Scorn is an atmospheric survival horror puzzle game heavily inspired by the artist HR Giger. Though it's marketed as a horror game, it isn't really scary but even more disgusting, it really celebrates the gore and does not hold back.

I'm such a huge fan of the work from HR Giger and his work, the Xenomorph especially. Everyone who knows me, knows that Alien is my favorite horror movie and Alien Isolation my favorite horror game. So obviously I was really excited when this game was announced all the way back in 2014 and I've been following the development ever since. Scorn had a lot of pumps in the road including a failed Kickstarter campaign. I didn't watch much gameplay because I didn't want to spoil the myself the mystery which surrounds the world of Scorn. My expectations were quite high after that demo but also knew that Scorn won't be your typical horror shooter.

So the question is did Scorn fulfill my expectation?

Yes and no, Scorn is a massive work of art with impressive images and a really great atmosphere but it's not really a great game and yet one of the most interesting gaming experiences of this year. Scorn has no dialogues and no text, the story is experienced entirely via environmental storytelling and much like the world of Little Nightmares it's more show than tell and leaves the story up to the players for interpretation. Gameplay wise it is rather shallow. You have the typical weapons like a grenade launcher, shotgun and a pistole. But the fights and shooter elements are the biggest weakness of Scorn. They are slow, sluggish, really frustrating.

And boring. But you can avoid most of the enemies. The boss fight is the climax of the boring shooter parts of the game and the worst boss fight I experienced in a long time.

Same Boss fight twice. When you look past the boring shooter elements you notice that Scorn is absolutely beautiful and the art design is stunning. Technically, Scorn makes a really good impression. I had no performance problems, I had to replay a chapter only once because I fell into the abyss and my character was stuck there. The puzzle are okay, some are a little bit too easy and some are really frustrating. The stunning world and art design and the great atmosphere are the strength of Scorn, the animation are also really good and I enjoyed the way they told the story and that it was more show than tell. I can understand if some people find this game boring but it doesn't deserve the hate. If you are a fan of HR Giger and like atmospheric horror puzzle games with an interesting way to tell the story, then you should maybe try this game.

The body horror subgenre features the physical and psychological transformation, deformation, or degradation of the human body. In body horror stories, the human body itself becomes a source of fear, anxiety, and disgust, often through graphic and disturbing depictions of bodily changes, mutilation, or alteration.

The action genre features fast-paced, thrilling, and intense sequences of physical feats, combat, and excitement. The characters of these stories are involved in daring and often dangerous situations, requiring them to rely on their physical prowess, skills, and quick thinking to overcome challenges and adversaries.

The horror genre features stories that aim to elicit fear, suspense, and a sense of dread in its audience. Horror stories often explore themes related to the unknown, the supernatural, and the macabre, and they frequently evoke strong emotional reactions such as anxiety, terror, and unease.

The sci-fi genre, short for science fiction, features imaginative and futuristic concepts that are often rooted in scientific principles, technology, and possibilities. These stories delve into "what if" questions and can serve as a platform to address contemporary social, political, and ethical issues by projecting them onto future or alternate settings.

James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Scorn is an atmospheric first-person horror adventure game set in a nightmarish universe of odd forms and somber tapestry.

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