Screenshots & trailers
What players say
Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 299 sampled Steam reviews (291 positive / 8 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.
What positive reviews talk about
- Story & writing45% mention it
- World & exploration14% mention it
- Visuals & art9% mention it
- Music & audio7% mention it
What negative reviews complain about
- Story & writing38% mention it
Satisfaction by hours played
Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.
Under 5h
78%
23 reviews
5-15h
99%
223 reviews
15-40h
100%
52 reviews
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 83 | 28 |
| Creator reviews (3 tracked) | – | 58 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 96% | 91 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 88 | 75 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 95% | 90 | 155 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 89.7, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 54,312 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 300 reviews sampled · 444 total reviews in window · weighted 234.5 up / 11.1 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (124)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 80
“This is not just another horror game. It’s a science fiction story with horrific shades, a game that ponders the human condition in an industry where “the human condition” has become an awkward dead horse of a phrase. A horror game that, curiously, would have benefited from a little less horror.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Frictional Games has attempted to merge sci-fi horror with a philosophical investigation into the mind-body problem.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“SOMA lives up to the positive side I was expecting from it, its current story and its elements of social criticism make us reflect on human limits. Its graphics live up to their purpose, the soundtrack and its effects imprison you in a cocoon of permanent suspense or immediate chaotic escape. The gameplay is excellent, simple, intuitive, creative and dynamic. However, a few elements of politeness prevent me from giving this Indie masterpiece a full score, forgive me Amnesiomaniacs!”
read full review ↗ - 90
“A chilling and thought-provoking experience that puts Frictional games as one of the best horror game developers.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Made by the creators of Amnesia and Penumbra, SOMA is yet another great psychological horror experience with a unique setting and atmosphere. Although not as scary as its predecessors, the immersive story and surroundings will keep you on the edge of your seat.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“SOMA is both great horror and great science fiction that stands above the competition in a crowded genre.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“SOMA is one of the most complex, balanced and well-designed independent horror games out there. The creators of Amnesia have crafted a game that will satisfy fans of the genre and should bring in some new players. 12 hours spent in the underwater facility PATHOS-II were great and I wish I could relive it in someone else's skin.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Soma isn't much of a horror game, but that's not a big loss. It uses horror trappings as a jumping off point to find more intelligent and interesting trails to follow. Its follow-through, save for a few instances where I felt it succumb to the bindings of its genre, is impressive. When it talks about something, it goes for it, and the results are rarely pretty or happy but almost always intriguing. ”
read full review ↗ - 90
“More of a thriller than a pure horror game, Soma creates a world the player wants to explore to understand, and yet will still be afraid of. It’s horror, but horror I was able to enjoy.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Without sounding too hyperbolic, SOMA is a better BioShock than BioShock managed to be. It nails the atmosphere and hits all of the notes that makes the story one of the best in the horror genre.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Soma's legacy lies in its bold exploration of consciousness and identity, its refined survival horror mechanics, and its lasting emotional and philosophical impact on players. It solidified the influence of Frictional Games in the indie horror space, which inspired community engagement, and set a high bar for narrative-driven titles. The Switch port is an excellent way to play it for the first time, or for fans who need an excuse to revisit it. Despite it technically having no replay value and thin gameplay, it's a compelling experience to return to for its engrossing and deep story. Its setting is dense with so much detail that even after replaying it multiple times, there are still ingeniously placed pieces of foreshadowing and clues hidden in plain sight. Soma on Nintendo Switch is a solid port, if a bit bare bones. There was a missed opportunity to include some exclusive features like gyro controls, but even without them, this is still one of the most haunting experiences of all time.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“The plot is compelling, the presentation is generally very good, and the conclusion is outstanding. But all of these achievements will be tempered if you're looking for the kind of scares that defined Amnesia: The Dark Descent.”
read full review ↗
The Jimquisition
Slant Magazine
GameFM
Hu3br
PLAY Zine
GRYOnline.pl
Paste Magazine
Kinglink Reviews
Total Gaming Network
Cubed3
Push Square…and 112 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch notes 2025/09/22Sep 22, 2025
- Frictional Collection UpdateJul 3, 2023
- Patch notesMar 31, 2016
- Patch notesMar 31, 2016
- SOMA Update released: Modding goodies!Dec 15, 2015
- SOMA Update released: Modding goodies!Dec 15, 2015