AI: The Somnium Files – Nirvana Initiative

What to Know

Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 25

Play It

The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative is another twisting murder mystery. There are a few performance issues and bugs, but if you can stomach them, this is a must-play for anyone who appreciates compelling stories in their video games.

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 25

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 25

The Somnium Files - nirvanA Initiative is another twisting murder mystery. There are a few performance issues and bugs, but if you can stomach them, this is a must-play for anyone who appreciates compelling stories in their video games.

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Awards & Recognition

Critic Reviews for AI: The Somnium Files – Nirvana Initiative

Critic Reviews

Score Distribution

25

Reviews

Average Score - 88/100

88%

Ranges

83/100

Tom Sykes (PC Gamer)_

Come for the mystery, stay for the characters in this baggy but compelling visual novel sequel.

June 29, 2022 |

Full Review

AI: The Somnium Files – Nirvana Initiative boasts a compelling story, along with some great plot twists that caught me completely off guard. Its investigations are intriguing, and its Somnium dungeons are both colorful and foreboding. Nirvana Initiative is an incredibly eccentric game, bursting with vibrant characters, mind-bending puzzles, and an abundance of strange sci-fi detours. And once it builds momentum, it doesn’t let up. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say I love it.

June 24, 2022 |

Full Review

Recommended

George Yang (Polygon)

9/10

Andrew Farrell (PC Invasion)

Not quite as good as its predecessor in some ways and notably better in others, AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative is a must-play for fans anime-styled narrative games.

June 24, 2022 |

Full Review

Tom Sykes (PC Gamer)_

83/100 - (Read Review)

Come for the mystery, stay for the characters in this baggy but compelling visual novel sequel.

George Yang (Polygon)

Recommended - (Read Review)

Andrew Farrell (PC Invasion)

9/10 - (Read Review)

Not quite as good as its predecessor in some ways and notably better in others, AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative is a must-play for fans anime-styled narrative games.

