account just to try to counter the negative review bomb this game is getting. This game is AMAZING.
  68. cNeq
    Feb 16, 2020
    10
    AI Somnium Files was a masterpiece and one of the most underrated visual novels I've seen.
  69. masterno92
    Feb 17, 2020
    9
    i loved the game, the story was interesting and silly but also dark and mysterious and i loved the voice acting as well.. for a visual novel it's honestly great, but the reason why im giving it a 9 instead of 10 is because even though it's an awesome game.. there were some lack of depth in mechanics of the game.. and after a while doing the same thing again finding clues and saving time oni loved the game, the story was interesting and silly but also dark and mysterious and i loved the voice acting as well.. for a visual novel it's honestly great, but the reason why im giving it a 9 instead of 10 is because even though it's an awesome game.. there were some lack of depth in mechanics of the game.. and after a while doing the same thing again finding clues and saving time on the clock you don't feel entirely satisfied, some of the clues are completely random and you don't even know what is gonna happen before you click them.. i know its a visual novel and the story is 10/10 and i love the deep interaction with the characters, but when im in control and doing something on the screen i would hope there would be some kind of reason as to why it might have been that option.. but most of the time i feel like im just guessing and its not really much skill involved.. maybe if you could switch it up a little to make it more interesting and maybe do something so i have to use my brain more for future games :)… Expand
  70. Agnabright
    Feb 17, 2020
    10
    The absolute best characters I have ever seen in a video game along with the greatest story. Not too much gameplay in it, but it completely makes up for it.
  71. Smeshy
    Feb 17, 2020
    10
    Just a great visual interactive novel mystery game all around with fun 3rd person escape the room puzzle types of portions in the game. Definitely recommend.
  72. P0keClaw
    Feb 23, 2020
    10
    I love everything about this game and in my opinion it deserves way more attention!
  73. hereticgrim
    Mar 14, 2020
    10
    Very good story from start to finish, no complains whatsoever. if you like mystery or want to start Visual Novels, this is a great introduction game.
  74. CuteOldMan
    Apr 1, 2020
    10
    A branching story murder mystery with enough twists and alternate endings to satisfy all. Beautiful visuals with a haunting soundtrack that adds atmosphere to the intense and sombre moments. This was not a short game, and it had me on the edge of my seat when getting to day 4 or each storyline . Quirky humour during serious moments, typical of anything Japanese. Overall, fantasticA branching story murder mystery with enough twists and alternate endings to satisfy all. Beautiful visuals with a haunting soundtrack that adds atmosphere to the intense and sombre moments. This was not a short game, and it had me on the edge of my seat when getting to day 4 or each storyline . Quirky humour during serious moments, typical of anything Japanese. Overall, fantastic experience. Not often do you get a story that is this enjoyable or memorable from an interactive novel, and I can see myself revisiting the game in a few months… Expand
  75. medjed
    Aug 23, 2020
    10
    This game has become my favorite game of all time, and it has changed my standards for video games quite a lot. I loved every second of it, and I spent so many nights thinking about the story.
    The characters are absolutely amazing, and you will always change how you think about them as you go through the story. I've never experienced any media that threw me for such a roller coaster of    This game has become my favorite game of all time, and it has changed my standards for video games quite a lot. I loved every second of it, and I spent so many nights thinking about the story.
    The characters are absolutely amazing, and you will always change how you think about them as you go through the story. I've never experienced any media that threw me for such a roller coaster of emotions before. There were so many times I had laughed hard, times where I cried my eyes out, and times where it chilled me to the bone.

    The atmosphere is something I enjoy immensely, a quiet, yet interesting experience. There is always something to discover in the environment around you, and some easter eggs that can be missed easily. The replayability is high, since you can go listen to dialogue options you missed, and experience the story again. In fact, I HIGHLY recommend going through the story again, because you can appreciate the foreshadowing that goes on, and understand the sequence of events better.

    Even though the main cast has a few younger characters, they didn't feel like they were written from the viewpoint of somebody with a shallow understanding of internet culture. It's surprising that they really seemed like people I interact with regularly, versus the usual stereotypes older people assign young people. Uchikoshi is a master at writing characters that feel real, and I ended up caring a lot about every character, and thinking deeply about them. I truly do love the characters.

