Scorn is an artsy and atmospheric carnival ride through the gruesome wonders of what biology can produce. At its core, it is a first-person puzzler, intermittent with more engaging action-enticed elements in the form of gruesome horrors one could only think of in a state of delirium. Were it not for the latter, I'd sooner call it a walking sim through the mind of H.R. Giger. There is no traditional storytelling, no narration, no text. Just you and the game.

So, you walk, take in the sights, solve puzzles, and 'dispose of' some baddies. The tourist part of the game had me contemplating the meaning of life, what is sex, what are organs, and where the hell I even am (physically, in the game, and life!). The game does very well as a walking sim, as it looks beautiful through a very morbid and macabre lens. Enclosed areas of alien machinery, old relics of a forgotten civilization, and fallen soldiers on the steps of toppled monuments. Walls depicting reproduction, gore, sex, the perfect human form, and all that good stuff. It's philosophical and the strongest part of the game, though it can be seen as too ambiguous since there is no traditional storytelling.

The secondary mechanic of the game involves solving puzzles. Some are literal 2D puzzle pieces you may need to move to fit to get a viable egg from a grid storage area. The result of the next one may provide power to a train cart, and the next one may culminate in moving said egg in said train cart to move it to an embryo scooper and... I'm not going to spoil it for you, but it's morbid while fascinating. I liked how the puzzles complement each other to build on something larger. The payoff is often satisfying, especially since the difficulty of most puzzles is not exactly low. What I disliked though was when the puzzles were disconnected from each other and far apart enough to make me run around and frantically search for something that made no sense. There is no guidance in the game to help, so you are often on your own. This problem was exacerbated by repeating and look-alike alien hallways.

Action is provided by strange creatures lurking about, trying to, well, murder you. It makes for some tense encounters as weapons are old, archaic things with little ammo to spare. I'm split on whether I liked it or if it just got in the way. While it is a nice break from just the puzzles, combat mechanically lacks the oomph to make it truly satisfying. While combat was probably included as a means to up the ante on the horror, it remains the weakest part of the game. Shooting things does take a back seat here, and that is probably for the better. An outlier is an encounter with a rather portly creature you need to dispose of by means of throwing explosives. 

I played it on a steam deck, docked to a TV, with a controller, and had no technical problems. Finished in 11 hours and lost 2 hours looking for my own ass in some alien tunnels. I'd recommend this game to anyone with a morbid curiosity looking to solve puzzles and willing to look past its lackluster combat. While I can appreciate the amount of effort they put into the game, I don't believe the finished product translates well to the full asking price. At a discount, it can be worthwhile.

I have no words for what I just experienced. Maybe Scorn isn't for you, if you can't support gore, don't play it, like really, it will be a trauma for you.
But if doesn't bother you, absolutely go for it, I loved it more than I thought. Though, to be precise, I loved it for its art direction, atmosphere and its ending, but absolutely NOT for its combat sequences. It would have been so much better if it was just a walking simulator without combat.
Nonetheless, I still strongly recommend it, I won't forget Scorn for a long long time.

Should you happen to have at least a passing interest in narrative techniques, you’ve probably come across the rule of “show, don’t tell”. As in the room isn’t just dark, it is the faint ember of a candle barely letting your eyes to make out the outline of the door on the other end. The idea being that the exposition is significantly more compelling when the viewer can experience the scene rather than be given dry statements to accept as facts. This notion is arguably even more vital to visual medium of filmmaking. Would you rather be told by narrator or other characters that the hero is an experienced fighter or watch an action scene proving the point? The answer is rather obvious.

Many games, including the title of the day, are beyond a shadow of a doubt cinematic experiences with little beside interaction and the viewer immersion to distinguish between one medium and the other. Despite being avidly visual in nature, Scorn takes the idea of “show, don’t tell” to its extreme end and to deliver what I deem to be one of the most profound gaming experiences I’ve had in years. Without uttering a single word.

Living, breathing world
Scorn unceremoniously dumps the player onto the surface of an alien world. Literally, without preamble or a warning, the protagonist falls to the ground and thus the journey begins. A single glance at the surroundings is enough to tell this is not a place of warmth and safety. Everything is organic – the walls are shaped out of bones, joint together by muscle and sinew, wet and glistening as if the tissue was freshly exposed. While the grotesque bio-machinery is undeniably alive, the place is otherwise forebodingly empty with only dark ambient and occasional pulse heard from behind a wall to keep the player company during these first steps.

