Perception

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Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 60

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 60

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 60

A summary of the critical opinion for this game will be provided after release or a minimum of 15 reviews have been aggregated.

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Critic Reviews for Perception

Reviews

High Score - 83/100

Low Score - 30/100

Joe Skrebels (IGN)

4.8/10

“Perception is as much a disappointment for the clever and inherently frightening idea it wastes as it is for the mistakes it makes. At its heart, there’s the promise of playing something genuinely new, from a perspective that could help teach and thrill simultaneously. It’s unfortunate that, like its echolocation mechanic, the more I saw of Perception, the more there was to worry about.”

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Jed Whitaker (Destructoid)

3/10

“Maybe I was expecting too much from Perception, but it doesn’t deliver on any of its promises.”

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Jim Sterling (The Jimquisition)

5/10

“Perception is miles better than the myriad “me too” horror games saturating Steam, but it’s certainly not exceptional. Underneath the visual style – and it’s ultimately just an aesthetic choice – is regular ol’ walk-and-talk horror game that manages a little panache but contains no material of substantial value, be it narratively or interactively.”

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Read the Reviews (60 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
Attack of the Fanboy	Kyle Hanson	4 / 5 stars	05-25-2017	Perception is a truly unique game, putting players into the shoes of a blind girl and using that as a means of storytelling and gameplay. It develops a world that you want to explore, but also keeps you on the edge of your seat with fear and trepidation.	Read review
BaziCenter	مراد حلیمی	4 / 10	07-01-2017	Perception is a prime example of a wasted innovative ideas. Developers of Perception did almost everything wrong and the final product is a broken and shallow game.	Read review
Cerealkillerz	Gabriel Bogdan	6.5 / 10	06-19-2017	Perception gets everything wrong and is probably one of the worst games in 2017. Besides some decent creepy sound effects the game doesn’t offer anything besides being a shallow walking simulator.	Read review
CGMagazine	Elias Blondeau	7.5 / 10	05-30-2017	Ultimately a worthwhile recommendation for horror fans thanks to its original concept, likable protagonist, and some genuinely chilling frights.	Read review
Chalgyr’s Game Room	Nick Herber	6.3 / 10	06-28-2017	Perception is a tough one to review, because it is a relatively short game that is at its core very similar to a lot of other action/horror titles out there. However, a clever mechanic combined with a very cool visual style helps to creates some excellent atmosphere that had me holding my breath on multiple occasions. In the end these smart design choices help to elevate Perception above the sea of also-ran titles in the genre, even if it never really quite realizes its potential.	Read review
COGconnected	Anthony Bacchus	60 / 100	06-23-2017	Play Perception if you’re in need of a quick horror fix, and not for what could be perceived as something larger.	Read review
Cubed3	Albert Lichi	3 / 10	06-09-2017	Perception has very little going for it. It is well acted and has about three voice actors who do triple or even quadruple duty in some cases, and they all sound very believable. The sound design is strong and is the creepiest part of the entire game. There are many plot points that are hard to follow, since so much of the plot has to be found from notes picked up, or audio diaries. One plot point that is not made clear is that the story implies that Cassie might be psychic, but there really is not enough information to corroborate this completely, which is pretty much how every piece of story feels like. Every step of the way it just feels like there is something missing. Perception is a noble effort in its concept, but in practice this is one people should just close their eyes at.	Read review
Cultured Vultures	Jimmy Donnellan	6.5 / 10	06-29-2017	Perception is a good attempt at trying something new in the horror genre without ever really delivering on the scares.	Read review
Destructoid	Jed Whitaker	3 / 10	05-25-2017	Maybe I was expecting too much from Perception, but it doesn’t deliver on any of its promises.	Read review
Digital Chumps	Eric Layman	4.5 / 10	06-18-2017	Perception’s attractive thesis—a blind woman should be capable of investigating the menacing house from her nightmares—creates space for an original protagonist inside of an extraordinary circumstance. A premise isn’t a promise, however, as Perception quickly abandons novelty in favor of rote objectives, aimless antagonism, and a narrative set adrift in a sea of platitudes.	Read review
Digitally Downloaded	Matt Sainsbury	2.5 / 5 stars	06-27-2017	Perception was an opportunity. It was a real, genuine opportunity to do something remarkable with the horror genre, and join a couple of other experimental ‘walking simulators’ such as Layers of Fear, Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture, and the recently-released The Town Of Light, in proving that the horror genre in video games can be cerebral, rather than visceral, but this one largely misses the mark.	Read review
