Those Who Remain

The narrative of Those Who Remain receives praise for its ambitious psychological horror premise and thematic depth, with several critics highlighting its potential. GameSpot acknowledges the game’s exploration of maternal love and corruption, while God is a Geek compares it to Silent Hill, noting its engaging curiosity about character connections. TheXboxHub praises its Twin Peaks-inspired mystery, and GameSkinny appreciates the player-driven moral choices leading to unexpected endings. IGN and TheXboxHub also commend the game’s initial intrigue, particularly its focus on Edward’s guilt and the “Stay in the Light” mechanic, which adds a unique layer to the horror experience. These positives suggest that the story’s foundation is compelling, with moments of atmospheric storytelling and moral complexity that resonate with some reviewers. However, the narrative faces widespread criticism for its lack of coherence, emotional engagement, and originality. DarkStation and TheGamer argue that Edward’s motivations are unclear, rendering the protagonist unrelatable and the plot disjointed. Meristation and COGconnected describe the story as confusing and underdeveloped, with unresolved questions and repetitive gameplay undermining its impact. Multiple critics, including Video Chums, GameSpew, and Xbox Tavern, point to shallow character development, clichéd horror tropes, and a lack of meaningful choices that fail to deepen the experience. The game’s reliance on predictable twists, such as the “school bullying” decision highlighted by Vandal, further diminishes its originality. Even when the story attempts to explore themes like guilt or redemption, critics like GameCritics and Digital Chumps argue these ideas feel forced or overly simplistic, leaving players disconnected from Edward’s journey. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Those Who Remain struggles to balance its promising concepts with effective execution. While some praise its atmospheric storytelling and moral dilemmas—such as the three endings noted by GameSkinny or the psychological depth mentioned by God is a Geek—the majority find the narrative underwhelming due to its lack of coherence, unengaging characters, and reliance on familiar horror tropes. Critics like GameSpot and IGN emphasize that the game’s potential is undermined by a disjointed structure and unresolved plot threads, while others, such as Shacknews and Multiplayer.it, highlight how the story fails to maintain emotional investment. Despite occasional praise for its thematic ambition, the critical reception leans heavily toward disappointment, with many concluding that the narrative’s flaws significantly detract from its overall impact.

The gameplay of Those Who Remain receives mixed praise for its creative concepts and unique mechanics, though these elements are often overshadowed by execution issues. Critics like IGN and Video Chums highlight the game’s intriguing use of light-based puzzles and parallel dimensions, noting that the core mechanic of navigating environments through light/dark contrasts is clever and immersive. Malditos Nerds commend the surreal world transitions and the narrative depth added by a morality system, while GameSpew acknowledges the game’s unique control scheme despite its frustrations. The exploration-driven structure and environmental puzzles, such as those involving alternate realities, are occasionally praised for their ingenuity, with TheGamer noting the light mechanic’s effectiveness in creating tension. These positives suggest that the game has potential when it comes to innovation and atmospheric design. However, the gameplay is heavily criticized for its repetitive mechanics, clunky controls, and lack of engagement. Multiple reviewers, including Push Square, Multiplayer.it, and GameCrate, lambast the outdated stealth systems, which suffer from predictable enemy AI, imprecise movement, and frustrating checkpoints that punish players relentlessly. PC Invasion and TheOverpowered Noobs point to tedious item collection, fetch quests, and maze-like navigation as major drawbacks, while Gaming Nexus and Digital Chumps criticize the monotonous light-switch mechanics and poor control handling. The game’s attempt to blend survival horror with puzzle-solving is seen as disjointed, with SpazioGames and GameMAG noting that the mechanics feel schematic and underdeveloped. Even the "clever" puzzles, such as those involving dimension shifts or surreal environments, are often undermined by unclear design, poor object placement, and a lack of guidance, as highlighted by JeuxActu and Noisy Pixel. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Those Who Remain struggles to translate its promising ideas into a cohesive, engaging experience. While a few reviewers, like IGN and TheGamer, acknowledge moments of creativity and atmospheric tension, the majority view the gameplay as tedious, unoriginal, and mechanically flawed. The repetitive puzzle-solving, clunky stealth mechanics, and punishing checkpoint systems are repeatedly cited as major issues, with Push Square and GameCritics emphasizing a lack of innovation and meaningful progression. Despite some praise for its unique concepts, the game’s failure to refine its core mechanics or provide satisfying player agency leads to widespread frustration. As SomosXbox notes, the game feels derivative of older horror titles like Alan Wake, and XboxAddict argues that its short length and lack of innovation render it mediocre at best. The critical reception underscores a disconnect between the game’s ambitious design and its execution, leaving players with an experience that is more frustrating than immersive.