In short, Scorn leaves it up to your eyes and imagination to make a sense of your surroundings and you will take away from the experience as much as you choose to. Whether you focus entirely on navigating the ossified corridors or dedicate additional time to explore, is left entirely at your discretion. Truth be told the game’s morbid aesthetic is not for everyone, nonetheless this title is undeniably crafted with an exquisite attention to detail. Be it monumental structures, perpetual faint mist or discreet soundtrack – Scorn’s atmosphere is thick enough to be carved out with a knife.
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Watch and learn
Before anyone gets an impression that Scorn is a glorified walking simulator, fret not. This title is foremost a puzzle, made all the better by its alienating style of delivery. Luckily, while the HUD is kept to the absolute minimum as to allow for maximum immersion, crucial hints like health bar or objective marker can be brought up, should the player need them. Furthermore, even in its visual storytelling, this title doesn’t leave you entirely without guidance. Most of the progress is hindered by some manner of closed door, giving a plain indication that some interaction with nearby bio-machinery is needed to unlock the way forward. To give credit where it is due – the puzzles are complex enough to feel satisfying to solve.

As soon as you get used to general gist of forging the path ahead, you will learn that you are not alone in here. For better or worse, Scorn steps in to give the player an extra hand in form of a weapon. The bizarre device utilizes interchangeable endings to serve as both a tool and a gun, capable of warding off creatures inhabiting fleshy overgrowths strewn across the facility. Combat element hardly switches the pace to that of an action title though. To be fair, fighting is quite awkward and rather unforgiving. Resupply stations are few and far between and mostly it is a wiser idea to sneak around threats rather than confront them directly. Assuming the claustrophobic corridors of the facility will leave enough room to remain hidden.
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From Switzerland, with love
While they are lacklustre at times, the game mechanics of Scorn sufficiently set it apart from walking simulators. Then again, this title is primarily a visual experience, to the point where I am tempted to compare the sensation to visiting a virtual art gallery. One entirely dedicated to a certain swissman by the name of Hans Rudolf Giger, an artist best known for designing the Xenomorph of the Alien franchise. Although the pitch-black menace is by far the best known among Giger’s works, the most prevalent theme of his art would be all manner of bio-mechanical constructs. Those consistently incorporating human body as just another component. Often in a manner evocative of a sexual act mind you, giving an unnerving, visceral quality to the stylistic. Taking into account Scorn is essentially a 6 hour-long love letter to this very aesthetic, the game is directed exclusively towards mature audience.
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Whether you consider the distinct art direction of Scorn virtue or vice is a matter of taste. What is arguably a master’s stroke is how this visceral quality has been integrated into the gameplay. Dubbed by the developers “full body awareness” is a set of impressively detailed and realistic animations accompanying any environmental interaction. Most importantly to the gameplay loop, these allow the player to keep inspecting the condition of their avatar, as to put things bluntly, progressing through the game is going to hurt. This title doesn’t hand out a key, to operate the door controls – it grafts one directly onto your hand’s underside leaving your appendage bleeding in the process.

Polarizing abstraction
For all of my fondness to Scorn’s visual prowess, I have to admit this is an utterly alienating experience. As mentioned previously, the game does not utter a word, also meaning not a shred of explanation is given to the player. In my book, unyielding dedication to atmosphere is a boon, however I can wholeheartedly understand the critics, who give up on a title seemingly devoid of objective. Likewise, apart from the gun designs, the combat is largely underwhelming. I am glad it is there though, for sheer diversity it brings to the table. Without it, this title would’ve overstayed its welcome long before the credits roll.

Ultimately, I acknowledge Scorn as a mixed bag, nonetheless I fell head over heels for its visuals and atmosphere. Perhaps I had to grit my teeth a little throughout the middle part of the game, although I am more than happy to have done so as once the developers play their hand during the final act, it is gruesomely majestic. Bearing in mind this title is primarily a visceral feast for the eyes, I can easily recommend Scorn to any horror fan, willing to pick a game for distinct visuals. However, should you happen to be a type who values gameplay over the artsy-fartsy nonsense (which is perfectly understandable standpoint) don’t come anywhere near this title since it will flatout let you down as soon as the initial impact of its brutality subsides.