Sentient is a free-to-play simulation from FORMA. This horror walking sim puts you in a photorealistic experience, waking up in a cell with no recollection of who you are and how you ended up in this place. Alone in a room with a tennis ball, a mechanical voice starts giving out commands. Whether you follow or not, or escape in the end, is for you to find out.

Aside from its superb execution of a slow-burn horror, Sentient is a remarkable indie game thanks to its visual quality and animation. It’s like Assessment Examination or LIDAR.EXE.

Discover what sentience means

Sentient is a first-person experience that puts you in the shoes of a test subject. You are given a series of tasks to do in your reasonably-sized cell. As your tasks get increasingly complex, the game starts to blur the line between man and machine. It lets you explore what sentience means and make the decision on what you think your character really is.

As a horror game, it utilizes the best technology available to make the environment as lifelike as possible. Expect high-quality textures on top of the smooth character and camera movements. Additionally, it boasts some quality in-game physics, exemplified by the tennis ball that is with you for most of the game. With that said, get ready to check out small hints and details scattered throughout.

Still, like most indie games, the first drawback of this game is its short playthrough. You can complete a run in less than an hour. Also, there are certain sections that feel repetitive or dull, but it all leads to a shocking ending scenario. The last few moments in the game really make the entire experience worth it, with a rapid build-up of tension that ends with a last-moment twist.

A well-crafted indie experience

Overall, Sentient manages to raise the questions it wants you to ask and leaves you satisfied after its short run. Impressive graphics and animation quality make the game feel real and immersive. The progression of the task has its highs and lows, it all culminates in a well-executed ending sequence. Short yet ultimately satisfying, you should check out this indie game at least once.