You wake up naked surrounded by an unfamiliar environment and feel only a sense of confusion. You don’t know where you’re going but you know must keep moving forward no matter what obstacle lies in front of you. This is how Scorn begins.
Scorn is a first-person survival horror game that was released on October 14th, 2022 for Xbox Series X and S, Microsoft Windows, and can also be found on both Xbox and PC Game Pass. Scorn was developed by Ebb Software and features an aesthetic that resembles the artwork of H. R. Giger who is best known for his work on the Alien franchise.
Going into the game I had no clue what to expect other than an environment that was designed to be hostile. By the end, Scorn became a game I want to see more of, at least when it comes to game design.
Lost and Alone
Each area of the game is designed to be horrific and unsettling. The feeling of being lost never disappears, in fact, it’s baked into everything the game dishes out during your time with it. Each section of the game starts off feeling cold, hollow, and even somewhat dead. The ambiance is purposeful and supposed to be unsettling. Nothing in Scorn will make you feel warm and fuzzy, it will make you feel alone, scared, and disgusted.
Everything you interact with is designed to operate the way a machine would but in an organic way. Instead of mechanical clanking, you get oozing and pulsing from machines. Need to use an elevator to move to a higher area? Try inserting your fingers into holes made of flesh that fit your hands perfectly.
Gore is also something you’ll see over and over again as Scorn has no problem putting you in gruesome situations. Even during your downtime when you’re exploring your options and figuring out where to go next you’ll more than likely be grossed out by the environment.
A Disgusting Revelation
Everything about the art design in Scorn is awful but in the best way. Nothing feels safe and it’s easy to want to walk away and play something that’s a lot more pleasing to the eyes. However, despite the game’s intended ugliness, it was Scorn’s game design ideas that kept me coming back.
The gameplay is puzzle focused and mainly consists of analyzing a room and figuring out what to do and where to go next, but with zero direction. Scorn drops you in and tells you nothing, which only adds to the sense of loneliness that the art direction conveys. The only insight you get into the game is your control scheme which is only shown when you pause the game.
I went through a good chunk of Scorn not knowing I had access to certain abilities despite gaining new items in my inventory. It was not only until I studied the controls in the pause menu that I learned I could heal after having this option unlocked for quite some time. This lack of information will most likely be why many will choose to put Scorn and play something else. The limited information could easily be frustrating or a turn-off completely for people that want a quick gaming experience. However, if you’re looking for something that doesn’t beg for your attention but requires it, then I think you’ll welcome the lack of direction.
Something else I took note of is that at no point does Scorn have any type of map marker, objectives lists, or any indicator of what you need to do in order to progress. The only HUD elements that appear on the screen are those related to health and ammo. There are no inventory menus, no gear, and no flavor text about anything you can interact with. It’s up to you to figure out where to go next and how to complete each puzzle and objective. Luckily the puzzles in Scorn feel familiar enough that the solution can be reached but not so far out there your only hope is a Google search or Reddit thread.
The Stuff of Nightmares
Scorn’s revolting environments would only be unsettling for so long if there was no threat introduced. Unfortunately, that threat comes in the form of monsters that exist without any explanation. These hostile creatures appear later in the game and at first, can only be avoided until you gain proper combat options. However, combat is deliberate.
Early on, some situations may give you the option to fight which may seem like a no-brainer, use your new weapon to remove the threat. Despite having the option the fight, it may be in your best interest to run instead as the first weapon you receive is more of a tool. While this weapon/tool can be used to eliminate your enemies, you’ll be in big trouble if miss your shots. Even though Scorn is a first-person perspective game, the weapons will not mimic the feel of a first-person shooter. So if you’re expecting to go in guns blazing, you might want to take a step back and plan your approach before you set yourself back. Scorn wants you to move slowly and take everything in. It wants you to realize how awful the world around you is. This is reflected in most of the combat but as you progress things will begin to move more quickly.
Final Thoughts
While there is an overarching objective and story to Scorn, you’re never told the point of your journey. Much like not knowing how to progress right away, the story is one that is best figured out by analyzing the environment around you. Some clues like giant murals lend you an idea of what may have happened to others in the world of Scorn but you’re never given any confirmation. While I can guarantee that no one is going to be talking about the story of Scorn they will be talking about what it does best. It masters the feeling of being alone and lost but keeps you intrigued as you never know what will be around the next corner. The desire to find answers to the puzzles and the mystery of Scorn is a powerful driving force. For some, the lack of purpose from both the environment and the story can make it difficult to get into Scorn but I recommend playing until you’ve solved your first puzzle as the nature of the game will begin to make sense. Enter a room, identify what you can interact with, and try not to be too repulsed in the process.
Overall, I really liked Scorn and loved that the full experience only lasts between six to eight hours. For the achievement and trophy hunters, you’ll be happy to know that it’s very easy to 100% the game in one run. Aesthetically the game is not my personal favorite, but it’s hard not to like the art design as it does exactly what it’s supposed to do, making you feel disgusted. Honestly, I think Scorn would be incomplete without its ugly design.
The puzzles were very satisfying and if you’re looking for a game that doesn’t hold your hand then I cannot recommend Scorn enough. In an age of gaming where some experiences can have too much information and be cluttered with menus, Scorn is a perfect example of less is more. Let the player figure out what to do next but give them just enough information that they’re not completely lost, just mostly lost. We’ve seen other games like Tunic make use of limited information and I would personally love to see other titles adopt a similar philosophy.
If it wasn’t obvious, I highly recommend checking out Scorn if you’re a fan of survival horror or puzzles and want something that doesn’t overstay its welcome.