    The plot-twists are some of the best I've experienced from modern media, and always threw me off, no matter how much I theorized beforehand. They were extremely well thought out, and it was incredible to see it all unfold. There is going to always be something that you wouldn't see coming, but doesn't feel completely out of place. I heavily recommend playing to the end to get the best experience.

    Some of the humor will not be for everybody, especially if you're out of touch with some internet culture or media. It can also have a bit of a dry delivery, which is something that I personally love. Even if you don't find some of the jokes funny, though, there will still be something that can make you laugh.

    The impact of your choices during the "Somnium" section are massive to how the plot moves forward, and it makes the player's experience incredible. Everybody will have a unique experience with the game, depending on the order of the routes you end up going through. It really feels like a great reflection of the butterfly effect, and how even a seemingly small decision can change everything. Every person I know who has played this game for the first time, had a different order of how they went through the routes. Their different experiences were all enjoyed by themselves, but it changed how they progressed through the game, and how their train of logic went. It's really incredible to see that, since I haven't seen a game that had such a variety of ways people would go about trying to put together a mystery... an absolute unique and amazing experience.

    If you in the past have enjoyed the Zero Escape series, "Ai: The Somnium Files" has the same quality of writing, and perhaps even better, than Zero Escape. The gameplay has been honed to a masterful level since then, and I cannot recommend it enough. If you can, please support the people who made this game possible, too! I want to really keep seeing content in the future from the amazing mind of Kotaro Uchikoshi.    … Expand
  76. 2random
    Dec 24, 2021
    9
    This game is awesome! I felt like a real detective solving the case. The plot is solid, with lots of unexpected twists and turns. There are a few jokes here and there too, so you definitely won't get bored. Though the game was made with Unity, it looks great and performs surprisingly well. Load screens are almost non-existent: usually it takes less than 1 second for a process to complete.
  77. Moderngamesucc
    Jun 30, 2022
    9
    A well written mystery Visual Novel with memorable characters. If you like Spike Chunsoft VNs , or any VN really, you cant go wrong. Its a bit tongue in cheek and stumbles in some parts being awkward, but it adds to its charm. This isnt trying to be a AAA game (thank god). Its great, and so is the sequel so far.
  78. PlayLivross
    Jul 21, 2022
    10
    The english dubbing and the storytelling are amazing, and the game is hilarious
  79. Impressedgamer
    Jul 26, 2022
    9
    This is a complete spoiler free review

    What a ride! I haven't played the zero escape series but I can definitely see the appeal to Kotaro Uchikoshi's work. For Ai being my first visual novel/point and click game I was concerned if the experience would get stale or if I could even call it a proper game by the end. I was pretty optimistic going into it, and I wasn't one bit disappointed.    This is a complete spoiler free review


    What a ride! I haven't played the zero escape series but I can definitely see the appeal to Kotaro Uchikoshi's work. For Ai being my first visual novel/point and click game I was concerned if the experience would get stale or if I could even call it a proper game by the end. I was pretty optimistic going into it, and I wasn't one bit disappointed. The presentation, character designs and the overarching crime plot are handled with love and care by a team who considered making a fun experience first. The humor and gameplay are enjoyable and varied often changing from a point and click to an over the shoulder puzzle room experience, that will keep you on your detective toes at all times. One gripe that someone could have is that the sexual humor may be excessive, but to me it was hilarious. The comedy is on point. But ofcourse the main dish is the crime investigation tied to the murder of Nadami Shoko where Date, the protagonist and his Ai eyeball assistant Aiba are assigned to. Working for a police brach called ABIS, where with the help of his boss and another scientist, Date is able to dive into a suspect's mind and solve dream puzzles to find new clues about the killer. The story is great and plot twists amazing with a flowchart/ route structure who always bring doubts about who the killer is as you're picking through the case, twisting everything as soon as you think you have a lead. Keep in mind that the director is not afraid to break immersion and spice up the experience with unrealistic encounters, jokes and sci-fi elements. Overall this extremely smart and many times hilarious game will stay in my memory for a long time and i can say with confidence, that I'm very excited to play the sequel Ai the somnium files Nirvana initiative.    … Expand
  80. psvitaboy1782
    Nov 24, 2022
    10
    The single greatest VN I've ever played. It's a slow burn for sure, but it's the kinda game that keeps you guessing, and only in the last few hours do all the loose ends finally begin to tie up. The cast, art, story, and music are all 10/10 in my opinion. This game is the kind that gets you questioning how high quality a game's narrative can truly be, I mean SERIOUSLY.

