If anybody ever asked me to give an example of a video game as an art form, this would be it. My undisputed number one choice is this game, because what it achieves in storytelling and atmosphere is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced, it just stays with you. Like all great artwork, it lingers in your mind long after you've finished it.

Never in my life have I been obsessed with something like this, and for good reason. I could talk about this game and how it makes me feel for days. I think everyone who has finished it and seen all the endings will agree: in the end, the meaning, and essentially the entire story, depends on personal interpretation. I love that about Signalis. It gives you so much while simultaneously giving you so little, leaving ample room for players to find their own meaning, to see what they wish in its story. In a narrative like this, that can mean a great deal to many people. But the central theme is unavoidable: like in life, everyone needs companionship. This is ultimately a bittersweet and tragic story of love, with a touch of cosmic horror. It’s about finding love and acceptance in the worst of circumstances, and I can’t help but adore it, even as it makes me cry every time.

Going into this game blind is pivotal, and I would give anything to be able to play it for the first time again. But because of the sheer amount of detail and the many ambiguous messages, this game is worth replaying over and over, just for the new things you notice with each playthrough, not to mention the deeper understanding of the story and timeline you gain each time. As someone who loves story-driven narrative games, this is hands down the best experience I’ve ever had, books, movies, games, any medium, there's just nothing like it.

The first time I played this game blind, it was utterly confusing, yet emotionally gripping. It immediately made me want to learn more about the game, its world, its characters, and everything in between. Afterward, I explored other, older media that were either clear or subtle inspirations for Signalis: I played through Silent Hill 2 and Nier, watched Neon Genesis Evangelion, and read some Lovecraft and The King in Yellow, which the game so prominently features. Despite all the insight I’ve gained from experiencing these works, I still appreciate Signalis the most, for how it borrows these ideas while expanding on them with its own rich world and creative vision.

The sheer amount of artwork the game incorporates is also impressive, not just because it uses it all effectively, from paintings to classical music, but because it functions like a digital gallery, a collection of different art forms across time periods presented in a unique, immersive way.

When it comes to the music that isn't borrowed, Cicada Sirens and 1000 Eyes absolutely deliver in the original soundtrack. The atmosphere is incredible, whether in the slow, sentimental tracks or the more action-packed, terror-laden ones, the music never disappoints. Another standout element is the way the game communicates its story outside of cutscenes, through the world itself, its environments, and its notes.

The dystopian world of Signalis is fascinating, partly because it might one day resemble our own, but also because of how little concrete information you're given about it and its inhabitants. That scarcity makes you pay closer attention to every detail. Some environments echo Silent Hill’s technique, presenting hellish versions of familiar places. Like the notes scattered throughout the game, they often serve as unreliable narrators. Still, whether they're explaining gameplay mechanics, puzzles, or story elements, the notes are always worth reading.

As far as gameplay goes, it does a great job of imitating old survival horror games from the early 2000s, like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, but ultimately, it's simply solid, nothing groundbreaking, but well executed. Where it truly shines is in its cryptic yet compelling storytelling, which remains brilliant down to the last detail.

The simple, low-poly visual style with a pixelated filter not only evokes a retro aesthetic that echoes the games it draws inspiration from, but also offers a distinctive lens through which to experience the story. The shifting gameplay perspectives, the varied cutscene styles, and the parallels between them create an incredibly vibrant experience, both visually and mechanically, with a satisfying mix of classic and cleverly designed new puzzles.

In conclusion, Signalis is an emotionally mature and deeply thoughtful game that explores classism and the nature of affection. Its unique visual style and gripping storytelling achieve pure terror not through typical horror conventions, but through the narrative itself. Within its genre, it’s a 10/10, without a doubt. As an indie game, I believe it surpasses most others in its class, and it's not even close. I love my space lesbians, and I’ll likely never love another game this much again.

Gay silent hill 2

kill your gays trope but instead of the lesbians dying everyone else dies and you stare at the screen in utter disbelief that you finished the game with little to no mental stability left.

10/10, i adore it, it took me out back and killed me in cold blood.