The reviewers generally acknowledge the game’s atmospheric strengths in visual design, particularly its use of lighting and shadow to evoke unease. Attack of the Fanboy highlights the unsettling atmosphere created through effective lighting and shadow, especially in the Upside Down-inspired environments, while Daily Star praises the dark aesthetic, detailed imagery, and environmental storytelling that enhance the eerie tone. God is a Geek commends the atmospheric lighting and visual creepiness, noting shadowy figures and eerie settings, and IGN (on PS4) points to striking elements like flickering neon signs and moody environments. Screen Rant appreciates the unique set-dressing and uncanny aesthetic, even if it falls short of elevating the overall experience. These positives often center on the game’s ability to create tension through mood rather than technical polish. However, the negatives dominate discussions about the game’s visual execution. Critics like BaziCenter criticize inconsistent visuals, with outdoor areas resembling PS2-era quality and frame drops, while indoor environments like hospitals show better lighting but still feel technically limited. DarkStation calls the graphics "outdated," citing washed-out colors, angular models, and choppy frame rates, while Gameblog.fr describes the visuals as "très vilain" (very ugly) with poor lighting and unconvincing character models. Gaming Age notes mid-level PS3-era graphics, flat surfaces, and texture issues, and GameSpew points to jarring glitches in the "other dimension," such as overly bright lights bleeding through walls. Many reviewers, including JeuxActu ("franchement laide") and Malditos Nerds, criticize the lack of polish, with poorly designed character models, generic props, and technical flaws undermining immersion. The game’s reliance on darkness as a gameplay mechanic also draws criticism for making environments too dim to discern details. Overall, while the critics agree that Those Who Remain succeeds in creating an unsettling atmosphere through lighting and environmental design, they uniformly condemn its technical shortcomings and outdated visuals. The game’s aesthetic ambitions are often overshadowed by issues like inconsistent art direction, poor character models, and performance problems across platforms. While some praise specific elements—such as IGN’s "striking visual elements" or TheXboxHub’s attention to detail—the consensus is that the graphics fail to meet modern standards, with many calling it "outdated," "unimpressive," or even "very ugly." Despite its atmospheric strengths, the game’s technical limitations and lack of polish prevent it from fully realizing its horror vision, leaving reviewers divided between appreciating its mood and dismissing its visual execution.

The sound design and music of Those Who Remain received mixed praise, with several critics highlighting its atmospheric strengths. BaziCenter acknowledged the effective use of "atmospheric silence and ambient sounds" to build tension, while TheGamer praised specific auditory elements like "door slams, breaking lightbulbs, and eerie music during chases" for amplifying fear. COGconnected and Meristation both emphasized how the sound design contributes to an "eerie atmosphere," with COGconnected noting a "dark, encroaching soundtrack" that enhances horror, and Meristation appreciating ambient effects like whispers and footsteps. Additionally, GameCritics highlighted the critical role of audio cues in navigation, underscoring their importance for gameplay. These positive remarks collectively suggest that the game’s sound design successfully creates an immersive, unsettling environment, even if not always flawless. However, several critics pointed out significant flaws in the music and sound implementation. BaziCenter criticized the "poorly implemented" music with "abrupt cuts and restarts," while Gameblog.fr noted inconsistencies like "inverted sound effects in the parallel world" and "mixed-quality ambient noises." Noisy Pixel found repetitive sirens and horns "annoying," and PlayStation LifeStyle cited technical issues such as background effects drowning out dialogue. XboxAddict also criticized underwhelming voice acting and music, while GameSkinny noted that the sound design "isn’t a standout feature." These critiques reveal recurring concerns about the audio’s lack of polish, repetitive elements, and accessibility issues—particularly for Deaf players, as highlighted by GameCritics, who pointed out the absence of visual alternatives for critical audio cues. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Those Who Remain’s sound design excels in creating a tense, atmospheric horror experience but falls short in musical cohesion and technical execution. While outlets like TheGamer, COGconnected, and Meristation praised its ability to evoke fear through ambient sounds and eerie tones, others such as BaziCenter, Gameblog.fr, and Noisy Pixel emphasized flaws that detract from immersion. The game’s audio succeeds in building atmosphere but struggles with consistency, accessibility, and musical depth. Despite these shortcomings, the majority of reviews acknowledge its contribution to the horror tone, suggesting that while not perfect, the sound design is a notable strength for fans of atmospheric horror.