    Do yourself a    The single greatest VN I've ever played. It's a slow burn for sure, but it's the kinda game that keeps you guessing, and only in the last few hours do all the loose ends finally begin to tie up. The cast, art, story, and music are all 10/10 in my opinion. This game is the kind that gets you questioning how high quality a game's narrative can truly be, I mean SERIOUSLY.

    Do yourself a favour and pick up this masterpiece. A true gem of this generation.    … Expand
  81. Buitien123
    Sep 23, 2019
    10
    If you're a fan of Zero Escape series or point n click type of game, you should check this game out! It's a must play!
  82. SoupWS
    Feb 9, 2020
    10
    I **** loved this game. Stop the reviewbombing you immature cucks.
    Don't you have anything more productive to do with your pathetic lives?
  83. Souther
    Feb 8, 2020
    10
    It's an interesting game from a known creator that people should check out instead of talking trash about it without even playing the darn thing.
  84. KiraV
    Feb 8, 2020
    10
    IGNORE THE NEGATIVE RATINGS, the game got review-bombed here on metacritic. Speculation is that it was made by people on /pol/ upset that the game had literally two lines pro-LGBT. Game is absolutely fantastic, loved every second of it.
  85. PepePt1
    Sep 22, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Another excellent game by Kotaro Uchikoshi. Ever since I played the Zero Escape series and Ever17, I fell in love with the way this man tells stories and creates some of the most interesting and mind bending plots in the history of VNs and even games in general and AI: Somnium Files is no exception.

    It's not a perfect game however, thus why I'm giving it a 9 and not a 10(Changed to 10 because of the stupid review bombing); the game has a few pacing issues which almost feels like it's stalling the player for no reason other than giving out info dumps.

    The gameplay while also with it's flaws, is probably one of Spike Chunsoft's best attempts at making a new and weird gameplay style; the Somnium sections are over the top crazy, fun and will even make your heart race if you waste too much time out of your 6 minute limit.

    The characters are what drive the story, Date is your typical Zero Escape protagonist, he reminds me of Junpei (999) and Sigma (VLR), he's calm, collected, has a heart of gold and well... he's a pervert, what else can I say. My favorite character by far is Aiba, Date's AI partner, she's fun with a quirky sense of humor but helpful and serious when the task asks for it, and she loves her partner, her design is fantastic and really cute but I can definetely see some people ignoring her character to focus on how SHE'S BASICALLY NOT WEARING PANTS. Same thing for Iris, a internet idol that becomes one of the main plotpoints, she can be a little annoying at times with her super energetic personality but I couldn't stop liking her thanks to her well written backstory. Then there's Ota and Mizuki, Iris's friends; same thing applies to them, annoying at times but they are well written enough to make you like them. Also there's a lot of weird humour and sex jokes in the game, even more than in previous games, like how Aiba just weirdly dances or goes "Yay Yay!" at the sight of any bug or how Date wants to "massage the two things" on the Lemniscate's building receptionist... (her shoulders of course, you freaks)

    As for the story, I can say that it's written extremely well with barely any loose ends (not 0 tho...), the villain while a bit of a one note type of character is so smart and executes his plan in a way that makes sense and really makes you want to put him behind bars and when you do end everything, it feels extremely satisfying altought a little bittersweet.

    *SPOILERS FOR AI AND THE WHOLE ZERO ESCAPE SERIES*
    When I say the game has a few loose ends, I'm refering to the whole Date remembering everything when you travel using the flowchart. Obviously, this is a callback to the SHIFT ability that the Zero Escape protagonists had where they would travel between timelines and remember the events. When I noticed that the Flowchart had different endings and locks, my brain just started concocting this crazy plot on how this game is connected to Zero Escape and such and I just waited and waited for the game to explain what was going on here, and when I noticed, it was done and I was watching credits. Not gonna lie, this left me with very bittersweet emotions for an ending. *SPOILERS END*

