SIMULACRA

SIMULACRA does not play like the greatest work ever made but that doesn't mean there's nothing to draw from this mystery FMV adventure. While the gameplay feels rather shallow, the plot is compelling enough to keep the players entertained and involved with the hints and twists that are found along the way and the feeling of satisfaction when coming across a clue or reaching a different ending do help SIMULACRA to have some merit of its own.

Simulacra won’t be the next FMV to generate interest in the genre on the Switch, nor will it be spoken about in years to come. What it will be though is a solid horror experience that gamers looking for something different will enjoy.

Its story is creepy and unpredictable, with the variety in gameplay keeping you engaged, even if it drags towards the end.

What’s most baffling about Simulacra is why more wasn’t done to make it a more authentic mobile experience. Touch controls are available, but bizarrely there’s no option to play the game in TATE mode. Instead, the phone display is slap bang in the middle of the Switch’s (or TV’s) screen, with a bland background surrounding it. We guess it's a neat way to make it more of a straight-up horror title, but if you’re playing handheld, some aspects may be a tad small for those who are a bit more long-sighted. Still, with multiple endings, this is a horror game that's worth a look if you're after a quick fix.

Simulacra interweaves a horror mystery with investigative work and puzzle-solving. However, the driving force of this title is simply the narrative and not it's gameplay offering.