FingerGuns	Sean Davies	6 / 10	06-29-2017	Perception is a narrative horror that tries something a little different and for the majority of the game, it works to great effect. The darkness and sound design as well as some interesting level designs fill the game with enough low level tension to give you a crick in the neck. The visuals aren’t always the prettiest, the game strays into the mundane a few too many times and the plot has forgettable moments but the unique premise and fright-inducing chases make Perception a better-than-average title.	Read review
FNintendo	André Reis	6 / 10	12-14-2017	Thanks to its atmosphere, the game manages to create a certain palpable fear in the player, which is fundamental for a work of this kind. The game would benefit from exploring some of its mechanics at a deeper level but as it is, Perception can bring an interesting, even if rather short, experience to the players.	Read review
Game Informer	Elise Favis	8.3 / 10	05-25-2017	Although more unsettling than outright terrifying, Perception brings some novel ideas to the horror genre	Read review
Game Rant	Dalton Cooper	2.5 / 5 stars	06-18-2017	Perception has some good ideas, but it is ultimately a disappointment thanks to an annoying art style, frustrating gameplay mechanics, and an underwhelming narrative.	Read review
GameCrate	Nate Hohl	7.3 / 10	06-20-2017	As far as narrative-driven exploration-based horror games go, Perception isn’t the worst out there, but it also can’t really stand alongside games like those in the Amnesia series or Gone Home. It still warrants a playthrough if you’re looking for a game with a unique hook or if you’re just desperate for any new horror game to play, though considering its length and lack of varied gameplay, you might be better off waiting until it’s on sale.	Read review
GameGrin	BishopTheTroll	7 / 10	07-23-2017	While Perception isn’t consistently great, it does do certain things very well and is worth a play by anyone looking for an interesting experience. By taking away one of the most important senses most people have, Perception gives players the feeling of being thrust into the unknown and absolute darkness.	Read review
GameMAG	xtr	6 / 10	07-13-2017	Perception is interesting, in the first place, as an experiment that touches on non-standard themes and offers an unusual gameplay. But the stories are rather simple and predictable, and additional elements, like hide-and-seek and distraction, seem like a not very successful attempt to tighten a short walk.	Read review
GamePro	Elena Schulz	73 / 100	05-25-2017	Innovative but quite repetitive adventure. The Blindness-mechanic is fascinating, but doesn’t shine in a playful manner.	Read review
GameSkinny	Ty Arthur	5 / 10	06-01-2017	The unique blindness mechanic just isn’t quite enough to overcome a bland execution and lackluster story.	Read review
GameSpew	Richard Seagrave	5 / 10	06-21-2017	Despite its originality, Perception is only worth a look for those who can see past its shortcomings in pursuit of a fairly compelling narrative.	Read review
GameSpot	Miguel Concepcion	5 / 10	05-31-2017	A novel and inventive approach to first-person exploration falls short of its ambitions.	Read review
Gaming Nexus	Aidan Kelly	6.5 / 10	07-18-2017	Bar one or two genuine scares Perception doesn’t cut the mustard when it comes to horror, a lot of the animations were boring and didn’t intimidate neither me nor brave Cassie. Perception fails to deliver on the horror side, but boasts clever mechanics and an engaging but flawed narrative. The artstyle is oiriginal and works perfectly with the darkness and echolocation mechanics.	Read review
GamingTrend	Hunter Wolfe	60 / 100	07-19-2017	Perception’s unique echolocation gameplay hook is enough to sustain the game for its 4-5-hour run, but I was saddened that The Deep End Games didn’t explore this mechanic any more than it did. Had it, Perception’s shallow plot and characters might have found some redemption. Ultimately, Perception is more carnival than amusement park – cheap thrills than top shelf. If you like horror games, you’ll like Perception, but you’ve probably already experienced a bunch of horror titles scarier than this one.	Read review
God is a Geek	Chris White	6.5 / 10	06-26-2017	There’re some great ideas in Perception, and with an interesting protagonist and some great voice acting, there’s a lot to enjoy, even if it is a bit too easy.	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Charles Blades	2.5 / 5 stars	06-06-2017	Perception isn’t great, failing to clear every benchmark that it set out for itself by a healthy margin.	Read review
IGN	Joe Skrebels	4.8 / 10	05-25-2017	Perception is as much a disappointment for the clever and inherently frightening idea it wastes as it is for the mistakes it makes. At its heart, there’s the promise of playing something genuinely new, from a perspective that could help teach and thrill simultaneously. It’s unfortunate that, like its echolocation mechanic, the more I saw of Perception, the more there was to worry about.	Read review
IGN Italy	Francesco Destri	5.8 / 10	06-30-2017	The premises (a blind character, a creepy house, an evil spirit) were good, but Perception falls short as survival horror and as an intriguing walking simulator.	Read review
IGN Spain	David Soriano	6.5 / 10	06-06-2017	Perception is an original game concept with its blind character, but it fails too much in core aspects of terror genre like the game mechanics or the history itself.	Read review
