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. 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
  2. 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
  3. PlayLivross
    Jul 21, 2022
    10
    The english dubbing and the storytelling are amazing, and the game is hilarious
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. Arma15
    Jun 9, 2020
    10
    As always, amazing story from spikechunsoft. Unpredictable as always, extremely twisted in every way. I loved it.
  10. 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
  11. 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.
  12. P0keClaw
    Feb 23, 2020
    10
    I love everything about this game and in my opinion it deserves way more attention!
  13. 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.
  14. 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.
  15. 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
  16. cNeq
    Feb 16, 2020
    10
    AI Somnium Files was a masterpiece and one of the most underrated visual novels I've seen.
  17. 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.
  18. lazycomplife
    Feb 13, 2020
    10
    Wonderful story with great writing & excellent characters. Kotaro Uchikoshi is the best video game writer, hands down.
  19. Spacesenpai0830
    Feb 13, 2020
    8
    I’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 it’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 myI’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 it’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 won’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 you’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 can’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.

    It’s hard to talk about the characters and the story without spoiling anything but if you’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 other’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 can’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 it’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 it’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 don’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
  20. 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
  21. 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
  22. 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.
  23. 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
  24. 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.
  25. 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.
  26. 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 爱(love which pernounced 'AI') with a best partner AI.… Expand
  27. 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 “MAMA”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 “MAMA”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
  28. Tomyou
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Wonderful game, with a lot to offer. Doesn’t deserve that mutch hate. Give it a try!
  29. 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
  30. 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
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Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

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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 gave… 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.
    Read full review
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