Metascore
53

Mixed or average reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 28
  2. Negative: 10 out of 28
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  1. Apr 28, 2020
    77
    Daymare: 1998 is a game that, far from reaching the level of Resident Evil remakes, still deserves a chance from fans of the survival horror genre for the efforts of differentiation and depth of its created universe. A great debut for Invader Studios.
  2. Jul 1, 2020
    75
    Daymare: 1998 is a well-honed zombie experience that lacks originality but scratches the itch of those interested in the modern zombie game. It provides an alternate take on the traditional Resident Evil story, one that deals more harshly with the real-world consequences of investigating government science. Everything has a level of varnish, from environmental details to the documents that you read. Some of this must be counterbalanced with the fact that the game is a doppelganger. The well-crafted aesthetics also resemble the Resident Evil remakes, the Evil Within franchise, and countless others. Re-creation is many times easier than synthesis, allowing more time for attention to polish.
  3. May 7, 2020
    75
    While not perfect, Daymare is a really good indie survival horror that all horror fans should check out.
  4. May 2, 2020
    75
    Built upon the basis laid by the Resident Evil Franchise, Daymare adds its own new ideas to the mix to present a game that, despite some technical issues and bugs, fully catches the essence of Capcom's franchise and delivers a solid survival horror game.
  5. May 15, 2020
    70
    In the end, Daymare: 1998 is clearly a passion project and it definitely shows (and I absolutely love it for that). Granted, there are some bumps along the way in the gameplay and design departments, and the game itself looks like it is a generation behind current gen. However, if you can live with those things, you have a solid survival horror experience here. Just make sure you've played all the classics first!
  6. Apr 28, 2020
    70
    Daymare: 1998 is a nice old-fashioned action horror with the right atmosphere, but some poorly-implemented mechanics and technical errors bring down the overall package.
  7. Apr 28, 2020
    70
    Invader Studios has more than paid tribute to the most classic survival horror with Daymare: 1998. Unfortunately, the story that you star as a player in this play is not as interesting as the background of it, which can easily go unnoticed. However, the game has gameplay and a series of mechanics and details that do great justice to the horror titles of the 90s and, especially, to the first Resident Evil.
  8. Apr 28, 2020
    70
    Daymare: 1998 is a very interesting homage to the 128-bit era survival horror games, even if it struggles a bit technically on PS4. If you understand you’re going to play an indie tribute and not the next AAA horror game, you will have a good time with it.
  9. Mar 5, 2020
    70
    It cannot be denied that Daymare: 1998 comes with many flaws, but you have to appreciate what it aims to achieve. Well-crafted locations, a unique reloading system and interesting storytelling are some of the game’s highlights, but since both the game’s story and mechanics take time to get used to, it can’t be denied that those strengths are a double-edged sword.
  10. May 4, 2020
    65
    While Daymare 1998 isn’t going to light the survival horror world on fire, it is a solid first attempt at the genre. Make sure to watch some videos to get a feel for it first.
  11. 65
    Daymare: 1998 is a great alternative to the Resident Evil Remakes. Though it feels a little dated by today's standards, it nonetheless ends up holding its own with some great atmosphere and exploration. It's just a shame a lot of its mechanics are unnecessary and quite honestly questionable.
  12. Apr 28, 2020
    62
    Daymare 1998 pays homage to classic survival horror games, and brings back elements such as difficult combat, backtracking, inventory management... but has many technical issues.
  13. 60
    Daymare 1998 wears its influence firmly and proudly. It's a decision that stifles creativity and invention when it comes to enemy and environmental design. Whilst a poor imitation in terms of quality and polish, there's some charm to this. The voice acting and writing have an appropriately goofy tone whilst the combat is competent. It feels too linear for my liking but the inventory management has some interesting quirks.
  14. 60
    While it never manages to rise beyond being a fastidious clone of a beloved series, Daymare 1998 is not as terrible as some might have you believe. Sure, it doesn't have a creative bone in its body, and that is a problem, but it does show that the development team has an understanding of classic video game action/horror, and were they to come back with an original idea and distance themselves from existing, better properties, this developer could end up becoming a solid B-tier players in the space.
  15. Apr 29, 2020
    60
    Daymare: 1998 is a low budget release with an ambition that outpaces its production values, but it's still a good attempt. There are stumbling blocks – hit detection, boss fights, animations – but the lighting is good, the soundtrack is great, and the exploration is satisfying.
  16. May 1, 2020
    50
    Daymare 1998 is a failed attempt to revive a classic survival horror title. An attempt that is nothing more than a weak copy of titles released 20 years ago. It lacks character and identity, and it can't be recommended even to the fans of the genre.
  17. Apr 28, 2020
    50
    Designed as an homage to 90s horror, Daymare: 1998 tries too hard to mimic its inspiration when it should have focused on being its own game.
  18. Apr 28, 2020
    50
    Daymare: 1998 is an ambitious game, but this homage can hardly please fans of the genre. Yet, its mundane scenario and old-school gameplay stand alongside clever puzzles and some true survival horror sensations. At a reduced price, its weaknesses might wear off a bit.
  19. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Jun 4, 2020
    40
    Is it enough to make you forget you spent ten minutes trying to load a gun, or ignore the way the characters look like they were made in 1998, or forgive a story that delivers the emotional impact of Question Of Sport repeats? No. [Issue#176, p.74]
  20. May 25, 2020
    40
    Daymare 1998 is true to it’s name in all the worst ways. Uninspired, dreadful to play, and not the least bit scary.
  21. May 11, 2020
    40
    Daymare 1998 is a commendable attempt at 90s horror nostalgia... though its excruciatingly slow controls, frustrating inventory system and problematic framerate make for a near unplayable experience. Shame, cause there's some promise beneath the misery.
  22. May 7, 2020
    40
    Much like the zombies that threaten the world, Daymare 1998 is a sluggish and ugly take on the Resident Evil formula that's best avoided.
  23. Apr 28, 2020
    35
    While Daymare: 1998 is a love letter to the classics, there’s not a whole lot about the game itself to love.
  24. Aug 10, 2020
    30
    Whilst it’s not unplayable, it’s not far off. It’s trying too hard with its story scenario hopping all over the shop, coupled with an inventory management system that just doesn’t work in this kind of game.
  25. Jun 22, 2020
    30
    I was hoping that Daymare: 1998‘s intentionally schlocky feel and cheesy voice acting it would result in an enjoyably old-school experience that Capcom’s re-releases don’t quite nail, but the technical issues, dull action and lack of fresh ideas mean it’s never more than a pale imitation of the real thing.
  26. May 22, 2020
    30
    Unfortunately Daymare is nothing more than a bland and uninspired clone of Resident Evil 2 without ever achieving even the slightest quality of the game it is paying tribute to.
  27. Apr 29, 2020
    30
    What started off as a fan remake of Resident Evil 2 has been transformed into a would-be homage that even in its better moments is a tedious and frustrating slog.
  28. Jun 16, 2020
    20
    The broad and generic story is the least offensive aspect of Daymare: 1998. The rotten gameplay and ugly presentation that support this roof of mediocrity won't shelter even the most desperate horror fan. There is nothing classic about the gameplay or story; it is every bit as derivative as most of the soulless schlock that modern studios excrete from their focus group testing. There is no attempt at having any guts at trying to make something that is a throw-back, and the best Daymare: 1998 can offer are a few Easter Eggs and obvious nods to the games that inspired it.
User Score
7.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 113 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 66 out of 113
  2. Negative: 26 out of 113
  1. May 15, 2020
    2
    This is without doubt the most annoying, frustrating broken game I have played in a very long time, from a hospital thats full of trees,This is without doubt the most annoying, frustrating broken game I have played in a very long time, from a hospital thats full of trees, walls and roofs that disappear, enemies that disappear when you line up a shot, to one's that appear from nowhere and kill you.it would be fine if it was just "hard" but it's a broken mess, awful voice acting, shoddy story there's simply nothing I can recommend about this game at all. Full Review »
  2. May 8, 2020
    4
    Chapter 5 is entitled "Zero Sum Game" - and that is patently accurate to this game.

