AI: The Somnium Files

 Switch
User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 603 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 527 out of 603
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 603
  3. Negative: 56 out of 603
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  1. Amurter19
    Feb 12, 2020
    10
    This game is equal parts a charming and silly adventure to find the truth, and grizzly murder spree where no one can be trusted. Animation and graphics are huge step up from previous Uchikoshi games, and probably most VN's. English cast is also amazing.

    Wait for a sale if you need to, but please do check it out.
  2. Chika
    Feb 12, 2020
    9
    To get straight to the point: I love this game. Sure, it's not perfect (especially with minor performance issues on Switch), but that's the one way that sums up how I feel about it. I love this game, and very much so.

    I've been a fan of Zero Escape for years, so Uchikoshi's new work does not disappoint. Expect wild twist and turns and a game world that just sucks you in. I know I    To get straight to the point: I love this game. Sure, it's not perfect (especially with minor performance issues on Switch), but that's the one way that sums up how I feel about it. I love this game, and very much so.

    I've been a fan of Zero Escape for years, so Uchikoshi's new work does not disappoint. Expect wild twist and turns and a game world that just sucks you in. I know I definitely lost sleep over it, in a good way. I couldn't put it down once I got into it, and I'm sitting here two months after I beat it being completely unable to still stop thinking about it. The mystery keeps you captivated and I'm enamored with so many of the characters. I'm sure it's a game that I'll keep very dear to my heart for years to come.    … Expand
  3. TriotheHoly
    Feb 12, 2020
    9
    Great game, a weird experience, has me crying by the end. I really enjoyed the mystery, and felt like I had enough information to solve it before the game explained it.
  4. zkyevolved
    Feb 12, 2020
    8
    The game is really good. I think sometimes it's a bit slow, but I was quite surprised about how much I enjoyed it! Thanks developers!
  5. kaki_100
    Feb 12, 2020
    10
    A real good open-ending story game except loading time length. You can experience many different minor cultural factors while enjoy the various sides of charming characters and funny memes. Oh this is really a meme festival LOL
  6. WolfStark
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    It took me roughly 35 hours to beat AI: The Somnium Files and it happened with tears in my eyes. And I mean that in a positive way. I see it as an evolution in terms of VNs. Not one without flaws but definitely a step forward.

    I wasn't too sure how this game turned out, before playing it myself. The ARG and viral marketing with A-Set aka Tesa and her Youtube channel as well as Twitter    It took me roughly 35 hours to beat AI: The Somnium Files and it happened with tears in my eyes. And I mean that in a positive way. I see it as an evolution in terms of VNs. Not one without flaws but definitely a step forward.

    I wasn't too sure how this game turned out, before playing it myself. The ARG and viral marketing with A-Set aka Tesa and her Youtube channel as well as Twitter pages where excellent, yet there wasn't much information about the actual main character Date and his partner Aiba. So I dived into the game without any expectations. Where Kotaro Uchikoshis last game, the finale of the Zero Escape Saga "Zero Time Dilemma" felt rather depressing and left me unsatisfied with many questions unanswered, AI made it pretty clear that it is different on many levels.

    This time around we aren't trapped in a deadly game, instead we investigate a murder case. The victim being an old friend of us and the mother of a child, we took to us a few years ago. We are Date Kaname, a man who lost his memory six years ago and our companion is our left eye - Aiba. An artifical intelligence with her own personality, who helps us in our investigations. The interactions between the two are pure gold, not just well written but also fun. Both characters are fast to grow on ones heart. AI is a rollercoaster of feelings but light hearted in it's core, despite the sometimes gruesome murders.

    Gameplaywise it's similar to Zero Escape. AI alternates between sections where we talk with other characters and where we can take a look at everything in our locations like in a classic adventure and the Somnium section where we dive in someones dream to get closer to the truth. There we are controlling Aiba under a 6 minute time limit and interact with the environment to unlock the different mental locks of a person. I.e. The interactions cost time but often give a bonus like "1/10" which reduces the time used for the next interaction by 1/10. So activating a light switch that would usually take 10 seconds from our 6 minute time limit would now just take 1 second.
    The Somniums are all rather different, sometimes they are pretty creative, sometimes dull, sometimes you excactely know what to do, sometimes it's trial and error. The error though can be a lot of fun.

    So what did I mean by evolution? Virtues Last Reward was the first time that an Uchikoshi-game used 3D but it didn't changed anything. The VN was still as stiff and static as before, making it appear as if the decision was just to save money. It became better with Zero Time Dilemma but with AI it is not just looking decent, it also contributes to the game. Walking around in the Somnium, having cutscenes and action sequences with different angles and most importantly, being able to look around during the talking sections. The characters are sitting or standing, moving around and changing their expression depending on what is said. Sure, it's not new having different expressions but it's pretty fun talking to a character and suddenly you can see another one changing to a shocked expression and gesturing innocently.

    The game is incredibly fluid, looking around clicking on things, talking, fasting forward or taking a different route (which are really different and don't feature annoying repetition). AI is setting a bar here in comfort.