    But even after those bittersweet feelings and weird pacing issues I can definetely say that Kotaro Uchikoshi did it again and managed to make one of the most interesting stories of the year and I can't wait to see more coming from him and his new team! Thank you so much, Uchikoshi-san!    … Expand
  86. finalsama
    Oct 29, 2019
    10
    Very good story from start to finish, no complains whatsoever. if you like mystery or want to start Visual Novels, this is a great introduction game.
  87. Cloudmark
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    One of my favorite creators! The genius behind the Zero Escape Trilogy has made another amazing ip and compelling narrative. Amazing story with wonderful twists and turns to keep you guessing. Lovable characters that will tug at your heartstrings. I highly recommend checking this game out.
  88. NenJutsu
    Sep 17, 2019
    10
    Uchikoshi has done it again. Created one of the most captivating and well written stories in gaming including bad sex jokes. Zero Escape was an instant cult classic and super narratives in gaming. Ai The Somnium Files is an amazing follow up .
  89. sailorknight
    Feb 8, 2020
    8
    This game has recently been review bombed for unknown reasons. Don't take the negative scores seriously as they all happened within a short amount of time as a coordinated effort (notice how there are no actual negative reviews at this time, just scores). This is a good game if you like visual novels and detective stories.
  90. AbsoluteKiwi
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    AI was a great game with a very interesting story that reminded me a lot of the previous works of the director. The production values were much higher than his previous games and the story was familiar yet unique
  91. Mandy108
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Just the story and the characters of this game kept me hooked and guessing for days. The puzzle solving within the dreams was super fun and the dreams themselves were very engaging. Great game.
  92. Aiba-chanIsCute
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Great game, honestly my goty of 2019.
    Story is great and the characters are great too, the puzzles and multiple endings really make this game great.
    If you liked zero escape, you'll like this too!
  93. bergcamp101
    Jul 8, 2021
    7
    I can't say it's a masterpiece, especially comparing to The Nonary Games. This games lacks gameplay, and also some actions scenes look strange...very strange. But, like always for Spike Chunsoft, the plot just does it.
  94. GraysonWayne
    Sep 21, 2019
    10
    To start, this game is well directed with loads of good work done into characters and the comfortable flow of what they put into the gameplay style in terms of concept. Despite it being what most would call a visual novel, AI: The Somnium Files takes the concept of it to another level by putting in interactive segments that are full of humor, character, symbolism, and aesthetic while stillTo start, this game is well directed with loads of good work done into characters and the comfortable flow of what they put into the gameplay style in terms of concept. Despite it being what most would call a visual novel, AI: The Somnium Files takes the concept of it to another level by putting in interactive segments that are full of humor, character, symbolism, and aesthetic while still retaining it's full value of being a "Visual Novel" style story and character driven game that will throw you for loops with branching paths. Like many visual novels, it's a very laid back experience and it pulls off what it's supposed to do really well while somehow still having you on your feet with highly unique and dialogue centered interactions that you wouldn't want to miss.

    Gameplay: Consistent, Voluntary and Detail Oriented:
    In most parts of the game, you're playing a social first person dialogue oriented point and click interactive novel. For the people who like design and detail, the amount of interactions you can have within these areas and scenarios is done perfectly and done well enough to keep you interested into every single detail of every frame of the game. Plus, with me personally, I had fun with just the characters dialogue and the personalities alone.

    You can choose to blaze through the story like a regular visual novel, or you can choose to take in the small details in the environment and take in more of the personalities of the characters that I am sure many players would grow to enjoy. There are segments that are physically interactive in the third person as you roam the Somnium (deep sleep recess of the mind), and interact with items in the room that you move in while controlling Aiba, your AI False Eyeball Companion that literally lives in your head. Explore the Somnia, interact with items, and solve puzzles. It's quite simple and the developers did it well.

    The soundtrack is amazing. The characters are unique and amazing, and although there are some that are "cliche" in scenario, the way that they are interpreted and put into the story is well done. The physically interactive segments are a really good fun new touch to what one would expect from a Spike Chunsoft "Visual Novel". In all fairness, it's an interactive dialogue centered game that is a rare combination of being BOTH character (in terms of interactions and personality) and story driven. I am very happy I got this game. Definitely a must buy for anyone who is looking for a laid back yet highly enjoyable mystery solving aesthetically pleasing AND YET on your toes unique experience. Another amazingly directed game, and I hope it gets the recognition it deserves in my opinion.    … Expand
  95. Noughter
    Nov 1, 2019
    10
    Just finished it and i really loved it. The gameplay might not have been as good as the Zero Escape games but it kind felt fresh and interesting. The story and the mystery behind the whole Investigation were amazing. But what made me really fell in love with the game was the characters. I grew really attached to them and also got emotional a few times. The game had some weird parts butJust finished it and i really loved it. The gameplay might not have been as good as the Zero Escape games but it kind felt fresh and interesting. The story and the mystery behind the whole Investigation were amazing. But what made me really fell in love with the game was the characters. I grew really attached to them and also got emotional a few times. The game had some weird parts but still i liked the humor. I might even go as far to say that it became one of my favourite works of Kotaro Uchikoshi after Ever17 and VLR… Expand
  96. llow
    Dec 6, 2019
    9
    I will start off by saying that if you enjoyed the Nonary games you will enjoy this game. If you enjoyed the Danganronpa series it is possible you may enjoy this game. This is not just a visual novel game but has sequences where you have to interact with objects to solve "mind" puzzles.