Marooners’ Rock	Josh Pedroza	6.8 / 10	07-10-2017	As stated before, Perception has some great things going for it. There’s no doubt in my mind that The Deep End Games put so much passion into this project. It just falls flat due to the fact that it isn’t that good of a horror game.	Read review
Metro GameCentral	GameCentral	3 / 10	06-05-2017	Some very clever ideas are completely squandered by a game that is neither scary, enjoyable, or thought-provoking – although it does manage irritating and dull with great aplomb.	Read review
Nintendo Life	Liam Doolan	4 / 10	11-10-2017	Unless you’re a big fan of horror adventure games, Perception is one you can easily skip. The plot isn’t particularly engaging, and the horror elements are predictable with jump scares, characters and story dialogue that is typical of this genre. Even if it does fulfil all of the necessary criteria, it serves as a reminder that the horror genre is far too reliant on clichés to get by, and will only appeal to the thrill seekers happy to overlook its generic design.Ultimately, the biggest downfall is the core concept that drives Perception. The echolocation mechanic gets old quickly and seems like a better idea in theory than in actual gameplay; walking around in the dark in any game isn’t normally enjoyable, and in this one it’s no better – even with the added sense of meaning from the narrative. It’s an aggravating concept that should not have really got past the early design stage, and detracts from the already average quality of this short-lived horror adventure game.	Read review
NintendoWorldReport	Justin Nation	7.5 / 10	11-17-2017	If you’re in it for the action or actual horror you’ll very likely walk away disappointed. But if you like a slow burn of suspense, periodic things that will make you jump, and some stories that will reveal themselves to you slowly and through a variety of means as you wander an ever-changing house, it will offer several hours of enjoyment. I’ve never played a game quite like it, and there’s something to be said for a title working earnestly to challenge gamers with something new, even if it may not have hit all of the marks it was likely aiming for.	Read review
Oyungezer Online	Utku Çakır	6.8 / 10	06-28-2017	Perception could have been the surprise of the year only if it had support its gameplay mechanics and story with more variety and robust atmosphere.	Read review
PC Gamer	Samuel Roberts	50 / 100	05-29-2017	Perception offers a decent set of horror stories, but exploring this house gets dull pretty quickly.	Read review
Player2.net.au	Sarah Ellen	Recommended	06-25-2017	It’s worth a go just to show that game developers are continuing to have amazing ideas to change gameplay, but finish it as quickly as you can and move on.	Read review
PlayStation LifeStyle	Ahmed Mohamed	4.5 / 10	06-15-2017	Almost all of Perception’s issues could be fixed with slight tweaks to the game’s systems and narrative moments. Instead, it’s a false mirage of an excellent game that vanishes almost immediately, turning into more of what we’ve already seen in the horror genre.	Read review
PlayStation Universe	Thomas Halston	6.5 / 10	06-20-2017	Perception is a fun game full of unique concepts and ideas, but for a horror game it isn’t particularly frightening.	Read review
Polygon	Philip Kollar	6.5 / 10	05-25-2017	Perception features some strong moments but never fully commits to its big ideas	Read review
PS4Blog.net	EdEN	7.5 / 10	11-16-2017	Perception is an interesting psychological thriller that I definitely recommend you check out on Nintendo Switch. The unique gameplay premise of the game by which you must use sound to be able to find your way around the location mixes things up, placing you in the shoes of a blind woman who won’t let her disability get in the way. Abandoned houses are creepy by nature, but exploring an abandoned house as a blind woman who literally can’t see what lurks in the dark is a thrilling experience. Playing in the dark is the best way to enjoy this 3 to 4-hour release, especially if you’re playing in portable mode with your headphones on!	Read review
PSX Brasil	Júlio César Souza Pires	58 / 100	06-19-2017	Although it has a very original and interesting idea, Perception ends up making a mistake for being a very easy horror game. The only enemy in the game serves more as an aid in some moments, and Cassie’s sixth sense makes the exploration in the game and the fear disappear. Perception makes the players close their eyes to it.	Read review
Pure Playstation	Jeremy Peterson	5.8 / 10	06-19-2017	In the end, the game’s biggest fault is the missed opportunity. I commend Deep End Games for swinging for the fences, but a big swing and miss is still a miss, and it’s a shame. If you love horror games, then I think you might find the unique basis for this game worth checking out, despite the lack of terror. For everyone else? I’m afraid I just can’t unconditionally recommend Perception.	Read review
Rock, Paper, Shotgun	Adam Smith	Not Recommended	05-25-2017	Perception falls between two posts. It’s premise is strong and the echolocation works well, but there simply isn’t enough to do in that old house, other than knock on the walls and listen to tales of times gone by. It’s a game that I wanted to like so much more than I do, partly because it’s so visually appealing and partly because Cassie is such a likeable character. She deserves a better story for herself rather than to be an observer of other peoples’ lives.	Read review