    Of course there are flaws though:
    - the graphics and animation are just adequate, even though the characters look pretty good
    - I had some crashes, not too bad since the auto save is pretty good but still, shouldn't happen
    - there are some instances so over the top where less would have been more
    - where Zero Escape had a very interesting twist and explanation for the different routes, AI is lacking that
    - sometimes trial and error in the Somniums and a time limit, that also limits the time to interact in the dream worlds

    Personally I didn't mind the flaws really. Yes the game does not feature such extreme twists like the past Uchikoshi works but for over thirty hours I still had a ton of questions. The english dub is really, REALLY good (!), the whole concept of investigating in dream worlds is cool, the writing is great and the characters fantastic, I can recommend AI: The Somnium Files with all my heart to anyone who likes Visual Novels.    … Expand
  7. garden0127
    Feb 12, 2020
    10
    it is a game full of the style of Kotaro Uchikoshi. it is a pretty wonderful games with puzzle elements. if you like the series of Zero Escape, you will like this game.
  8. Supergeneric
    Feb 12, 2020
    9
    The game starts off a little slowly, but it is well worth the wait. The characters are expertly developed throughout the story and the twist will have you reaching for each next chapter. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys visual novels or high stakes puzzle solving. I only wish that the game would have more puzzles throughout, but I understand the focus on storytelling. Overall, itThe game starts off a little slowly, but it is well worth the wait. The characters are expertly developed throughout the story and the twist will have you reaching for each next chapter. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys visual novels or high stakes puzzle solving. I only wish that the game would have more puzzles throughout, but I understand the focus on storytelling. Overall, it was a fantastic experience. 9/10… Expand
  9. En_Bonj
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    One of the better games of the year, especially if you like strong narratives like Zero Escape and Danganronpa. I didnt think Ukisoki would be able to make something as special as his last few games but he hit it out of the park with some special characters I will remember for a long time.
  10. daijo
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    If you're a fan of Uchikoshi's previous work, you won't be disappointed. It's a different style of storytelling and vastly slower paced than his previous games, but the characters are extremely well developed and branching storylines continue to converge and resolve in meaningful and satisfying ways.

    Fantastic ending and definitely worthy of a 10.
  11. MadScientisto
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Really good game, intriguing gameplay with compelling characters and story. As usual with Uchikoshi, the humor resonated a lot with me.

    P.S Hope you're happy bomb reviewers, the people that actually played the game easily outnumbers you.
  12. Lotusdrop
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Its Wonderfull! The Characters were all fascinating and the routes were very interesting!
  13. ArtifexQ
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Fantastic game with an engaging story that keeps you guessing. Follows the classic Uchikoshi story telling style of completing a number of different branches before unlocking the true path to the ending.
  14. MJJean
    Feb 11, 2020
    9
    An amazing game with memorable characters, **** twists, awful sex jokes that come up way too often, horrible singing, weird ass mechanics, bizzare interactions, and the strangest metabombing story ever. I loved every minute of it. I wouldn't have it any other way. Thank you for so many amazing games, Uchikoshi.
  15. Akacry
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    I really really enjoyed this game! It really was fun and beautiful, it can be slow at points because of reviewing of past events but that’s something that comes from a visual novel like game. The puzzles are fun and the story is really interesting! I’ve never experienced a game that made toy go back and forth between two routs to get the best and worst ending. Please please look at theI really really enjoyed this game! It really was fun and beautiful, it can be slow at points because of reviewing of past events but that’s something that comes from a visual novel like game. The puzzles are fun and the story is really interesting! I’ve never experienced a game that made toy go back and forth between two routs to get the best and worst ending. Please please look at the critic reviews and not the numbers, the game was just reviewed bomb and I found this out right after I beat the game so I had to come and let you know that most of those negative reviews are fake!… Expand
  16. kinoest
    Feb 11, 2020
    9
    I played this game on release and really enjoyed it, it was by far one of the most engaging visual novel type of games I've played in years, and after I played it I went on a long binge of replaying some other games it reminded me of. This game really is genre defining. I recently heard that someone was review bombing the scores so I figured now was the perfect time to go come back andI played this game on release and really enjoyed it, it was by far one of the most engaging visual novel type of games I've played in years, and after I played it I went on a long binge of replaying some other games it reminded me of. This game really is genre defining. I recently heard that someone was review bombing the scores so I figured now was the perfect time to go come back and give it my review.… Expand
  17. andresitobboy
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    very nicee perra..esta de puta madre y ojala gane un oscar y logre armar todos os cubos de rubik de tony fisher y de oscar y le reviente la puta madre a lilou en el bc one y todo eso ..los quiero
  18. Marluxion
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Excellent game, improves on the zero escape formula. Memorable cast of characters and excellent writing.
  19. Skittycat
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Really like the character and stories. The plot is amazing, well written and unexpected, just like the casual Kotaro Uchikoshi. Sensei usually focus on plot but not too much of the interaction of characters but in this game I can feel that his game did improve.
  20. stimkyrat
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    I was gonna copy and paste bible verses and replace any parts about God with Uchikoshi but that's not something I could achieve so instead I'll give that beautiful son of a gun all my love and support with positive reviews to balance the rating out and just generally being an avid fan of his works
  21. ZhongjianAJIATE
    Feb 11, 2020
    9
    Way much better than my expectation, one of the best script-based games in the past at least 5 years.
  22. BaseballRats
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Aight positive review bomb time This game is phenomenal. I'd have to sit down for at least three hours to sing all my praises for it. The writing is very well paced, all the characters are amazing in their own crackhead ways, and the mystery is captivating. Date and Aiba's relationship is hilarious, there is never a dull moment between the two whether the scene is serious or **** MizukiAight positive review bomb time This game is phenomenal. I'd have to sit down for at least three hours to sing all my praises for it. The writing is very well paced, all the characters are amazing in their own crackhead ways, and the mystery is captivating. Date and Aiba's relationship is hilarious, there is never a dull moment between the two whether the scene is serious or **** Mizuki and Date work so well as a "found family" and Mizuki END is so sweet it's tooth rotting. Pewter? Outstanding, finally a big brain character that isn't all science lingo and can't crack a joke. Even Shoko, who is absolutely horrible as a person, is a good character that serves her purpose. Mizuki's trauma is presented very well and it's obvious that heavy research was done to make sure nothing was being misrepresented. It would be a crime to not give a passing mention to the LGBT representation from Mama, Pewter, Renju, Date, and Kagami.