The voice acting in Those Who Remain receives mixed reactions, with a few critics highlighting moments of strength. Notably, TheXboxHub praises the lead actor’s performance, noting that it contributes to an immersive narrative and emotional depth, suggesting that the protagonist’s delivery could have been more impactful if consistent throughout. This positive feedback contrasts with other critiques, indicating that while some aspects of the voice work are competent, they fail to elevate the game’s horror elements significantly. TheXboxHub’s acknowledgment of the lead actor’s contribution offers a rare glimmer of optimism amid broader criticisms. The majority of reviews, however, criticize the voice acting as underwhelming or inconsistent. DarkStation, GameCrate, and Gaming Nexus all describe the protagonist’s performance as sedated, bored, or lethargic, undermining the game’s atmospheric tension and emotional weight. Similar complaints emerge from IGN (multiple instances), PlayStation Universe, and TheGamer, who note that supporting characters lack cohesion, urgency, or emotional resonance, making it difficult to connect with their stories. Additionally, GameSkinny and XboxAddict highlight monotone deliveries and poorly executed character voices, while Meristation points to flawed localization as a separate issue detracting from the experience. These critiques collectively paint a picture of voice acting that struggles to meet expectations for a horror narrative. Overall, the consensus among critics leans heavily toward disappointment with the voice acting in Those Who Remain. While TheXboxHub stands out as an exception by praising the lead actor’s performance, the majority of reviews emphasize a lack of emotional engagement, inconsistent delivery, and technical shortcomings. The recurring themes of monotony, bland execution, and poor localization suggest that the voice work fails to support the game’s narrative ambitions. Despite some minor positive notes, the overwhelming sentiment is that the voice acting detracts from the horror experience rather than enhancing it, leaving players disconnected from the story and its characters.

The technical performance of Those Who Remain across platforms shows some minor positives, though they are overshadowed by widespread flaws. On PS4, critics like Gameblog.fr and Malditos Nerds acknowledged the game’s atmospheric ambitions and occasional successes in creating tension, despite technical shortcomings. For PC, while Meristation criticized outdated graphics and performance issues, others noted that the game’s design had potential if optimized better. On Xbox One, some reviewers, such as Generación Xbox, highlighted the developer’s efforts to address bugs through updates, suggesting a willingness to improve. However, these positives are minimal compared to the consistent technical struggles across all platforms. The negatives for Those Who Remain are extensive and platform-specific. On PS4, multiple critics like BaziCenter, DarkStation, and GameSpew emphasized severe frame drops, poor optimization, and glitches such as lighting anomalies, physics bugs, and inconsistent checkpoint systems. For PC, Meristation and PC Invasion criticized outdated graphics, performance drops, and persistent technical issues despite a 2020 release date. On Xbox One, the problems were even more pronounced: SomosXbox called the technical state “inadmisible,” citing low frame rates (15-20 FPS on Xbox One X), input lag, and unresponsive menus, while Vandal noted subpar facial animations. Critics like TheXboxHub and Xbox Tavern also highlighted motion sickness from surreal environments and physics glitches, further undermining immersion across all platforms. The overall consensus among critics is that Those Who Remain suffers from significant technical instability, with issues like frame rate drops, poor optimization, and inconsistent mechanics affecting all platforms. While some reviewers, such as Gameblog.fr and Malditos Nerds, acknowledged the game’s atmospheric intent, these positives were frequently undermined by persistent bugs and a lack of polish. The PS4 and PC versions faced similar challenges, including checkpoint flaws and graphical inconsistencies, while Xbox One users endured the most severe performance issues, with critics like SomosXbox and Vandal calling for urgent patches. Despite minor efforts to address problems through updates, the game’s technical shortcomings overshadowed its creative ambitions, leading to a frustrating experience across all platforms.

The reviewers generally acknowledge that Those Who Remain offers some elements that could encourage replayability, particularly its multiple endings tied to player choices. Critics like Gameblog.fr and Critical Hit highlight that the game’s three distinct outcomes—shaped by moral decisions or puzzle-solving—create a baseline incentive for revisiting the experience. XBLA Fans even notes that some players might enjoy experimenting with faster completion times or exploring varied narrative paths, while TheSixthAxis points out that the short runtime allows for quick playthroughs once the mechanics are understood. These positives suggest the game’s structure has potential to engage players who value branching narratives and exploration of different outcomes. However, the negatives dominate the critique, with most reviewers emphasizing significant flaws that undermine replayability. The repetitive gameplay mechanics, such as monotonous puzzles and unpolished systems, are frequently cited as major drawbacks. Digital Chumps and GameCritics criticize the game’s short length (5–7 hours) and lack of engaging content, while IGN and PC Invasion note that forced narrative paths and abrupt transitions dilute player agency. Additionally, many critics, including DarkStation and Malditos Nerds, argue that the endings feel unfulfilling or disconnected from meaningful choices, reducing the incentive to revisit. Technical issues, unclear mechanics, and a rushed conclusion further erode the experience, as highlighted by Noisy Pixel and Shacknews. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Those Who Remain’s replay value is severely limited by its repetitive design, lack of depth, and underwhelming narrative payoff. While some praise the concept of multiple endings and player-driven choices—such as GameCrate and Xbox Tavern—these elements are often overshadowed by flaws like formulaic storytelling, technical polish issues, and a short runtime that fails to justify repeated playthroughs. The game’s potential is evident in its mechanics, but the execution falls short of creating a compelling reason for players to return, leading most reviewers to conclude it lacks long-term appeal despite minor positives.