Screenshots & trailers
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) | – | 57 | 4 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 76% | 71 | 55 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | – | – | 0 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 0 reviews sampled · 0 total reviews in window · weighted 0 up / 0 down · computed 4h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (11)
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.
- 60
“Stifled offers an original approach to the survival and stealth genre, with sound used as a way to progress and being chased. The efficient VR experience sadly falls flat as it gets redundant and the mechanics quickly run out of steam.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“A good psychological thriller. Not a masterpiece, but one of best indie game for PlayStation VR.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Stifled is an interesting take on a VR horror game. The problem is that you will start moaning stupid sounds into the microphone after a short time which can be pretty annoying. But the rest is solid and something totally new to check out.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Gattai Games has created a really great example of how to use PSVR to enhance an experience and I look forward to seeing what the come up with next.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“There is definitely quite a few good reasons to be playing Stifled for those who are interested in horror games. The game is available for VR for those who have it.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Stifled is absolutely not the best indie horror game on the market, but I have to respect it for what it brings to the table. While the game is short and the frustration can, at times, be palpable, Stifled is a smart and satisfying game (especially for anyone invested in VR setups). Although we are out of Halloween and horror season, any fan of the VR medium and the indie horror scene should take a chance on this game and see… or, not see… what it has in store.”
read full review ↗ - 55
“Stifled is an exercise in taking a great idea and applying it to a worn out genre. The indie horror tropes bleed through, despite a unique initial premise. Mumbling under my breath to be able to see barely plays into the narrative, and no scare ever got me to scream out loud, so it didn't quite have the intended effect, seeming more like a gimmick by the end. The tired horror ideas became quickly obvious when VR and mic audio are not used. Gimmicks are the only legs that Stifled has to stand on, and when the novelty of them wears out, there's only a tried and dull horror experience underneath.”
read full review ↗ - 49
“Stifled is a stealth horror game that brings its own flair to the genre by using echolocation to see in the dark. The player has to use their own voice to see, but also must be cautious to avoid attracting the attention of creatures hiding in the void. Stifled has a truly unique core gameplay mechanic that is both interesting and nerve-racking, but it seems underutilized throughout the game. The repetitive design of the levels minimizes the horror impact of the gameplay, and the lack of diversity and AI in the monsters leaves much to be desired. At a $20 price tag, the game felt more like an overpriced proof-of-concept juxtaposed with a completely unrelated story rather than a full-fledged horror experience.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Instead of a uniquely terrifying experience, Stifled is just a tiresome and forgettable one.”
read full review ↗ - 68
“It's great to see developers, particularly smaller ones, not only support VR gaming but also expand upon it in a meaningful and, most importantly, fun way; the central mechanic of using your microphone in order to see fosters constant engagement between the player and the game and is a large part of why this charming little indie effort stands out so far from the pack, for me at least.”
read full review ↗ - –
“If you are looking for a title to scare the pants off yourself, or you love interesting game mechanics then Stifled is, without doubt, a must-buy. If you find the thought of being stuck in a claustrophobic sewer with minimal vision and some horrible hell spawn chasing you terrifying…. well let’s just say that Stifled isn’t the game for you.”
read full review ↗
Gameblog
IGN
Continue-Magazin
PowerUp!
Sirus Gaming
DualShockers
PlayStation LifeStyle
Gaming Nexus
Digitally Downloaded
Impulsegamer
Player2.net.auPatch history
No patch announcements found on Steam yet.