    Every route has its charms and even with one route being the cause of my nightmares for two days, I can't say there's anything negative about it. I can confidently say the Annihilation Route scared me **** and I was not prepared for any of it. As the name suggests it isn't the happiest by any stretch of the imagination but it delivers in every department. The soundtrack in Iris' somnium properly freaks you out, you get very clear insight to the past Cyclops Killings, and so much of the story starts coming together.

    Fans of the Zero Escape series and other Uchikoshi works (such as myself) will definitely like this absolute masterpiece and will understand just how underappreciated it is, much like all of Uchikoshi's games. Not to sound like elitist garbage but they're just too ahead of their time. I know for certain people will look back at ZE and AITSF and think "how did we miss such incredible games?" I know the review bombing came from some bitter Ota kinnie who's too far up his own ass to understand Iris' treatment in the game and is blinded by his loyalty to a fictional idol and not Reddit's speculation of hate on the LGBT speech Mizuki gives in Marble (which drove me to tears) but regardless of the situation, AI: The Somnium Files does not deserve any hate, from pathetic Ota kinnies or not. At this point, I'm pretty sure Uchikoshi could predict the future and wrote Ota **** around that sad lump of **** because there are too many similarities between the two. I'm not kidding, he's smart enough to put together the plotlines for the ZE trilogy and AITSF with minimal plotholes, who's to say he didn't base SHIFTing off his real life experiences? Is Kotaru Uchikoshi the second coming of God? I certainly wouldn't deny it.    … Expand
  23. Rezenar
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Normally I never play games like this, but the developers and writers of this game have definitely won me over. Will there be a sequel? I hope so! When I finished the game, I was left with so many questions related to the other psyncers aside from Kaname Date, but other than that, this game has won me over
  24. Jacob-Z
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    The game tells a great story, and I think people who give very low scores just signed up a brand new account to express their anti-LGBT attitude.
  25. Tomotomi
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Ai: The Somnium Files is an incredibly gripping and hilarious murder mystery story about love and family that explores lots of interesting concepts. There are characters that have more than meets the eye to them, shocking plot twists, and fun puzzles to solve. If you've played any of the Zero Escape games then you probably already know what I'm talking about. I could not stop playing onceAi: The Somnium Files is an incredibly gripping and hilarious murder mystery story about love and family that explores lots of interesting concepts. There are characters that have more than meets the eye to them, shocking plot twists, and fun puzzles to solve. If you've played any of the Zero Escape games then you probably already know what I'm talking about. I could not stop playing once I started it and all in all I think it's a very satisfying self contained experience. 10/10 I loved every second of it.… Expand
  26. Offums
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    A fantastic game! The storyline is well-developed, the characters are well-rounded, the gameplay is easy to pick up. The controls feel intuitive and the puzzles are challenging. The story is well-placed, but easily replayable if one becomes lost. The game handles sensitive topics well, and it satisfies the horror buff in me.
  27. Lolaf
    Feb 11, 2020
    9
    A mixture of the strong story telling sensibilities of the Zero Escape series and some good old silly humor this game is great for fans of Visual Novels or slightly fantastical mysteries. The story and majority of the cast are well written and incredibly likeable, and the game's use of a narrative map makes following different routes easy and requires only minimal replaying of specificA mixture of the strong story telling sensibilities of the Zero Escape series and some good old silly humor this game is great for fans of Visual Novels or slightly fantastical mysteries. The story and majority of the cast are well written and incredibly likeable, and the game's use of a narrative map makes following different routes easy and requires only minimal replaying of specific scenes, which is a big step up from the way most route based games handle their various endings. My only complaint is that while the main character Kaname Date is very likeable in his own way he does often ruin the mood with out of place sexual humor, may not bother some but it happened a bit too much for me. Otherwise the rest of the cast is phenomenal and loveable in their own quirky ways. I'd recommend this game for fans of the Director Kotaro Uchikoshi or if you're looking for a good dark mystery that knows when to use levity.… Expand
  28. spacedaydreamer
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    An incredibly heartfelt experience that manages to be both one of the funnest games i've ever played, as well as one of the tensest murder mysteries i've experienced. it's easily one of the best games I've ever played, and if you like murder mysteries and some light sci-fi then you owe it to yourself to check it out.
  29. SimplyGabby
    Feb 11, 2020
    9
    AI: The Somnium Files (pronounced like "eye", not "A. I.") is a treasure - while the puzzles can be on the simple side, the characterization and storytelling present in this game is something truly special. I found myself genuinely caring and enjoying the little moments between Date and Aiba, Ota, Mizuki, and Tesa; don't be afraid to mess up or try things that seem wrong in the SomniumAI: The Somnium Files (pronounced like "eye", not "A. I.") is a treasure - while the puzzles can be on the simple side, the characterization and storytelling present in this game is something truly special. I found myself genuinely caring and enjoying the little moments between Date and Aiba, Ota, Mizuki, and Tesa; don't be afraid to mess up or try things that seem wrong in the Somnium segments, that's where the best dialogue is!

