Sleep Awake (video game)

Sleep Awake
DeveloperEyes Out
PublisherBlumhouse Games
DirectorsRobin Finck
Cory Davis
DesignerClay Westing
ArtistStephen Ratter
ComposerRobin Finck
EngineUnreal Engine 4
Platforms
ReleaseDecember 2, 2025
GenresWalking simulator,[1][2] psychological horror[2][3]
ModeSingle player

Sleep Awake is a 2025 first person psychological horror indie game developed by Eyes Out, founded by Spec Ops: The Line's Cory Davis and Robin Finck of Nine Inch Nails, and published by Blumhouse Games. The game was released on December 2, 2025 on PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S with a mixed to average reception.

Gameplay

Players play as Katja (played by Persia Numan) in an ever-shifting far futuristic world of The Crush, navigating through death cults and otherworldy forces, all while trying to stay awake. While this game include puzzles to solve and stealth sequences to avoid a group known as the DTM, the key factor to this is the eyedrops on the player known as an anti-sleep defusion. If the player falls asleep, it could mean certain doom.[1][4]

Development

Developer Eyes Out is based in Los Angeles.[5] Blumhouse Games showcased Sleep Awake during the Summer Game Fest in June 7, 2024.[6] The game features an original score from the game’s co-director Robin Finck of Nine Inch Nails, giving the music a visceral journey with brooding guitar motifs, immersive synth passages and evolving rhythmic pulses, all while capturing the emotional and existingal depths and stylistic inventiveness.[7]

Release

During the Indie Horror Showcase, the game was announced to be released on December 2, 2025.[8]

Reception

Sleep Awake received "mixed or average reviews" based on 12 critic reviews according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[13] 50% of critics recommended Sleep Awake on OpenCritic.[11]

Polygon gave it a good review on the visuals and soundtrack with an off-the-wall plot being more grounded in reality for a satisfying, thought-provoking, and truly unique experience.[1] Bloody Disgusting gave the game a solid 3 out of 5 for the visuals but lacks a weak story with undercooked gameplay elements.[14]

References

  1. ^ a b c Lewis, Claire (2025-12-03). "Sleep Awake is a trippy nightmare worth savoring". Polygon. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
  2. ^ a b c "Sleep Awake review: Delaying the inevitable". Shacknews. December 2, 2025.
  3. ^ Gordon, Lewis (3 December 2025). "Sleep Awake review – Gary Numan cameos in an overly straightforward sleep-deprivation horror". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Archived from the original on 3 December 2025. Retrieved 9 March 2026.
  4. ^ Gould, Elie (2025-10-13). "Blumhouse's latest horror game Sleep Awake is the first psychological horror I've enjoyed in a hot minute". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
  5. ^ Graft, Kris (August 11, 2021). "Spec Ops: The Line creative director opens studio with Nine Inch Nails guitarist". Game Developer. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
  6. ^ Jackson, Destiny (2024-06-07). "Blumhouse Games Conjures Upcoming Indie Horror Games Slate At Summer Game Fest". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  7. ^ Shutler, Ali (2025-12-03). "Nine Inch Nails' Robin Finck releases horror game and soundtrack". NME. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
  8. ^ "Blumhouse Games' 'SLEEP AWAKE' Launching December 2 [Trailer]". Bloody Disgusting.
  9. ^ "Sleep Awake critic reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic.
  10. ^ "Sleep Awake critic reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic.
  11. ^ a b "Sleep Awake Reviews". OpenCritic. December 16, 2025.
  12. ^ "This surreal, sleepless horror can be visually captivating, but the stealth ends up a little tired". GamesRadar+. December 2, 2025.
  13. ^ "Sleep Awake Reviews - Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved 2026-03-06.
  14. ^ "Visual Treats in 'SLEEP AWAKE' Mask a Weak Story and Undercooked Gameplay Elements [Review]". Bloody Disgusting.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.