    Beautiful level designs and well detailed terrains. Great
    Chapter 5 is entitled "Zero Sum Game" - and that is patently accurate to this game.

    Beautiful level designs and well detailed terrains. Great Easter Egg homages hidden throughout the levels. The city streets looks better than even most Resident Evil or Silent Hill games.

    Too bad the story is absurdly incoherent, the characters are entirely unlikable and baffling in motive, and the weapon ammo system is frustrating beyond belief. Whoever said video games need to be more realistic with how ammo is managed (clips, etc.) never played this game. Most of the consumable items (stamina refills, mental drops) are completely pointless and a waste of space in an unnecessarily strict item management system. The healing item mixing system is also baffling in how overly complicated it is. Dropping off items in the "storage box" requires you to have binoculars to read what items you are even choosing. Even switching weapons is a long, drawn out process which frustrayes the player and opens them to slow attackers. The main character hunts down military guys even though his wife was murdered by a monster. If you lost your loved one to a zombie in the Zombie Apocalypse, would you go on a tear of vengeance searching a city WITH AN AERIAL GAS CONTAMINANT wafting through the streets just to search for the specific monster which killed her, and then forget and start hunting down random military survivors? Why does the park service employ a government employee to singlehandedly watch for forest fires, lost aircrafts, etc. when he has a severe psychological disorder which constantly creates severe hallucinations? I wonder how many false sightings he called in because he forgot his meds (again)...

    No characters make sense, or have personalities worth noting. The hit detection is garbage. The item management system is frustrating for no reason. The story is utter rubbish. This game absolutely wasted the level and background designers' hard work and beautiful atmosphere.
    Full Review »
  3. May 6, 2020
    2
    Controls are terrible, let's explain it simply you have to load individual bullets into each magazine before you can use the magazines. EvenControls are terrible, let's explain it simply you have to load individual bullets into each magazine before you can use the magazines. Even then if you fast reload instead of slow you lose the magazines so must pick them back up manually.

    The inventory system is about as manageable as a brick, you have different tabs you can use in here but since the game isn't paused when you use it, you gotta decide when to use it. Two of the tabs are useless - map and collection of stuff. Never use those, the place isn't a maze and it's hardly worth the effort to bring up the map. Actually the third tab health is useless too, it tries to be metal gear solid 3 but you'll just be using the quick heal button. So you have one tab that you'll use out of four. Nicely done.

    Be glad this team didn't do resident evil 2 remake. Yes they are small, but that's no excuse to make you pay £30 for a game barely worth £10. The dialogue is terrible, the story is forgettable and the shooting is ugh. Your character is also prone to bugging out when moving or interacting with things (hit R2 to get out of this) seriously my character got stuck in a locker before he even fired a shot.

    Graphics are sub par, music forgettable and the dialogue is spoken as if they're 12 year olds doing a school play. They try to borrow so many ideas from the resident evil series, they forget what it was all about.

    Don't buy, don't rent, just forget this game exists and move on.
    Full Review »