    Shoutouts to all the hard workers in the ENG voice cast as well, this is probably one of the best acted games I've ever played. GOTY for me in 2019 without a doubt.    … Expand
  30. decksid4
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Absolute favorite. Charming, engaging, visually and thematically interesting, with a great cast and story.
  31. PhantomthiefFox
    Feb 11, 2020
    9
    Great visuals, good story. Love the wholesome bits, and comedy. This game is worth playing. If you like spike chunsoft games, you'll love this one. Or even if you don't, if you like murder mystery that isn't super ultra scary with good story and abit of humor with some feels moments, this is the game for you.
  32. Yuzu-Bathwater
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Probably the best game I played in 2019, a great mystery with a satisfying end. Bless Uchikoshi for he delivers again.
  33. ymzu
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Wonderful, interesting story, characters that you'll love from first seconds of gameplay, positive LGBTQ+ representation, one of my best 2019 games
  34. JoueurCitoyen
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Thank you Mr. Uchikoshi! I subscribed to Metacrtic to share nice words about your games. AI is incredible, it's beautiful, well-written and surprising too. Cheers!
  35. Sakai
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Juego genial de un creador genial. Cuando uno piensa que es imposible que algo se acerque en calidad a Zero Escape, AI Somnium Files es de una grandísima calidad.
  36. Pokk_Gon
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    It's from Kotaro Uchikoshi, and that's is enough for give it a chance. A game that truly deserves more attention.
  37. taterboi
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Play this and the zero escape series, ignore the negative reviews because this game got review-bombed for some reason that I don't know about.
  38. MattTheAlien
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    I've been a fan of Uchikoshi's other games for a long time, and this game didn't disappoint! Very polished, captivating story, fun and relatable characters, and a really fresh and interesting puzzle mechanic. If you're a fan of sci-fi/mystery story-driven puzzle games, you should definitely check this game out.
  39. 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. well… Expand
  40. inspectorclarke
    Feb 11, 2020
    8
    As a fan of the zero escape series, I had high hopes for this game and it delivered. The characters are interesting, the crime was solvable while still having lots of twists and turns. The art, in particular, was very good (with the exception of some animations, but I'm a nitpicker). The game kept me guessing until the very end, with fun sequences and interesting mechanics. While sometimesAs a fan of the zero escape series, I had high hopes for this game and it delivered. The characters are interesting, the crime was solvable while still having lots of twists and turns. The art, in particular, was very good (with the exception of some animations, but I'm a nitpicker). The game kept me guessing until the very end, with fun sequences and interesting mechanics. While sometimes the somniums felt purposefully frustrating, they still, in my mind, enhanced the overall experience. My only real issue with the game is how weirdly horny it is sometimes, for no particular reason. I felt like the random references to pornography and the sexualization of some of the characters was really unnecessary and it made me really uncomfortable.… Expand
  41. Rhizome
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    A good combination of Adventure elements and visual novel ones with an excellent story that worth your time.
  42. NickLibra
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    A truly unique experience of a game. Being a huge fan of the Zero Escape series I was a bit sceptical of the narrative of this game but after the first playthrough I realized the depth and work that was put in these characters and plot. Honestly the last 5 hours of the game were absolutely phenomenal and had me at the edge of my seat. Amazing twists! Couldn't recommend it more!
  43. scorching_blue
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    After the Zero Escape series' conclusion Kotaro Uchikoshi is back in force with another visual novel exploring the nature of intelligence and identity in the post-information age. That this game takes a more obviously humorous approach in its storytelling only makes it more unsettling than Uchikoshi's previous work. Longer than usual load times crept in towards the end of the game, but IAfter the Zero Escape series' conclusion Kotaro Uchikoshi is back in force with another visual novel exploring the nature of intelligence and identity in the post-information age. That this game takes a more obviously humorous approach in its storytelling only makes it more unsettling than Uchikoshi's previous work. Longer than usual load times crept in towards the end of the game, but I still felt like my skull had been caved in.… Expand
  44. 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.
  45. Whattawiseguy
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    The story was so enthralling that I lost sleep to keep playing and see what happened! The gameplay was unique and fun and I love Mizuki so much!
  46. TheProsecutor
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Amazing game that hits all the spots media should hit: It's exciting, hilarious, emotional and an absolutely great rollercoaster of expectations, emotions and **** Highly recommended to anyone who doesn't mind reading.
  47. Defenestration
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    A great game with an engaging story and beautiful art. Recommend it for anyone wanting some detective games.
  48. Kevandre
    Feb 11, 2020
    9
    I'm a big fan of Uchikoshi's previous work, so when I saw this game coming out I was chomping at the bit to get it. And believe me, I was not disappointed. A truly incredible story and characters throughout.