SelectButton	Kevin Mitchell	8 / 10	06-29-2017	Perception is a unique and is a downright frightening title. The narrative is well-written, and I was satisfied with my decision to listen to Cassie talk to herself as she explores the haunted estate. As you journey through the lives of the past residents, the house changes, keeping it from growing stale.	Read review
Sirus Gaming	Leif Rey Bornales	7 / 10	06-09-2017	Overall, Perception is a relaxing yet tenseful game. A game that lets you experience how it is to lose sight. I can’t imagine having to navigate their world this way and all I can say it’s making me see them in a new light. It makes me thankful for my sight and makes me realize that blind people make do with what they have and still enjoy life as it is. I applaud the developers for bringing this experience to us that which makes me more considerate of what a blind person has to go through everyday.	Read review
SomHráč.sk	Adam Hambálek	65 / 100	06-20-2017	On the one hand, Perception brings a breath of fresh air to the horror genre, but it can hardly be recommended to anyone other than a fan of the genre.	Read review
SpazioGames	Domenico Musicò	6 / 10	06-01-2017	Perception starts with good ideas, but fails to build a really original game around them. The atmosphere is good during the first minutes, but It feels like a guided walking simulator without real scares.	Read review
TechRaptor	Samuel Guglielmo	7 / 10	07-08-2017	Perception’s blindness is both its biggest strength and weakness. While it did lead to some frustrating moments of being lost without a clue what to do, it also meant really having to think about the environment and truly wondering what each noise what. Perception was ultimately terrifying when it was at its best.	Read review
The Digital Fix	Katie Fanthorpe	6 / 10	06-26-2017	While stuffed full of promise, Perception fails to execute what could have been an unique and brilliant horror adventure concept.	Read review
The Jimquisition	Jim Sterling	5 / 10	06-16-2017	Perception is miles better than the myriad “me too” horror games saturating Steam, but it’s certainly not exceptional. Underneath the visual style – and it’s ultimately just an aesthetic choice – is regular ol’ walk-and-talk horror game that manages a little panache but contains no material of substantial value, be it narratively or interactively.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Tuffcub	6 / 10	07-04-2017	There are some great ideas in Perception, but the execution is somewhat lacking. Wandering around a haunted house with no vision should be a tense, methodical, creepy experience, but this game has a sprint button. You are given a lot of help to navigate and solve puzzles because if you did not have your sight and were trapped in a mansion with moving walls and keys to find you would be utterly helpless. This means the whole premise to the game quickly becomes pointless, which is a real shame.	Read review
TheXboxHub	Carlos Santuana	3 / 5 stars	07-04-2017	Perception feels like a perfect blend between Gone Home and Beyond Eyes, and whilst neither of those are horror games, seeing the best aspects of each mixed into the horror genre doesn’t make for a bad game.	Read review
TrueAchievements	Mark Delaney	3 / 5 stars	07-07-2017	Perception tells an intriguing story and if that’s enough for you, it’s worth playing. Its audio-visual experience is also unlike anything else and if you’re looking for a fresh idea, The Deep End Games’ debut is worth supporting. It’s important to keep in mind, however, if you expect the game to also scare you, there’s nothing to see here.	Read review
Twinfinite	Irwyn Diaz	3 / 5 stars	06-13-2017	Overall, Perception felt more like the horror edition of Gone Home rather than other titles like Outlast, Amnesia, or Resident Evil 7 as it leaned more towards exploration and the underlying plot rather than survival horror. Regrettably, I found that using echolocation in a narrative-driven game only limited my experience of trying to discover more about the house.	Read review
VGChartz	Evan Norris	Not Recommended	06-05-2017	It’s neither as engaging nor as terrifying as first-person horror games like Amnesia or SOMA, but its earnest spookiness goes a long way.	Read review
Video Chums	Stephen Palmer	7.1 / 10	06-19-2017	With only four chapters, Perception is a short game that doesn’t justify its launch price.	Read review
VideoGamer	Alice Bell	6 / 10	07-05-2017	An imaginative horror game, Perception is coming at a well trodden genre from a new angle, but despite its good ideas, it doesn’t quite live up to its own potential.	Read review
Washington Post	Christopher Byrd	Not Recommended	06-01-2017	A disabled protagonist creates interesting opportunities but ‘Perception’ falls short	Read review
Wccftech	Kai Powell	6.4 / 10	07-15-2017	Perception builds upon one unique gameplay element throughout its entire brief run, but fails to see what makes a horror game memorable.	Read review

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Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

Perception is a first-person narrative horror adventure that tells the story of Cassie, a blind heroine who uses her extraordinary hearing and razor-sharp wits to unravel the mysteries of an abandoned estate that haunts her dreams.

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