Info about Disminal:

Official game description:
Disminal is a First Person Exploration/Walking Simulator experience set in the backrooms where you will be able to wonder through some of it's unsettling and vacant places, is there an exit to be found? or will you be staying here forever, lost between two worlds.
This game will focus merely on immersion and appreciation of aesthetics.
*   Most zones/sections in the game are greatly influenced by YouTube videos and images depicting liminal spaces
*   Featuring a 'MPEG' mode which graphically mimics the artifacts seen in actual low quality videos so as to enhance the immersion.
**CONTROLS:**
**WASD/Left analog**: Movement
**Left CTRL**, **LT / RT (L2 / R2)** → Hold to crouch
**Lef Shift**, **R1 / RB** → Hold to walk faster
**Right Click, L1 / LB** → Toggle zoom (press again to zoom in/out while held)
**Left Click, A / X** → Interact

Release date: May 2, 2024

Categories: Walking Simulator, Atmospheric Horror, Exploration, Liminal Space Exploration, Psychological Horror, First-Person Perspective, Single-player


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $3.00 - $5.00
  - Reasoning: The community feedback suggests that the game is short and has some repetitive elements, but many find it acceptable when purchased at a discount. A sale price of $3.59 is explicitly called 'totally fine', while the original price of $5.99 is described as 'a bit expensive' by some. Another review notes that even around $3 (22 yuan) the value is not high due to the short playtime. This indicates that a fair base-game price range likely sits between $3 and $5, with $3.50–$4.00 being a common sweet spot for perceived value.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 1.5h
  - Story completion: 1.5h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: Multiple reviews report completion times ranging from 51 minutes to over 3 hours, with most falling between 1 and 2 hours. The median reported time is approximately 1.5 hours, so gameCompletion and storyCompletion are set to 1.5. Session length is not explicitly quantified; some mention multiple short sessions but no durations, so sessionLength is null. No endgame time is reported, so endgame is null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game starts with a boring first section but improves after it, though some players find it persistently dull and repetitive.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: After the first section
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: boring first section; movement feels like a chore; maze-like areas; empty rooms and corridors; lack of variance
  - Unlock drivers: progressing past the first section
  - Conditions: if you can tolerate the first section; if you don't mind some repetition; if you find liminal spaces boring; if you appreciate atmospheric levels
- Player Archetypes:
  - Liminal Space Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Immersive exploration of surreal, entity-free liminal spaces.
    - Playstyle: Slow, thorough exploration, taking time to absorb the atmosphere and discover hidden details.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: The Complex; POOLS
  - Value-Conscious Shopper (sale)
    - Motivation: Getting a satisfying experience without overpaying for a short game.
    - Playstyle: Quick playthrough, checking length, waiting for discounts or bundles.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: single-player backrooms fan
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Disillusioned Genre Fan (no buy)
    - Motivation: Seeking an authentic, unsettling liminal experience that the game fails to deliver.
    - Playstyle: Walking through levels, expecting unease and discomfort, but finding monotony.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Excellent liminal space atmosphere (weight 0.7): The game is repeatedly praised as one of the best liminal space experiences, with a strong and authentic atmosphere. Players consider it a prime example of the genre.
- Visuals are stunning (weight 0.33): The graphics and visual presentation are frequently highlighted as beautiful and visually appealing. Players specifically note the quality of the visuals as a standout feature.
- Music enhances atmosphere (weight 0.27): The music and ambient sounds are praised for adding to the atmosphere, with the soundtrack by Infinity Frequencies being a notable highlight. Players find the audio design effective.
- Enjoyable walking simulator (weight 0.25): Players find the game fun to walk around in and explore, describing it as a good walking sim with interesting environments. The exploration aspect is a key positive.
- VHS aesthetic well executed (weight 0.14): The VHS low-resolution effect and style are specifically praised as well done. Players enjoy the aesthetic choice and feel it enhances the experience.
- Smooth performance and optimization (weight 0.1): The game runs smoothly and is well optimized, which is noted as a positive technical aspect. This contributes to a seamless experience.
- Potential and charm (weight 0.08): Players see the game as having a lot of potential and some charm. This suggests a positive but not fully realized experience.

