S C O R N | Review Thread

[John Elden Ring]

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Game Title: Scorn

Platforms:

• Xbox One (Oct 14, 2022)
• PC (Oct 14, 2022)

Trailers:

• Scorn Gameplay Trailer
• Scorn Xbox Series X Trailer

Developer: Ebb Software

Publisher: Kepler Interactive

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 70 average - 53% recommended - 34 reviews

MetaCritic - 72 average - 32 reviews

Critic Reviews​

Attack of the Fanboy - J.R. Waugh - 5 / 5

Scorn is a special experience for anybody looking to have their expectations subverted for what a good horror game can be. It is a gory, surreal, provocative dive into difficult or even taboo topics, and is wonderfully crafted, and near perfectly optimized. The game's themes and visuals are challenging and extremely mature, but executed with great subtlety. The game is a technical marvel and concise as any horror game should be, so as to not overstay its welcome.

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But Why Tho? - Mick Abrahamson - 8 / 10

Scorn is a survival horror shooter puzzle game and it uses each of those elements in its own mold.

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Digital Trends - Giovanni Colantonio - 2.5 / 5

Scorn impresses as a visual tribute to H. R. Giger, but half-formed gameplay hurt its horror more than it helps.

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EGM - Michael Goroff - 4 / 5

Scorn is a daring aesthetic experiment in virtual, interactive science fiction. Taking inspiration from the art of H.R. Giger and Zdzislaw Beksiński, developer Ebb Software seems hellbent on giving its players a surreal, nightmarish experience, and it mostly succeeds. While combat can feel like a secondary concern, Scorn's puzzles provide just enough challenge to keep the game from feeling like a "walking simulator." Really, though, the main attraction is Scorn's compelling world, a fully realized artistic vision that will haunt you for days after experiencing it.

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Eurogamer - Vikki Blake - No Recommendation

In Scorn, a game of wonderfully horrible atmosphere and smart, hands-off puzzling is undermined by some dodgy checkpoints and wonky combat.

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Everyeye.it - Giulia Martino - Italian - 8.8 / 10

Ebb Software's debut feature breaks away from traditional horror canons to create a surprising and deeply disturbing experience.

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Game Rant - Dalton Cooper - 1 / 5

It should be pointed out that Scorn is a day one Xbox Game Pass game, and that is really the only way to justify playing it. Otherwise, Scorn is an experience that even the most diehard horror game fans should skip.

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Game Revolution - Jason Faulkner - 6 / 10

Scorn is arguably worth playing for the visuals alone. We’re rarely transported to somewhere truly alien in games, and it’s something I’m glad I experienced. However, it’s more of a theme park ride than a genuinely immersive experience. That’s fine, but with a little more complexity and refinement outside of the artwork, it could have been something extraordinary.

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GameSpot - Alessandro Barbosa - 4 / 10

Scorn's frustrating combat, unbalanced puzzles, and unforgiving checkpoints make it an infuriating slog through an otherwise intriguing setting.

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Gamepur - Ricky Frech - 6 / 10

For every vomit-inducing scene of body horror, you’ll also lose your lunch at the game’s technical and design issues. Like the creature and the protagonist, it just feels as if Scorn is fighting against itself at every step along the way.

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Gamersky - 心灵奇兵 - Chinese - 7.9 / 10

Scorn is a mind-blowing experience that will satisfy the eyes of thrill-seekers. But walking through such a flesh and blood maze, only visually experience is not enough. The gameplay and art are supposed to complement each other. I wonder if Scorn is held back by the mediocre gameplay or is too high by the impressive art - its poor bones can hardly hold up its entire core experience, which eventually leads to a discrepancy between the exterior and the interior.

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GamesHub - Edmond Tran - 4 / 5

I certainly don’t enjoy Scorn in the way that I do most video games. The thought of revisiting its monstrous world makes me feel ill. But I respect Scorn for its technical artistry, design and environmental world-building that successfully encourages player agency, and how strong and cohesive it feels in its overall creative vision, despite its mentally and physically taxing nature.

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GamesRadar+ - Jon Bailes - 3.5 / 5

Scorn works wonders with Giger's and Beksiński's artwork, not only in terms of aesthetic fidelity but in creating a world that's utterly strange to exist in. This is a violent, painful, but fascinating place, thick with symbolism and interlocking puzzles that hint at some terrifying grand design. While it can be overly obscure and frustrating, especially in combat, Scorn serves up one hell of a journey.

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Gaming Nexus - Eric Hauter - 9 / 10

Full of body horror and psychotically twisted imagery, players will have a variety of reactions to Scorn, but they are unlikely to be bored. While the game's world building and puzzle design are top-notch, the combat and a punitive checkpoint system may turn some players off. Regardless, the big swing by developer Ebb Software definitely pays off. There are no other games on the market quite like Scorn.