    The game is fully voice acted and other than a few scenes (with crying) that are supposed to be    I will start off by saying that if you enjoyed the Nonary games you will enjoy this game. If you enjoyed the Danganronpa series it is possible you may enjoy this game. This is not just a visual novel game but has sequences where you have to interact with objects to solve "mind" puzzles.

    The game is fully voice acted and other than a few scenes (with crying) that are supposed to be emotional that fall a little flat, the voice acting is excellent and each character you interact with is well written with individual personality. In addition to the voice acting the character models are also animated when they speak so a nice improvement over the normal visual novel formula.

    The only large negative opinion I have would be a few select action parts that are overly dumb which I won't go into since it might be considered a spoiler but you'll know what I mean if you end up getting this.    … Expand
  97. Alexgor9527
    Dec 11, 2019
    8
    This is a great comedy detective visual novel.
    The story gives you a feeling of "every story fragment is connected" and a feeling of "that explains it!". The characterization is good. 99% of intentions of characters are rational. The speed of story is maintained good. You have to go through layers of story to find out the truth and you won't get the truth easily.
  98. Phuz
    Nov 22, 2020
    0
    If strange but boring is up your alley, then get this. I couldn't even get very far in the demo because it just wasn't interesting, or fun, Iturned it off com0letely confused as to why it gets rated so high. Nothing was giving me any incentive to carry on.
  99. JasonWazza
    Sep 20, 2019
    9
    This is a great game, and a great follow up to the Zero Escape series, though it does have some slight shortfalls, it definitely provides a great experience overall.

    Some of the Somnium segments are not perfectly executed, but that comes down to the same minor flaw that the Zero Escape series had, which is following the single thread of logic all the way through not always being easy,    This is a great game, and a great follow up to the Zero Escape series, though it does have some slight shortfalls, it definitely provides a great experience overall.

    Some of the Somnium segments are not perfectly executed, but that comes down to the same minor flaw that the Zero Escape series had, which is following the single thread of logic all the way through not always being easy, but that doesn't detract from the overall game.

    The visual novel aspect is really well done as well, some characters you want to punch in the face, and at the same time, they are humanised so well that you can be really happy for those same characters

    All this said, i will say the justification for the Time-flow just isn't there like it was in the Zero Escape, Zero escape had it's reasoning for the plot being able to happen, this one goes into the "science" of it and then leaves it at that.

    This and the Detective part kinda being undermined at the end doesn't help things, but it's still a great game in the end.    … Expand
  100. mandydiazz81
    Sep 23, 2019
    7
    Amazing story. It's not the usual kind of game I play. You'll get a fare share of laughs while playing it. Too many sex jokes if you ask me but it was expected.
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Awards & Rankings

74
#74 Best PS4 Game of 2019
40
#40 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 21 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 21
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 21
  3. Negative: 0 out of 21
  1. Cubed3
    Jan 7, 2022
    50
    When the story hits some of its high points, AI: The Somnium Files is really good, and feels like the same kind of high 999 gaveā€¦ but it is largely crippled by just how slow and repetitious it all is. Random slapstick and outright unrealistic scenes draws players out very quickly from the attempt at being a serious plot. It goes nowhere fast, and the whiplash between attempts at humour and serious moments are too ham-fisted. The overall plot could easily be cut by more than half, and the overall experience would be better for it.
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  2. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Oct 22, 2019
    90
    Superbly voice acted, and with great-looking animation and environments, AI: The Somnium Files is a decadent production giving you one of the best videogame detective mysteries this generation. [Issue#168, p.78]
  3. GameGrin
    Oct 17, 2019
    90
    A murder mystery that is masterfully told to keep your eyes on the screen until the very end. The visuals are lacking when it comes to the environments, but you quickly forget about them when you discover what plot twist is introduced next.
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