Edge Of Sanity Review

The Cthulhu mythos has always been a great addition to any game; the idea of an unknowable, undefeatable evil that slowly wears away the psyche is just a great plot device. However, the stories always seem set by the sea, so why not somewhere colder and more desolate? That’s where Edge of Sanity, the latest game from Vixa Games, comes in. The question is if we should delve into our minds or leave this one out in the cold.

Edge of Sanity is not actually set in the Cthulhu universe; instead, it is inspired by it. Saying that… the same basic concept is here: strange creatures and horrifying hallucinations. You take on the role of Carter, a worker for the PRISM company, the stock corporation messing with things they do not understand in a remote part of Alaska. An explosion at the main base sees you desperately trying to survive while rounding up other people, gathering supplies and avoiding the monstrosities that have been unleashed. However, a voice scratches at the edges of your mind and strange visions plague you. 

As plots go, Edge of Sanity isn’t anything amazing, but it does everything well. The idea of being lost in the harsh and desolate Alaskan landscape while being pursued by strange creatures that may or may not exist is tantalising. While Carter might not focus on the greater ramifications of what is happening, the audience is free to, and you can delve into the plot or ignore it and focus on the gameplay. Meanwhile, the more horror aspects slowly build up and cause you to question what is really going on here and how much of it is in your mind.

I will say that the camp mechanics, mainly repairing and manning the stations, are a bit more mundane, and the characters aren’t amazing initially. This means that the initial sense of foreboding and fear has to rely more on the environment. Thankfully, it does when you finally get into the game proper.

Gameplay is split into three sections: scouting, exploring, and base camp management. The truth is that you are in a dangerous place, and resources are limited at best. You’ll need to find and explore locations to dig up any supplies you can while rescuing any survivors. The actual exploration of each location is pretty simple but there is some interesting complexity to it. The main thing you do is run through the 2D maps, finding boxes, supplies, and routes past any blockage. None of the environmental puzzles are all that complicated, and it’s hard to actually lose your way; instead, the real challenge comes from the enemies on the map.

The monsters you will face are varied, but each can be taken out with a few axe or knife swings. However, your health pool is low, and few items can heal you in the early game. Instead, you can take a smarter approach by knowing each enemy's weakness. For instance, one of the early monsters doesn’t have eyes, which means you can easily sneak past them, while another is burned by the light from your lamp. To be honest, the game prioritises avoiding fights and if you are caught, you can’t just run past enemies, so you end up losing a lot of health. There is a dodge button for combat, but it’s faster just to sneak around and hide. 

All this feeds into the game's madness and traumas mechanic. The more time you spend exploring and the more monsters you see, the more madness you accumulate. If you have too much, then you’ll get a trauma, which can be good or bad depending. For instance, my Carter became a bit too obsessed with fire, meaning his lantern burnt more fuel. However, this meant that the lamp also did more damage to any enemy weakened by fire. It’s an interesting mechanic, and it adds to the challenge as the game goes. 

The other part of the game involves repairing your camp and sending out scouting parties. As I said, you’ll eventually find survivors and can set them to specific stations in the camp. These stations can help to craft the necessary food, water, and more that you’ll need for survival. However, you need to keep everyone happy… otherwise, they may end up dying. While the base building and survivor management mechanics get good later on, the start is a bit messy and more annoying than fun. 

Visually, Edge of Sanity is interesting, to say the least; while it isn’t the most graphically impressive game, the art direction is pretty good. You might only be exploring 2D environments, but they all tell a story, and it’s immersive as hell. I really want to praise the sound design as well: everything feels wet and gross, and the roars of the monsters are pretty haunting. 

Overall, Edge of Sanity is a fun, immersive experience. While there are some issues with combat being dull and the game having a pretty terrible start, it’s still worth your time. I would say that anyone who is a fan of the Lovecraft genre and style will have a great time… but may never want to actually visit Antarctica.