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Guardian - Nic Reuben - 4 / 5

An evocative work of art but the things the game evokes are so unpleasant players might need to ration the lengths of their sessions

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Hobby Consolas - Álvaro Alonso - Spanish - 80 / 100

It is likely that many do not agree with its mechanics, but its visual impact is so powerful that it is impossible not to recommend it. Scorn is so disturbing that you're going to want to look away and so overwhelming that you're going to be able to stop looking at us. It's as if a macabre mind's nightmare has become a video game.

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IGN - Leana Hafer - 7 / 10

Scorn is a relentlessly unsettling delve into a surreal, macabre world of alien mystery, but the scariest thing about it is the dreadful combat.

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IGN Italy - Francesco Destri - Italian - 8 / 10

Scorn, with its mix of puzzles, horror, monsters and exploration, is a unique and alienating experience that you'll love or hate.

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Kakuchopurei - Alleef Ashaari - 80 / 100

Scorn is certainly not for the squeamish or those not familiar with body horror, I can tell you that. However, if you're into Cronenberg and body horror, you'll love Scorn. Scorn is best experienced with no prior knowledge or tips because that's how a game like Scorn is meant to be experienced.

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PC Gamer - Ted Litchfield - 80 / 100

Checkpoint woes and a short runtime couldn't keep this body horror sci-fi game from burrowing into my skull.

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Polygon - Steven Scaife - Unscored

By the time the parasite does finally obstruct your ability to use machines or change weapons, the damage is already done. There are few enemies left and the game is almost over, so whatever additional tension might have resulted from these restrictions never materializes. Scorn is a transportive experience to be sure, at times a genuine masterwork of visual craft. But the unfulfilled possibilities linger a little too prominently, a reminder that it falls short of being a mechanical masterpiece, too.

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Press Start - James Mitchell - 7.5 / 10

Scorn successfully leverages an intense atmosphere with striking artistic direction to offer a horror journey like no other. While combat can get in the way of an otherwise strong offering, and the story takes a back seat to everything else, Scorn is a unique horror experience and a great debut.

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Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Alice Bell - Unscored

Scorn's dreadful bio-mechanical world is a fantastic example of horror design and level design alike, but its lovely mess of flesh is let down by messier combat.

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SECTOR.sk - Matúš Štrba - Slovak - 8.5 / 10

Scorn is a unique and high-quality video game horror that doesn't try to jump-scare you in the first place, but builds an exciting atmosphere that you'll love to dive into again and again.

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Skill Up - Ralph Panebianco - Unscored

Video Review - Quote not available​

Spaziogames - Domenico Musicò - Italian - 8.5 / 10

Scorn is a brilliant piece of dark art that knows how to praise Giger and Cronenberg fans. It's a modern and decadent tale about the endless suffering in our empty and useless lives.

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Stevivor - Steve Wright - 6.5 / 10

Scorn isn't necessarily scary, but it is gross and uncomfortable. You may not like what's on the screen, but there's no denying that Ebb has thought long and hard about the world it's presenting and has succeeded in creating a cohesive and fully-formed offering.

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TechRaptor - Andrew Stretch - 4.5 / 10

Scorn is aesthetically impressive and sets a tone early on. Unfortunately there's nothing more to back up this experience as plot is non-existent and puzzles are linear.

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Tom's Hardware Italia - Fabio Canonico - Italian - 8 / 10

Scorn was intended to be an extremely impactful experience, capable of transporting the player into a world that is, in its own way, astonishing.

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Twinfinite - Anna Koselke - 4 / 5

Overall, I would very highly recommend Scorn to fans of both horror and puzzle games. It definitely stands out in both genres as unique, and its challenges will keep you thinking constantly. It is also a game worth checking out if you are a fan of the Alien series or anything biopunk. The art alone was enough for me to immediately wishlist it. While the lack of dialogue did at times feel upsetting, possibly because I myself am a writer at heart, it definitely did add to the creepiness of the atmosphere. With more dialogue, it is very likely that my immersion would have been broken, or at the least, paused. If you think that you have the guts to be surrounded by guts, grab Scorn now on PC or Xbox.

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VG247 - Kelsey Raynor - 4 / 5

In truth, Scorn doesn’t tell a particularly fascinating story, but it hardly matters; the way in which it’s told is done to perfection, and provides an incredibly refreshing horror experience that truly gets under your skin.

