Though Edge of Sanity slips very (un)comfortably into the world of Lovecraft with its cosmic horror, eldritch tentacles, and unquestionable invasion on one’s levels of sanity, it must be said that this survival horror from Vixa Games and Daedalic Entertainment is a love letter to The Thing.
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Yes, I understand the original story’s history, but the game reminds me of John Carpenter’s classic, which only has fewer mullets. Ish. You play as a researcher stationed somewhere in Alaska who returns to the outpost to learn what it is to be grateful. Having a steady supply of electricity, appreciating that sometimes silence is golden, and being good at throwing isn’t limited to office team-building days of rounders.
Edge of Sanity paints the picture pretty darn well from the outset, not just from the decent 2D artwork and ambient sounds of screams and echoes but from the overall premise. The pace picks up from a slightly underwhelming return to see your co-worker Frank and a quick round of shut-eye in the dorms to manifestations of blood-gurgling monstrosities keen on doing much more than signing you up for cheap broadband.
Edge Of Sanity Review (PC)
Once waking from your disturbing slumber, you have to do that age-old action of getting rid of the spider in the bathtub, a.k.a: powering up the research lab while there are some oversized walking nightmares keen to eat your face straight off the bone without washing their appendages. Someone has to do it, and though it’s not a butt-clenching experience, you know that shit’s about to get real. And it does.
From uncovering documents to flipping switches on doors to being instantaneously attacked by said face suckers, Edge of Sanity is a bit of a jump fest – irrespective if you’re easily scared. Relying on stealth, that is, moving at a slow and steady pace so as not to disturb the unwanted tenants, you can opt to avoid some enemies altogether, throw well-timed rocks to stun or kill smaller creatures, or thrust and hack with breakable tools to remove them completely. Just ensure you have enough strength to knock down a barricade or two.
Having that Deus Ex-like agency to engage or quiver makes Edge of Sanity a lot of fun if a little nerve-damaging at times. My beef wasn’t necessarily with the jumps or combat, more so the stone tactic. Playing exclusively on the Steam Deck (plays great on the Steam Deck™), the combination of a shoulder button and the analogue stick made sense, but in execution, it was clumsy. Enemies would often catch my eye and then proceed to eat it.
MacGyver In The House/Lab
Mushrooms aren’t abundant, but you’re resourceful and can craft items on the fly, including health restoration. As a survival horror, these items are naturally scarce, so a strategy is encouraged (don’t engage in combat!) so that you can make it to the next day. Making it until the next day is triggered by rescuing other survivors.
After the first eye-opening encounter with otherworldy things, you will stumble upon a camp with a friendly face. This acts as the hub between runs, and when narrative events finish, looking at a map will give some points of interest to find your missing team members. Tracking them is one thing, the next is getting them out safely.
But Edge of Sanity isn’t about being a hero for the sake of it – rescuing these folks has a purpose as you can put them to work at your camp. Repair your facilities, then assign them a task, and each time you return, you will have new items or can craft more for the next run. If only you weren’t dealing with hallucinations and sanity debuffs. That’s right, folks: in true Lovecraft gaming fashion, exposure to these… sights, affects your mental health and too much trauma and limited sleep results in mental ailments that may affect your performance on the job.
Edge Of Sanity Review Summary
If it looks good, sounds good, and has you temporarily pausing to listen out for sounds wherever you’re playing the game in fear of danger, then surely Edge of Sanity is a horror title for you? Yes. Yes, it is. A methodical survival horror with limited resources and a sub-management area to extend your inevitable doom makes for an edge-of-your-seat experience. Plays great on Steam Deck™, too.
