SOMA

 Xbox One
Metascore
82

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. ZTGD
    Dec 12, 2017
    95
    Soma is still as enthralling for me as I remember, even two years later. It’s burned its story and themes into my brain, ironically enough, and while I forgot little bits here and there, I was shocked at just how much the game has stayed with me all this time later. I could go on and more in depth but our other review has readers covered. Like re-opening and reading a great book, or re-watching a fantastic movie, Soma retains its strong story driven focus and themes it transpired through videogame format and I still have just as much admiration for it as I did on release, and it still gets the same score it originally earned.
  2. GameCritics
    Feb 28, 2018
    90
    For players intrigued by SOMA but hesitant to jump in due to the sneaking and hiding, there’s never been a better time to try it. While much of the challenge from the original mode is gone, the story, sound design and slow-burn exploration are more far more meaningful than its handful of monsters. SOMA hosts one of the best stories I’ve experienced in a videogame, and now the lowered barrier for entry will allow more people to experience it — if that’s not the mark of a successful addition, then I don’t know what is.
  3. TheXboxHub
    Dec 15, 2017
    90
    SOMA is a great game that brings a perfect blend of survival horror, an intriguing story, believable characters, and the constant dread of failure – things that are all too rare these days.
  5. TrueAchievements
    Dec 11, 2017
    90
    SOMA is so deserving of high praise even as it's difficult to do so with specifics and not spoil the excellent story. Simon's journey through PATHOS-II ask a lot of questions that it demands players answer in their own terms, both in-game and long after. Even as it's often dystopian, the central themes and questions surrounding SOMA are worth mapping onto today's world. They are questions that may always be relevant. Who are you? What is the self if not an illusion? SOMA is a good horror game that does most things well, but more than that, it is an exceptional science fiction tale that no genre fan should miss.
  6. MondoXbox
    Dec 11, 2017
    87
    A thrilling and highly compelling first person sci-fi adventure, with some very deep themes and great storytelling. It could have used some more optimization on the base Xbox One, while on the X it runs very smoothly.
  7. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Feb 22, 2018
    80
    One of the best and most disturbing horror stories you'll play on Xbox One. [Issue#160, p.86]
    All this publication's reviews
  8. XBLA Fans
    Feb 8, 2018
    80
    Frictional Games delivers on yet another horror game that leaves us at the edge of our seat and quivering in fear. Even in a new science fiction setting, SOMA still brings to the table the exacting polish that its predecessors have in the past. If Survival horror is the game for you, or if you’re just looking for a game to test your bravery, this is exactly what you’re looking for. If you're still confused about the game, just think Dead Space in a Bioshock setting without all the fancy weaponry, but with all the fantastic atmosphere. You're welcome.
  9. SomosXbox
    Jan 9, 2018
    80
    SOMA offers a really good, believable and disturbing story. Despite its gameplay failures, it's worth playing.
  10. BaziCenter
    Jan 1, 2018
    80
    Soma’s extreme focus on atmosphere and storytelling caused it to forget all about the fact that it’s an adventure game. Lack of puzzles and very simple gameplay surely prevent it from becoming one the best horror-adventures of the year, but nevertheless the atmosphere and story will definitely worth your time.
  11. Generación Xbox
    Dec 19, 2017
    80
    SOMA is an horror adventure, but most of all it's a drama. Some characters and dialogue can be strikingly perturbing. Even with its classic gameplay and multiple references the result remains fresh.
  12. Windows Central
    Dec 15, 2017
    80
    SOMA is a great achievement in the survival horror genre due to its story.
  13. Metro GameCentral
    Dec 4, 2017
    80
    A gripping mix of survival horror and existential science fiction storytelling, which is notably improved by an optional new safe mode.
  14. COGconnected
    Dec 13, 2017
    78
    With such a heavy focus on the atmosphere and the terror, SOMA seems to forget to include much in the way of puzzle solving for progression.
  15. Xbox Tavern
    Dec 16, 2017
    72
    SOMA isn’t an excellent example of horror, but instead shines its brightest through its story telling. That’s not to say that it isn’t scary, on the contrary it’s very unnerving and full of unsettling sights and choices, it’s just not up to scratch when those aspects try to go hand in hand.

Awards & Rankings

32
#32 Best Xbox One Game of 2017
55
#55 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2017

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 81 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 69 out of 81
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 81
  3. Negative: 5 out of 81
  1. Xbox_Alive
    Jan 3, 2018
    8
    SOMA is a game that I’ve been waiting to play for a long time and I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. Thankfully it was worth theSOMA is a game that I’ve been waiting to play for a long time and I’ve heard nothing but good things about it. Thankfully it was worth the wait and in a way it turned out better than I expected it to be. One of the biggest things that makes this game so memorable is without a doubt its story. The story is gripping from start to finish and it does something that’s really rare and that is that it makes you think about what went on in the game long after completion. Another thing that the game does really well is that it actually provides you with some genuinely scary moments, and without a doubt the enemies you come across definitely pack a punch. I will say though that I would have liked a few more enemies in the game because in my opinion there isn’t enough, which is a testament to how good the enemies were. Immersion in this game is definitely found throughout your playthrough and the inclusion of being able to interact with a number of things in the environments is a nice touch and I found it interesting interacting with the different items. Another interesting aspect about the game was how the puzzles were layered into the gameplay, and I was very pleased to see that the puzzles remained logical throughout with the added bonus of being cleverly designed as well. The presentation side of the game is brilliant and can be really rewarding at times. The thing that I was most impressed with when it came to the presentation is just how perfect they managed to combine both the visuals and sound design together, and this really did make the game stand out even more. At the end of the day as far as horror game’s go SOMA is a fantastic addition to the genre, and in some ways it adds its own unique touches to the genre. There isn’t many things the game got wrong and when they sort out the few technical issues it has then you would be looking at a game that is pretty much perfect. Without a doubt this game gets a massive thumbs up from me and the best thing about this game is that it makes the horror genre come back to life again.… Full Review »
  2. Panchogul
    Sep 4, 2023
    10
    Las mecánicas del juego no son la gran cosa, pero las actuaciones de voz, el diseño de niveles y sonido son espectaculares. La historia está aLas mecánicas del juego no son la gran cosa, pero las actuaciones de voz, el diseño de niveles y sonido son espectaculares. La historia está a otro nivel, muy profunda y excelentemente desarrollada y ejecutada, tiene su complejidad pero no es difícil de entender pero si de seguir si eres un jugador apresurado que no explora ni lee los documentos del juego, el final por otro lado, arrasador y me dejó boquiabierto.… Full Review »
  3. dan-man
    Nov 4, 2022
    7
    Wow, (WAU), well, that was depressing! A novel story, and an interesting world, but it falls apart a lot after a couple of hours. The premiseWow, (WAU), well, that was depressing! A novel story, and an interesting world, but it falls apart a lot after a couple of hours. The premise was great, but it, as all video games do, turns into a formulaic, predictable experience full of filler and padding. I was hoping for a deep and philosophical experience, as reviews suggest, but it was not, it was pretty standard stuff, albeit a few interesting questions were raised, just not really delved into or explored fully. Still worth a play on Game pass, for the first few hours, but beyond that, it got tiresome, with no guidance for puzzles, and lacked solid characters and believability for me.… Full Review »
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