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VGC - Chris Scullion - 2 / 5

Scorn has one of the most beautiful worlds you'll see in a game (if you can see beauty in the grotesque). It's just a shame that world is also home to a frustrating puzzle-heavy adventure filled with aimless wandering.

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Washington Post - Jonathan Lee - Unscored

“Scorn” is an art house experience. I’m sure that other reviewers will plumb “Scorn” for its hidden high-minded commentary on the human condition, but for me, the appeal of the game is how it made me feel rather than think. I felt a constant, humming anxiety for simply existing in its macabre world. I was never particularly scared of anything I encountered; like the playable creature, I just wanted out.

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XboxEra - Jesse Norris - 4 / 10

I have enjoyed some action-adventure horror games out there. Limited ammo and health reserves can be a great tool for upping the tension and a great story helps make it worth seeing things through. Scorn has none of that. It is bland, boring, plays poorly, and excels in no areas.

 

[Bryank75]

I expected about a 60/100 so this isn't that bad.... 70 is respectable enough, although some of the scores look a bit suspect.

Still, much better than I thought, hopefully the Gamepass bro's give it a whirl!

 

[Darth Vader]

In spite of the scores I want to try it. Since they range from very low to very high, it seems like it could be a divisive game that you either love or hate.

 

[peter42O]

Scorn sounds like a game where you're either love it or hate it depending on what you're into.

 

[Sircaw]

From what I have seen in streams, this game is a straight-up 5/10.

That 5/5 attack of the fanboy review looks like he received a free xbox x and a ten-year sub for gamepass.

 

[Hezekiah]

Looks amazing, and has a great artwork.

After being in development for a decade, it's surprising that the game is only five to six hours long.

A game to play for the story, and maybe some puzzle elements. Looks like the actual 'game' elements are decidedly average.

 

[Oogabooga]

Game looks like an abomination, but maybe those who like gore would love it. me tho big no

 

[BigMclargeHuge]

Art style looks really cool. Not sure if I'd ever play it though.

 

[ethomaz]

5/5? Man the game is what it is is lol
Mediocre.

 

[8BiTw0LF]

I'm really into Giger, so will play this on PC at some time

 

[IntentionalPun]

I find this type of game to be boring, but glad some enjoy it. Maybe I'll try it though since I just realized I'm still paying for GPU lol.. think it's my wife's account or something.

 

[IntentionalPun]

5/5? Man the game is what it is is lol
Mediocre.

Did you play it? What did you like/dislike about it?

 

[ethomaz]

Did you play it? What did you like/dislike about it?

Yeap a mediocre game is a 5/5 lol
There is more than one review to read and see what I said.
You can love a mediocre game but it will be a mediocre game.
Love the defense force.

 

[IntentionalPun]

Yeap a mediocre game is a 5/5 lol
There is more than one review to read and see what I said.
Love the defense force.

Defense force lol The fuck are you talking about?

 

[ethomaz]

Defense force lol The fuck are you talking about?

You always do the same weird defense force and after say lol what are you talking about

I mean what are you even about? Because I can read reviews and they are saying the game is mediocre.

 

[IntentionalPun]

You always do the same weird defense force and after say lol what are you talking about

I thought you had played it, based on your comment.. are you high?

 

[ethomaz]

I thought you had played it, based on your comment.. are you high?

I did not play it... you knew it because it is impossible to me play it... I'm a PlayStation only gamer.

 

[IntentionalPun]

I did not play it... you knew it because it is impossible to me play it... I'm a PlayStation only gamer.

Dude I had no clue this was even an Xbox exclusive. Just thought MS paid for day one Gamepass.

 

[DynamiteCop]

5/5? Man the game is what it is is lol
Mediocre.

People either loved Death Stranding or it was one of their worst gaming experiences ever. Don't question other people's enjoyment, you're not them.

 

[ethomaz]

People either loved Death Stranding or it was one of their worst gaming experiences ever. Don't question other people's enjoyment, you're not them.

Wut?

Death Stranding Reviews

Besieged by death's tide at every turn Sam Bridges must brave a world utterly transformed by the Death Stranding. Carrying the stranded remnants of the future in his hands, Sam embarks on a journey to reunite the shattered world one step at a time. What is the mystery of the Death Stranding...

www.metacritic.com

Do you know what mediocre means? I even said you can love a mediocre game but that doesn’t make it more or less mediocre.

A better comparison should be with the mediocre Killzone Shadow Fall:

Killzone: Shadow Fall Reviews

The events of Killzone Shadow Fall take place thirty years after the events of Killzone 3. Set in a time of planetary colonization, the game focuses on the conflict between the Vektans and the Helghast, two rival colonist factions inhabiting a remote planet. For 3 decades, both factions have...

www.metacritic.com