Common complaints:
- Movement speed is too slow (weight 0.86): Players consistently report that movement, especially sprinting, is extremely slow and sluggish. This issue is particularly noticeable on stairs and slopes, where movement nearly stops, making exploration tedious and frustrating.
- Lack of video options (weight 0.86): Players are frustrated by the lack of customizable video settings, including no options to disable motion blur, VHS effects, headbob, or adjust FOV, brightness, and resolution. These forced effects cause discomfort, headaches, and nausea, and the game's performance suffers without adjustable settings.
- Boring and empty levels (weight 0.6): The levels are described as empty, bare-bones, and repetitive, with a constant copy-paste feel. The lack of interesting locations, visual variety, and interactive elements makes the game monotonous and dull to explore.
- No save system exists (weight 0.43): The game lacks any save function or checkpoints, forcing players to complete the entire game in one session. This is a major issue as any crash, quit, or even falling asleep results in losing all progress and restarting from the beginning.
- Multiple game-breaking bugs (weight 0.4): Players have encountered several serious bugs, including falling out of the map, getting stuck in geometry, clipping through walls, and a critical crash that forces a full restart. These issues break immersion and can ruin a playthrough.
- No flashlight or night vision (weight 0.22): Players complain that there is no flashlight or night vision available, making darker areas nearly impossible to navigate. This is a significant gameplay issue that forces players to stumble through the dark or avoid certain areas entirely.
- Lack of interaction and gameplay (weight 0.21): There is almost no interaction with the environment or items, and the game is essentially a walking simulator with zero gameplay mechanics. This, combined with the slow movement, makes the experience feel empty and pointless.
- Lack of controller and keybinding support (weight 0.2): The game lacks native controller support, keybinding options, and even basic instructions for key bindings. This makes the game difficult to play for those who prefer controllers or need to customize their controls.
- Abrupt and unsatisfying ending (weight 0.19): The ending is frequently described as sudden and abrupt, with some players even mistaking it for a crash. The lack of a proper conclusion leaves players feeling unsatisfied and wanting more from the narrative.
- Achievements are problematic (weight 0.14): Achievements are difficult to unlock, requiring players to zoom in on specific objects, which is slow and sometimes doesn't register. Some achievements also fail to unlock entirely, frustrating completionists.

Gameplay feedback:
- Walking simulator in liminal spaces (weight 0.97): The game is consistently described as a walking simulator focused on exploring liminal spaces, similar to The Stanley Parable. Players walk slowly through atmospheric, strange environments without combat or complex mechanics.
- No monsters or jumpscares (weight 0.52): The game deliberately avoids monsters, entities, and jumpscares, creating fear through atmosphere and existential dread instead. This makes it a peaceful, non-threatening exploration experience.
- Backrooms-inspired exploration game (weight 0.48): The game is heavily inspired by the Backrooms universe, offering a psychological horror exploration experience. It focuses on the liminal, eerie atmosphere of the Backrooms rather than traditional horror elements.
- Linear level design with guidance (weight 0.27): The map is slightly linear, with yellow room hints and ground lines guiding the player through the space. Most rooms are one-way when following these hints, though some free exploration remains.
- Exploration-focused gameplay (weight 0.23): The core gameplay revolves around exploration, wandering aimlessly through environments without objectives or threats. It is more about discovery and atmosphere than action or challenge.
- Seamlessly connected environments (weight 0.22): The game features seamlessly connected environments with no breaks between levels, using a one-shot camera approach. Levels morph into one another, creating a continuous, immersive experience.
- VHS camera visual style (weight 0.18): The game features a VHS camera mode and visual filter, giving it a low-quality, retro aesthetic. This enhances the eerie, nostalgic atmosphere of the liminal spaces.

Performance notes:
- Performance issues reported (weight 0.19): Multiple reviewers report suboptimal performance, including low frame rates (5-18 FPS, 10-15 FPS) and general optimization concerns. These issues are common and specific, indicating a significant performance problem for some users.
- Visual effects cause discomfort (weight 0.1): Motion blur turns the screen into a beige blob with slight mouse movement, and VHS-style effects hurt eyes. These visual effects are problematic for some players.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended overall (weight 0.26): Several reviewers give strong positive recommendations, calling it a must-play for enthusiasts of the genre. The game is generally well-received by its target audience.
- Worth the price (weight 0.22): Reviewers state the game is worth its asking price and provides good value for the experience. Some mention it is fair for the quality offered.
- Good for short sessions (weight 0.1): The game is described as great for an evening or late-night play, suggesting it is suitable for shorter gaming sessions. This may appeal to players looking for a brief atmospheric experience.
- Alternatives suggested (weight 0.1): Some reviewers recommend other games like BACK*SPACE, POOLS, or Dreamcore instead. This suggests the game may have competitors that are considered better options.
- Not a first pick (weight 0.06): A few reviewers indicate the game is not a top priority or first choice. It may be seen as a secondary option for genre fans.
- Good for beginners (weight 0.05): The game is considered suitable for beginners, possibly due to its simple mechanics and non-threatening gameplay. This may broaden its appeal.
- Worth a few bucks (weight 0.05): One reviewer says the game is worth a few bucks for experiencing new but strangely familiar places. This suggests it is a budget-friendly purchase.