    Basically my only complaint is that it's not the most well optimized game for switch. It is still perfectly playable, but I'd recommend it for steam or ps4 first if those are options    I'm a big fan of Uchikoshi's previous work, so when I saw this game coming out I was chomping at the bit to get it. And believe me, I was not disappointed. A truly incredible story and characters throughout.

    Basically my only complaint is that it's not the most well optimized game for switch. It is still perfectly playable, but I'd recommend it for steam or ps4 first if those are options for you. But absolutely pick the game up if you can. You won't regret it.    … Expand
  49. franklinEB
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    A genuinely fun and moving detective thriller from the folks who brought you Zero Escape.
  50. flojo1797
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    AI: The Somnium Files is one of the best visual novels i've ever played.
    It easily holds up to the zero escape series.
    The characters are a lot more complex than the review bombers say (because most of them just copy pasted one review).
  51. Kaufdrop
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Inspiring game with great storytelling. The Zero Escape series has always been one of my favorites, and this game lives up.
  52. aceofwar20
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Uchikoshi's games are always a treat and AI: Somnium Files is no exception. The story was a gripping mystery from start to finish characters are very well written and I'm a huge fan of the character designer from his work with the fire emblem series.
  53. any13th
    Feb 11, 2020
    9
    The game is being review bombed.
    Read the critics reviews.
    The game is great.
  54. Cantonbrowncoat
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Uchikoshi is a genius and does not deserve to be review bombed.
    This game is a masterpiece
  55. TiffanyWitcher
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    What more can I say about this game. It had a great story, voice acting was amazing and the characters were loveable. I enjoyed streaming this game on my channel a few months back and would do it again. As a fan of the Zero Escape series I can't ask for title from the development team.
  56. Zippoiii
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    It's a great game, especially if you like mystery novels (PS. Review bombers can go suck a d*ck)
  57. devillili
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    An excellent game. Probably my game of the year.Best ost , best suspense,best everything
  58. sgch
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    An awesome visual novel with very high production value. A great plot that kept me guessing the whole way and engaging characters. Great twist too that I really didn't see coming.

    Recommended for fans of Uchikoshi's other games, but also for people who love true crime, sci-fi mysteries and puzzles.
  59. pauliinun
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    Amazing story full of great characters! Only a few games have made me cry and AI is one of them
  60. Hotori
    Feb 11, 2020
    9
    I thoroughly enjoyed AI from beginning to the end! It gave enough Zero Escape vibes to satisfy while being a completely different game that was refreshing. It doesn't take itself seriously yet tugged heartstrings and made me shed tears. The story is intriguing enough without being overly convoluted, giving you enough hints to figure things out as you go along before hitting you the fullI thoroughly enjoyed AI from beginning to the end! It gave enough Zero Escape vibes to satisfy while being a completely different game that was refreshing. It doesn't take itself seriously yet tugged heartstrings and made me shed tears. The story is intriguing enough without being overly convoluted, giving you enough hints to figure things out as you go along before hitting you the full reveal. (With shout outs to the zero escape series too!) The switch version can be pretty laggy at times which sometimes makes serious scenes feel slightly anticlimactic but the story, music and characters more than makes up for it. I enjoyed the amount of details that goes into "optional" things (e.g conversations that are optionals, different dialogues when investigating the same items, etc). The characters really made me care for them in a way that made me feel lonely when I finished the game. It is a great and very satisfying game to play!… Expand
  61. delachiempire
    Feb 11, 2020
    10
    I created an account to help balance out the review bomb from the sad loser.

    Go play Ai: The somnium files. Do it. It's a great game and the developers absolutely deserve the support.
  62. Kyuuchan
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    This game is awesome. The story is very engaging and you can't stop playing. If you liked Nonary Games, this is your game.
  63. 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
  64. Acklow
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    This game got review bombed recently by one person. The game, is actually quite good. I would rate it an 8, but for the sake of helping out the aggregate score, I'm rating it a 10.
  65. Hyliabook
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    An amazing work from the wonderful author Kotaro Uchikoshi (Zero Escape series)! If you're a fan of Zero Escape, science fiction, and or philosophy, this is the perfect game for you!
  66. StarsWitch
    Feb 10, 2020
    9
    this game is absolutely amazing, the story is so good and the mystery is so engaging, give it a try!
  67. reksigh
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    Uchikoshi is my favorite developer, hands down. I went into AI: Somnium Files expecting great things, and was not disappointed. The characters are extremely lovable, the humor had me on the floor at times, and the suspense had me on the edge of my seat until the very end. This is my favorite serial killer story, and finishing it left me tearful and telling everyone I knew to play it.
  68. shoyz
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    Trademark Uchokoshi storytelling with fantastic characterization and finally a decent enough budget to fully realize the vision.
  69. cassiopeia2020
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    There's proof via the waybackmachine that this game has been review bombed. Which is idiotic considering how great this game is; in no way does it deserve its artificially low rating. I both played this game and watched twitch streams of it. The engaging story, gripping plot twists, and surprisingly good characters always drew people into it. It's a VN so the gameplay may not be everyone,There's proof via the waybackmachine that this game has been review bombed. Which is idiotic considering how great this game is; in no way does it deserve its artificially low rating. I both played this game and watched twitch streams of it. The engaging story, gripping plot twists, and surprisingly good characters always drew people into it. It's a VN so the gameplay may not be everyone, but the puzzles were enjoyable and contributed much to the overall mystery of the game. I did have some issue with the way too numerous pervy jokes and odd references and humor, but those were small detractors that were vastly outweighed by the game's positives. I loved being surprised at every plot twist and the final twist made perfect sense. Uchikoshi really knows how to put foreshadowing in the right places with few plot holes. And man, the English voice actors were amazing as well!

