Epic Games’ digital storefront has served as a competitor to the popular Steam service ever since its launch in 2018. By providing another place for players to buy and access games, the Epic Games Store has helped to expand the options for gamers and developers alike. With features like storefront-exclusive games and time-exclusive releases, the Epic Games Store has proved to be a prominent place for players to go for the best and most up-to-date titles, like the recently released In Sound Mind.
Another popular element of the Epic Games Store that has been in operation since 2020 is the free game giveaway every week. Anyone with an Epic Games Store account can add these weekly titles to their library, and it offers players a chance to try out some games that they might otherwise have passed on. Recent free games have included the charming Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, seafaring adventure Windbound, and indie RPG Cris Tales. However, it’s the upcoming free game In Sound Mind that might pique the interest of horror fans when it becomes available from March 17 - March 24.
Welcome To The World Of In Sound Mind
While horror remains a popular genre among the video game community, the last few years have had diminishing returns with the opinion of some gamers. From overused tropes to unoriginal formulas, it can be hard for a horror game to truly distinguish itself from others in the same style. There have been a few standouts that have helped to reinvent the genre and truly outshine their competitors like the haunting P.T. demo, the horrific Outlast and its sequel, and the disturbing Soma. The heyday for horror games is thought by some to be in the past, with less memorable offerings making up the majority of scary releases in recent years.
While In Sound Mind may not reach the same iconic heights of an experience like P.T., it does bring something new to the table. While the setup may sound familiar — a first-person perspective that makes players explore creepy and badly-lit environments and solve puzzles — In Sound Mind manages to throw some unexpected elements at gamers to help distinguish the game from its counterparts. With surprisingly funny aspects like ominous frequent phone calls that players can just hang up to instantly silence the gravelly voice on the line, In Sound Mind offers a twist on some tired tropes to freshen up the whole experience.
We Create Stuff and Modus Games have cultivated a suitably creepy environment, with shadowy figures moving just outside the player’s periphery and a host of other terrifying enemies and elements to keep them on edge. As a therapist, players must explore the twisted recesses of the character’s mind as they experience strange visions, are stalked by ghosts, contend with sentient mannequins, and even interact with a talking cat. There are boss fights and challenging puzzles to solve, and that horror game classic element — using a torch to navigate haunted corridors. It may only be a few hours long, but In Sound Mind packs its playtime with plenty of punch.
Why Players Should Check Out In Sound Mind
In addition to the inclusion of one of video games’ most popular elements — a feline that players can pet — In Sound Mind has an intriguing narrative that explores some sensitive psychological themes. It combines a compelling narrative and environmental storytelling with fun gameplay mechanics and some unexpected aspects that help set it apart.
The structure of the game — where therapist Desmond Wales has to experience the tapes of his patients’ sessions and their accompanying traumas while battling with his own demons — feels fresh and interesting. The ability to retreat to his office for a little respite, and the chance to interact with his cat Tonia, is also a welcome break from the horrors just outside the door.
Players can use different weapons during In Sound Mind including handguns, flare guns, and shotguns, which adds an action-focused dimension to the proceedings. The choice to either light the way with the torch or fight off entities with a weapon is a foundation for In Sound Mind’s tension and helps to vary the gameplay. Exploration is key, and the way that Desmond navigates the diverse psyches of his patients and the struggles they have adds to the game’s intriguing premise.
With unexpected elements of humor, twists on conventional horror tropes, and a well-told story that dives deep into the workings of the human psyche, In Sound Mind delivers a fun and challenging gaming experience.
In Sound Mind is available now for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
