Subliminal Episode 1- A Wonderful Dream or Waking Nightmare?
Ever played a game that left you questioning reality? That’s what you are gonna find out from Subliminal Episode One, a game that messes with your head in the most delightful way possible. This game from Accidental Studios is a first-person puzzler that feels like Portal had a baby with Inception, and the nanny was Alice in Wonderland.
Subliminal Episode One Briefing
You find yourself as a patient in the Somnasculpt sleep therapy program, run by the ever-so-calm Dr. Glenn Pierce. The goal is to poke around your subconscious to sort out feelings of self-doubt. Sounds simple, right? Well, things go sideways almost immediately. You take a wrong turn and suddenly you’re tumbling deeper into your own dream world, where the laws of physics are more like friendly suggestions.
Power of Perspective
The core mechanic of Subliminal is all about perspective. It’s one of those things that’s easy to grasp but hard to master, and it’s satisfying. You can pick up an object, hold it up so it looks tiny in the distance, drop it, and BAM! It’s now a giant object at the far end of the room. It’s a simple trick, but the game finds so many clever ways to use it. You’ll be resizing objects to create bridges, finding hidden pathways by aligning shapes, and even plucking items out of 2D paintings.
Some puzzles are a bit repetitive, but just when you think you’ve got it figured out, the game throws a curveball. One moment you’re solving a straightforward puzzle, the next you’re in a room that infinitely duplicates objects or dealing with environments that defy all logic. It’s these moments that constantly keep you on your toes and force you to think outside the box—sometimes literally.
A Journey Through the Subconscious
The story in Subliminal is a slow burn, told through the environment and the occasional voiceover from Dr. Pierce and his AI assistant. As you fall deeper into your dream, the clean, clinical test chambers give way to more abstract and unsettling landscapes. The narrative might be a little on-the-nose, but it lands with a surprisingly heartfelt and optimistic message. For the first episode at least.
It genuinely feels like the mental gymnastics you just performed were good for your soul. The game isn’t a massive time sink, clocking in at around two to three hours. But keep this in mind – this is labeled as the first episode, “A Slight Detour,” meaning we’re gonna get more time later on to explore more of this mind-bending reality. Although it’s only the first installment, it’s a polished start that doesn’t waste time (even though subconscious time is irrelevant).
Final Thoughts: Open the Dream Bay Doors, Hal!
Now available on Steam, Superliminal Episode One is a must-play for anyone who loves puzzle games that dare to be different. It’s a wonderfully clever, consistently surprising, and visually delightful trip through the subconscious. While it may not be a long journey, it will stick with you, make you question every object and shadow you see long after the credits roll.