    Don't believe the low user score which was mostly just bot ratings instead of actual reviews. Someone was clearly butthurt.    … Expand
  70. epigz
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    AI is a fantastic story, with a lovable cast of characters and plot twists that will blow your mind. Any fan of visual novels, mystery, and thrillers will love this game.
  71. Melloo
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    Another fantastic game by the Zero Escape devs. Uchikoshi continues to knock it out of the park in writing, storytelling, and gameplay, might be one of his best yet. Highly reccomended.
  72. GfJohn
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    Fun mistery game with amazing characters. The puzzles are a bit of trial and error but they are still fun. Music is very good.
  73. loveshockers
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    Uchikoshi continues to gift us with incredibly fun thrillers featuring lovable characters and tension that keeps you going pushing through the story late into the night. Great for fans of his other works (Zero Escape and the Infinity series) and for new fans alike, especially if you're into mystery, crime, and puzzle solving. Can't wait to see more from Mr. Uchikoshi
  74. Drlemons
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    This is a very genuine and funny game. It has a great mystery, interesting branching paths, and cool characters. It didn't deserve to be review bombed.
  75. LunarRose
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    This game was a great time. I started it and fell in love with it. I admit that it's not for everyone but that's ok.
  76. 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.
  77. stellamarine
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    This was my first Uchikoshi game and I really enjoyed it!! I've got a really terrible attention span and have not finished any game this quickly in a really long time.. I think i'm replaying it a third time? currently.. Played it on a friend's switch for about an hour and got hooked, then debated on price for about a month and i really regret not immediately buying it after honestly.This was my first Uchikoshi game and I really enjoyed it!! I've got a really terrible attention span and have not finished any game this quickly in a really long time.. I think i'm replaying it a third time? currently.. Played it on a friend's switch for about an hour and got hooked, then debated on price for about a month and i really regret not immediately buying it after honestly. Finished in a week? I'm so glad this game was suggested to me.… Expand
  78. Soeroah
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    Don't let the review bombing fool you; if you enjoyed the Zero Escape saga, you'll love this game. The only issues on the Switch version are some loading time issues and a bit of stuttery animations later in the game, but not enough to get this kind of negative feedback.

    The story is great, the mystery is enthralling, and while some voice choices are a bit strange the characters are all    Don't let the review bombing fool you; if you enjoyed the Zero Escape saga, you'll love this game. The only issues on the Switch version are some loading time issues and a bit of stuttery animations later in the game, but not enough to get this kind of negative feedback.

    The story is great, the mystery is enthralling, and while some voice choices are a bit strange the characters are all great. The ONLY justification I can assume for such a sudden burst of negative reviews is that some dark corner of the internet got wind of the fact that the game makes a pro-LGBT statement, and the snowflakes can't take that lying down.    … Expand
  79. Sigerson317
    Feb 10, 2020
    10
    Uchikoshi’s games are always unique in their ideas and execution with a blend of science fiction tropes and solid writing. Fantastic work.
  80. lenz
    Feb 10, 2020
    9
    AI: The Somnium Files is another great game from Kotaro Uchikoshi, writer of the Zero Escape series. This game has a lighter tone than Zero Escape and never takes itself too seriously, but you will get glimpses of the excellent psychological thriller elements that Uchikoshi is so great at portraying. This is not a gameplay focused game, just a really gripping visual novel that fans of theAI: The Somnium Files is another great game from Kotaro Uchikoshi, writer of the Zero Escape series. This game has a lighter tone than Zero Escape and never takes itself too seriously, but you will get glimpses of the excellent psychological thriller elements that Uchikoshi is so great at portraying. This is not a gameplay focused game, just a really gripping visual novel that fans of the genre should give a chance. I Imagine this game will touch many hearts if it becomes more appreciated.… Expand
  81. SoupWS
    Feb 9, 2020
    10
    Waaaaaaaah!!! I will reviewbomb this game because I smell bad and nobody loves me!
  82. HappyEndInc
    Feb 8, 2020
    10
    Take into account the game has been review-bombed. Before that it used to be a 8.2.

    Whether you enjoy AI depends on whether or not you usually like visual novels. Ushikoshi's style is usually hit or miss - if you dislike it, you'll have an okay experience with the game. If you like it, as I do, then you are in for a hell of a treat. I absolutely loved AI, from the characters, the music,    Take into account the game has been review-bombed. Before that it used to be a 8.2.

    Whether you enjoy AI depends on whether or not you usually like visual novels. Ushikoshi's style is usually hit or miss - if you dislike it, you'll have an okay experience with the game.

    If you like it, as I do, then you are in for a hell of a treat. I absolutely loved AI, from the characters, the music, everything. My only issue is the first moments, as it starts slowly.