Other player notes:
- Liminal space horror game (weight 0.62): The game is consistently described as a liminal space horror experience and a walking simulator. Reviewers frequently compare it to other games in the genre like POOLS, The Complex, and Dreamcore.
- Game is very short (weight 0.48): Multiple reviewers note the game can be completed in about 1 to 2.5 hours, with some finishing in under an hour. This brevity is a common point of discussion.
- Compared to other liminal games (weight 0.39): The game is frequently compared to titles like POOLS, The Complex, Dreamcore, and BACK*SPACE. These comparisons are used to describe its atmosphere, visual style, and overall feel.
- Pricing considered appropriate (weight 0.25): Reviewers generally feel the game's price is fair for its short length, describing it as affordable and reasonably priced. Some note it is often sold at a discount.
- Developer is responsive (weight 0.16): The developer, Brian Gonnet, is noted as responsive to feedback and incorporating ideas. This is seen as a positive sign for future updates and improvements.
- Replay value from exploration (weight 0.14): Some reviewers mention the game has replay value due to alternate paths, hidden spaces, and unexplored areas. This encourages multiple playthroughs for completionists.
- Indie one-person project (weight 0.13): The game is an indie title developed by a one-person team, Brian Gonnet, and made with Unity. This context is relevant for setting expectations.
- Playable on Mac (weight 0.08): The game is playable on Mac, though Steam warns it may not run on later macOS versions. This is a compatibility note for Mac users.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.16): Players are frustrated by severe performance issues, including crashes, low frame rates, and lag, which force restarts and hinder progress. The lack of a save system, slow movement speed, and various bugs in areas like the poolrooms and stairs further compound the negative experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.12): Players enjoy the game's unique liminal spaces, seamless environment connections, and the overall atmosphere that makes walking through the game a fun and immersive experience. The game is praised for its good vibes, stunning graphics, and enjoyable exploration, making it a satisfying walking simulator.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.12): Players are satisfied with the game's well-crafted spatial atmosphere, smooth transitions, and the existential fear it provides without relying on monsters. The game is considered worth its price, with improvements like a save system and better running mechanics enhancing the overall experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.11): Players are disappointed by the lack of story, empty and linear levels, and graphics that do not capture the Backrooms essence. The slow movement, minimal interaction, and abrupt ending contribute to a feeling that the game is not worth the time or money.
- Appreciation (weight 0.11): Players appreciate the game's ability to capture the genre's essence without generic monsters, along with its well-designed floorplans, beautiful graphics, and immersive atmosphere. The inclusion of areas from other Backrooms media and the game's eerie, dreamlike quality are also highly valued.
- Admiration (weight 0.07): Players admire the game for setting a high bar in the Backrooms genre with spectacular environmental design and a unique art style. The game is considered one of the best liminal space horror experiences, with excellent ambiance and inventive gameplay mechanics.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Players feel bored due to the slow movement that makes exploration feel like a chore, combined with uninteresting and repetitive levels. The game's lack of excitement, even at increased speed, leads to a dull experience.
- Love (weight 0.02): Players love the game for being a perfect example of a liminal space game, with music that enhances the atmosphere and peaceful exploration. The game's visual appeal and low CPU usage also contribute to a positive experience.
- Discomfort (weight 0.02): Players experience discomfort from the overly bright pool area and VHS-style visual effects that cause eye strain. The uncanny reality feeling is also off-putting, making the game physically uncomfortable to play.
- Approval (weight 0.02): Players approve of the game's updates, including the addition of an achievement system, and appreciate it as a superb creepy liminal experience without survival horror elements. The game is also seen as a good short walking simulator.
- Amazement (weight 0.01): Players are amazed by the game's strong liminal atmosphere, which stands out among Backrooms walking sims. The overall experience is described as amazing, leaving a lasting impression.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Players are confused by sections where rooms behave erratically and by the broken-looking stair walking animation. These issues disrupt the immersion and clarity of the game.
- Anxiety (weight 0.01): Players feel anxiety from the game's atmosphere, which encourages self-induced scares, and from triggers of apeiro/agoraphobia. The game effectively creates a tense and uneasy experience.
- Fascination (weight 0.01): Players are fascinated by the dreamlike spaces and the trance-like atmosphere created through light and shadow. The visual and audio design makes them feel like a voyeur in a wrong but magical world.
- Bored (weight 0.01): Players are bored by the maze-like areas, empty rooms, and corridors that lack variance, combined with a walking speed so slow it feels like crawling. This leads to a monotonous and unengaging experience.
- Desire (weight 0.01): Players desire to explore the interesting and eerie levels but are held back by the slow walking speed. The game's design makes them want to play more, despite the movement frustrations.
- Happiness (weight 0.01): Players are happy with the game's beauty and enjoy playing through it multiple times. The positive experience leads to plans for future playthroughs.
- Awe (weight 0.01): Players are in awe of the game's incredible atmosphere and attention to detail, which creates an uncanny feeling and haunting beauty. The spaces are both impressive and unsettling.
- Excitement (weight 0.01): Players are excited about the game as a hidden gem that offers a unique experience, and they look forward to future updates and content. The potential for expansion adds to the anticipation.
- Nausea (weight 0.01): Players experience nausea due to extreme lag in camera movement, which makes the game physically uncomfortable to play. This technical issue significantly detracts from the experience.}