SIGNALIS is a survival horror game I wasn't expecting to be all that good when I first picked it up and began playing. It was one of those games I was gifted and that remained into my ravenously hungry backlog collecting dust until summer 2024 when I decided to stream it to my friend.

It would be an understatement to say SIGNALIS changed my life.

In SIGNALIS you are playing the traditional survival horror formula. Pick up items with limited space, solve puzzles, fight off whatever enemies try to prevent you from doing so. SIGNALIS takes direct inspiration from titles like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, and if you're familiar with those games you'll immediately find a sense of familiarity in this one. Combat is fairly straightforward. you'll face a variety of enemies that you'll have to use Elster's arsenal of weaponry on. However, SIGNALIS introduces new mechanics and nuances to the mix with certain items you'll need to solve the surprisingly complex puzzles or to progress in certain areas. I was stumped many times (albeit not a hard feat to achieve) by some puzzles and had to search the internet for help. It will challenge your brain and make you think.

This game has a story that had a profound impact on me. In this review I can't go into very much detail just because I don't want to spoil the surprise to anyone who wants to give this game a shot reading this. But also just because it's story isn't exactly easy to put into words. It's heartbreaking and powerful. The nature of the game led me to seek out people on the internet who had similar feelings about me towards the game, and led to me making some incredible friends.

Overall, SIGNALIS is a masterpiece. I am deeply moved by the narrative, the characters, and the soundtrack the devs have beautifully put into a single 15ish hour video game. It's absolutely amazing, my favorite game of all time, and I simply can't recommend a play through enough.