    Otherwise, prepare yourself for this hidden gem.    … Expand
  83. Kayender
    Feb 8, 2020
    9
    I loved this game. There was a lot of sex jokes but I didnt really mind it too much. It was exactly what I was looking for in terms of mind bending and the mystery was so fun to figure out. After a certain reveal I stopped playing so I could figure out how everything had played out in the other timelines. I love figuring it all out from there.
  84. cecechan
    Feb 8, 2020
    10
    This game took me by surprise. I was not expecting to fall in love with the characters, plot, and gameplay. The pacing was spot on and didn't feel like it was dragging. The humor was outstanding and one of the best Ive come across in a visual novel. After playing AI, I tried playing the nonary game series but I couldn't get into it. The pacing was too slow and the story wasn't asThis game took me by surprise. I was not expecting to fall in love with the characters, plot, and gameplay. The pacing was spot on and didn't feel like it was dragging. The humor was outstanding and one of the best Ive come across in a visual novel. After playing AI, I tried playing the nonary game series but I couldn't get into it. The pacing was too slow and the story wasn't as captivating. Honestly, I think AI ruined other visual novels for me because it was that good. I look forward to seeing what else Spike Chunsoft comes up with and look forward to (hopefully) more visual novels from them.… Expand
  85. 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.
  86. Real1Gaming
    Feb 8, 2020
    10
    This is the pinnacle of VN mystery games. Probably the best one of its kind I've ever played. I do not know why it is getting review bombed but please ignore it.
  87. Buzzard
    Feb 8, 2020
    10
    An excellent successor to the Zero Escape series. The writing was spectacular and the puzzles were satisfying to solve.
  88. MarkDream35
    Feb 8, 2020
    9
    I absolutely adore this game. All the characters are very well written, and the plot is filled with twists and turns that made me not stop playing until I finished it. There are a few small performance issues on Switch, but nothing major. Highly recommend to anyone who likes point and click games, or Kotaro Uchikoshi. I bought the limited edition, and I'm glad I got it.
  89. Maxman1414
    Feb 7, 2020
    10
    I just bought the game last week and the story was just so engrossing. I found myself wanting to play for a quick 30 minutes and finding myself wondering why 6 hours have passed. It's a relatively short game, it only took me ~20 hours to finish the main story and I'm contemplating trying to go back to find all the secrets in the Somnium stages. I loved all the characters and the dialogueI just bought the game last week and the story was just so engrossing. I found myself wanting to play for a quick 30 minutes and finding myself wondering why 6 hours have passed. It's a relatively short game, it only took me ~20 hours to finish the main story and I'm contemplating trying to go back to find all the secrets in the Somnium stages. I loved all the characters and the dialogue written for them, the little spats between the main character Date and his partner Aiba, or the sassy-ness of his daughter-like roommate and the plenty of jokes within the game. The music honestly wasn't very memorable, the only really memorable song was Iris's song "the invincible rainbow arrow" which the singing performance is mediocre at best and at worst cringe worthy, but it grows on to the player by the end of the game. The game looks fantastic graphically however struggles a bit on the switch, there is a lot of frame drops when loading new areas and the game stops for moments to load a video/cutscene every know and then inside dialogue... which occurs fairly often. Additionally, there was a time where the game failed to load the video/cutscene for over 20 minutes, however closing the game fixed the issue, on the brightside the game frequently auto saves and you can skip most of the dialogue fairly easily. If this makes you cautious of the game, I urge you to just buy a different version of the game. I'm certain that the performance issues are unique to the switch and urge you to try the game on a different platform. Because of these performance issues I would probably have rated AI an 8 or 9, but seeing as these issues seem exclusive to the switch... and that someone just review bombed the game... I'll rate the game a 10/10.… Expand
  90. maddiz
    Feb 6, 2020
    10
    I honestly wasn't sure what to expect when I bought this game. I have played the danganronpa games and was looking for a similar experience and I couldn't be happier with ai. The gameplay is interesting and the idea of delving inside someone's mind was a cool concept. But above all else the game shines with its writing and characters the game does have a mix of both a serious and comedicI honestly wasn't sure what to expect when I bought this game. I have played the danganronpa games and was looking for a similar experience and I couldn't be happier with ai. The gameplay is interesting and the idea of delving inside someone's mind was a cool concept. But above all else the game shines with its writing and characters the game does have a mix of both a serious and comedic tone that can at first feel a little strange but, I personally loved it I definitely recommend this game. (Also note that the game has seen a review bomb so I would honestly recommend looking up the steam reviews as they are a lot more honest rather than basing your opinions on the average user score from metacritic.)… Expand
  91. vengeancemeow
    Feb 5, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Great game. Compelling story with fun puzzle mechanics and a nice plot twist at the end.… Expand
  92. 278weh238ne782n
    Feb 4, 2020
    0
    The Ai:Somnium files was truly something else but that doesn't mean that it was either good or bad.The game 70% of the time was incredibly boring and tedious with most of the characters being cliche one sided heroes where you can see in any game.There were some parts where you felt a strong emotion to characters and their story was great(like the dementia mom but that was like 1-2 times inThe Ai:Somnium files was truly something else but that doesn't mean that it was either good or bad.The game 70% of the time was incredibly boring and tedious with most of the characters being cliche one sided heroes where you can see in any game.There were some parts where you felt a strong emotion to characters and their story was great(like the dementia mom but that was like 1-2 times in the entire game where you felt any strong emotions to the game and its characters .Everything else was so boring,tedious and predicable and most of the characters that you were supposed to cheer(or hate) were one dimensional and cliche where you can see in every other game.I understand that the director who made one of the best series(999, and the zero escape series) which had serious and had loveable characters with an amazing story .He tried to make a more humorous game this time and failed big time. The characters were boring,the humor was stale(even for japanese audience) and the story was tedious,boring and predicable that i barely kept attention to it… Expand
  93. yusep
    Jan 28, 2020
    7
    It is inferior to the zero escape saga. But still very good. Good story, average gameplay.
    History is pretty much ok at the start but it ramps up at the end where the twist makes it very interesting. Gameplay wise is short, the puzzle sections are mostly try and error and below zero escape saga.
    Recommended.
  94. Undisputedera0
    Jan 17, 2020
    10
    Hmmm it's hard to explain this game. If you don't enjoy VN's and QTE then this game isn't for you. If you can look pass that then you have a game that has some many routes and a great story. To get the actual end you've got to go down I believe 6-7 routes. You never have to go back to the start to do each one either which is handy. Honestly if you enjoy horror and a great mystery with manyHmmm it's hard to explain this game. If you don't enjoy VN's and QTE then this game isn't for you. If you can look pass that then you have a game that has some many routes and a great story. To get the actual end you've got to go down I believe 6-7 routes. You never have to go back to the start to do each one either which is handy. Honestly if you enjoy horror and a great mystery with many twists then play this game. Damn emotional as well.… Expand
  95. Lesh0
    Dec 27, 2019
    10
    This was my first VN game and i really got into this genre thanks to this game. The Characters the story 10/10 the twist is mindblowing atleast for me its a must in my opinion. And if people have never played VN games before this will be the best entry of newcommers hands down GOTY for me. WELL DONE.
  96. animeUwU
    Dec 22, 2019
    10
    This game is amazing. Beautiful Visual Novel with a compelling story. The story can be quite heavy and dark at times, but is also very light and easy to follow.
    Great characters that you can easily relate to.
  97. elpsycongruent
    Dec 8, 2019
    9
    This game is the Uchikoshi we all know and love, with stellar voice acting and pretty decent visuals. What more could you ask for?