**Read all 25 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (25 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
Checkpoint Gaming	Victor Tan	8 / 10	06-28-2022	AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES – nirvanA Initiative can throw a lot of information at you, and it will take some time to digest the tutorials and the events of the game. But once you manage to find your footing, you will be investigating an intriguing mystery that crosses different timelines with powerful tools. It’s a story that requires patience, understanding, and some outside-the-box thinking, but it pays off with a fantastic resolution when you reach the real conclusion.	Read review
COGconnected	Nicola Kapron	84 / 100	06-24-2022	All in all, AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative is another complex and twisting murder mystery with a strong cyberpunk flavor. If you crave bizarre philosophies, high-tech conspiracies, and mind-bending puzzles, add this game to your list. Just make you aren’t photosensitive first.	Read review
Cubed3	Steven Mattern	9 / 10	06-20-2022	All told, AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES: nirvanA Initiative is a worthy sequel to the 2019 original. While some elements of the story don’t always fit with the cast of characters, the core of the narrative keeps players invested throughout. The new somniums are very well designed in both pace and aesthetic, making them each feel unique. The additional hints and difficulty options are welcome, too, for those who want them. Virtual Reality sequences do well to add to the gameplay outside of somniums themselves, providing some great variety. This science fiction mystery thriller is certainly worth a look for fans of Zero Escape and visual novels in general.	Read review
GameGrin	Charr Davenport	9 / 10	06-20-2022	AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES- nirvanA Initiative is an amazing point-and-click adventure and an even better murder mystery. I truly believe that it belongs on the shelves of most gamers, but I really am mad about that one puzzle. Also, 9 is a really funny score if you’ve played the game.	Read review
GamePitt	Rob Pitt	10 / 10	06-20-2022	So far we’re six months in 2022 and AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES – nirvanA Initiative is already at the top of my GOTY list for this year. The story is very funny, mysterious, and exciting, the gameplay is intuitive, there are a lot of things to look out for and unlock, and there’s a great balance of serious and immaturely pervy humour throughout. If you liked the first game, you’re going to love the sequel – although they aren’t related so prior knowledge isn’t required. My only disappointment is that there’s no current-gen version, the loading times and low-resolution visuals would have really benefited from it.	Read review
GamingTrend	David Flynn	95 / 100	06-24-2022	Spike Chunsoft has done it again with AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES nirvanA Initiative. They tell an incredible murder mystery that’s a ton of fun to figure out, all while solving brain-bending puzzles and talking to a colorful cast of endearing characters. There are a lot of performance issues and bugs, but those are nitpicks compared to just the sheer joy of diving into people’s minds to solve the case.	Read review
Generación Xbox	Juan Jesús	7.8 / 10	06-20-2022	A remarkable plot and story, a chaotic world and a great mystery to be solved in two different eras, a perfect summary of AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES – nirvanA Initiative.	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Kirstin Swalley	4.5 / 5 stars	06-20-2022	The original Somnium Files was a delight in every way and Nirvana Initiative follows that up without missing a beat.	Read review
MonsterVine	Samantha Lienhard	5 / 5 stars	06-24-2022	AI: The Somnium Files was a unique game that blended a wacky sense of humor with a dark murder mystery and unexpected twists, making it a tough act to follow. Nevertheless, its sequel rises to the challenge. The scale and scope of Nirvana Initiative are different, but the story, humor, characters, and gameplay additions all come together to make it a sequel worthy of the name. If you enjoyed the first game, you’ll likely enjoy AI: The Somnium Files – Nirvana Initiative as well.	Read review
Niche Gamer	Fingal Belmont	10 / 10	06-21-2022	The cast in AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative is full of interesting and fleshed out characters that you’ll care about. Everyone’s motivations are deftly defined and everyone gets a moment to shine. AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative is as perfect as a visual novel can get and receives our highest recommendation. Even ignoring its engrossing story, the gameplay alone is novel and explores concepts rarely seen in games.	Read review
Nintendo Life	Trent Cannon	9 / 10	06-24-2022	AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative is one of the most interesting visual novels we’ve played through in a while. The murder mystery at its heart is brought to life by some great writing and quirky characters alongside the satisfyingly integrated, beautifully balanced Psync puzzle elements. Even with some minor control issues, there is a lot to love in this game even if you never picked up the original. Highly recommended if you’re even a little bit curious.	Read review
NintendoWorldReport	Donald Theriault	7.5 / 10	06-20-2022	I didn’t mention it during the original game’s review, but a good portion of its playtime was while waiting for power to return after my hometown got clobbered by the remnants of a hurricane; this time, the worst it got was some pretty heavy thunderstorms. And just as the weather wasn’t as extreme this time, nirvanA Initiative gets close to the levels of the original but just falls slightly short.	Read review
Noisy Pixel	Jacob Kavanaugh	10 / 10	06-20-2022	AI: The Somnium Files – Nirvana Initiative is an easy game of the year contender. The game features an improved presentation of animations, music, fantastic characters, and writing that left me in half reeling and desperate for more. The pacing throughout the mystery was stellar, and the build-up to the conclusion will keep you on your toes. If you’re into mystery, adventure games, or visual novels, this is the game to get.	Read review
PC Gamer	Tom Sykes	83 / 100	06-23-2022	Come for the mystery, stay for the characters in this baggy but compelling visual novel sequel.	Read review
PC Invasion	Andrew Farrell	9 / 10	06-23-2022	Not quite as good as its predecessor in some ways and notably better in others, AI: The Somnium Files	Read review
Polygon	George Yang	Recommended	06-27-2022	AI: The Somnium Files	Read review
PSX Brasil	Thiago de Alencar Moura	90 / 100	06-24-2022	AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative is yet another huge hit from Kotaro Uchikoshi. The plot captivates you from the beginning, leaving you practically unable to let go by the constant desire to know what else is coming. That’s thanks to the captivating mystery and well-written characters that make even the little glitches in the exploration parts go unnoticed.	Read review
Push Square	Jenny Jones	7 / 10	06-21-2022	While nirvanA Initiative doesn’t stray too far from the formula established in the original, the gritty sci-fi story and likeable characters mean that it is a compelling adventure. Piecing together all the threads of the story will lead you on a rollercoaster of a journey and keep you guessing until the very end.	Read review
RPGamer	Alex Fuller	Recommended	06-24-2022	While its ultimate resolution is not quite as satisfying as its brethren, the way it uses its cast, some higher-minded concepts, and the player themselves makes for another highly absorbing title across its twenty-plus hours.	Read review
Screen Rant	Cody Gravelle	4.5 / 5 stars	06-20-2022	While anyone who enjoys mystery games, visual novels, or the often bizarre story-telling quirks of Spike Chunsoft games will find a lot to love in AI: The Somnium Files	Read review
Twinfinite	Cameron Waldrop	4.5 / 5 stars	06-22-2022	Ultimately, AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative is a detective story that needs to be experienced. If you’re a fan of Japanese mystery games such as the Zero Escape series or the Danganronpa games (by the same developer/publisher), Nirvana Initiative is definitely something you shouldn’t pass up. The only thing better is that if you haven’t experienced the first game in the series, you get to go back and experience another terrific detective tale.	Read review
Video Chums	Mary Billington	8.9 / 10	06-20-2022	AI: The Somnium Files	Read review
Wccftech	Kai Powell	8 / 10	06-21-2022	A second series of serial killings is fair game in AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES – nirvanA Initiative, a title focused around the established world of the prior game with newcomers that are just as hungry for the truth as Kaname Date once was.	Read review
WellPlayed	Nathan Hennessy	8.5 / 10	06-23-2022	nirvanA Initiative combines the best of AI: The Somnium Files’s presentation with the sharpest puzzles and best writing across Team Zero Escape’s catalogue.	Read review
ZTGD	Jae Lee	9 / 10	06-21-2022	With added quality of life features and improved pacing, AI: THE SOMNIUM FILES – nirvanA Initiative is an impressive follow up to an underrated gem and one that should be on the radar of anyone who appreciates compelling stories in their video games.	Read review

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Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

Newly-appointed Special Agent Mizuki and her AI partner Aiba are tasked to solve the bizarre Half Body serial killings in this sequel to the critically acclaimed AI: The Somnium Files.

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