    Like all of his games, I only wish I could wipe my memory and start over again...
  98. doghairdontcare
    Nov 25, 2019
    9
    This game is typical of Uchikoshi -- a mix of scifi + mystery and some sexual innuendos littered about. I really appreciated the character development in this series, although the plot wasn't as immersive as 999. The sound track is quite enjoyable and relaxing, and the voice acting was actually really good.

    As much as I liked the game and played it through to the end, I think the    This game is typical of Uchikoshi -- a mix of scifi + mystery and some sexual innuendos littered about. I really appreciated the character development in this series, although the plot wasn't as immersive as 999. The sound track is quite enjoyable and relaxing, and the voice acting was actually really good.

    As much as I liked the game and played it through to the end, I think the interactive "somnium" puzzle portions of the game weren't so enjoyable. The time limits put a lot of stress in rushing through trying to find the right path (which often require obscure logic), detracting you from the environment. It's a shame, because some of the environments are quite interesting since you're exploring a dream in the somnium. While at first it felt like it was a cheap way to add a challenge to the game, it works out with the plot.    … Expand
  99. Daniel_x2
    Nov 12, 2019
    10
    the games is amazing, tjeplot, the carachter, the amazin gameplay & all the diferentess time lines. I really love this game playin in protable mode. An excellente game. For me one of the bes of this year
  100. ianhsieh2008
    Oct 30, 2019
    10
    Kotaro Uchikoshi hits again with his mind-fxcking superpower. I manage to see part of the twist by the end of a route, but still amazed by the twist when it hit. Great puzzle solving with some "dreamy" quirkiness, but I don't like the time constraint. The humor in the game is awesome, with some easter eggs point to other games/anime, and some real world people. Not sure about how it wentKotaro Uchikoshi hits again with his mind-fxcking superpower. I manage to see part of the twist by the end of a route, but still amazed by the twist when it hit. Great puzzle solving with some "dreamy" quirkiness, but I don't like the time constraint. The humor in the game is awesome, with some easter eggs point to other games/anime, and some real world people. Not sure about how it went down in the other languages, but my Chinese version has an easter egg about Kojima's name being a "small island" when Date is searching for humans in Sojima's mansion.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Best Switch Game of 2019
10
#10 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 13
  3. Negative: 0 out of 13
  1. Multiplayer.it
    Oct 25, 2021
    83
    AI: The Somnium Files is another brilliant adventure from Kotaro Uchikoshi, that deepens its narrative structure at the price of loosening a bit of its puzzle design. All in all, it's a compelling interactive story that deserves to be played.
    Read full review
  2. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Apr 30, 2020
    85
    After a comparatively slow couple of hours at the start, AI: The Somnium Files takes off and never slows down. [Issue #44 – January/February 2020, p. 74]
  3. GamingTrend
    Dec 31, 2019
    90
    With an endearing, violent, and engaging story, AI: The Somnium Files is an adventure game that fans of the visual novel genre should not miss. With a novel puzzle-solving mechanic and impressive voice performances, this game is a dream come true.
    Read full review
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