Sorry We're Closed

Bold, raw and effortlessly stylish, Sorry We're Closed uses the building blocks of survival horror to tell a compelling and hard-hitting love story to brilliant effect.

Slathered with infectious energy, its innovative alternate-reality heartbreak shooting mechanics are thrilling to play with, and it's a world you won't want to say farewell to after you get your first ending. Resident Evil 4 and Silent Hill can't match this neon-soaked survival horror for its sheer inventiveness.

A nostalgic survival horror that's well written and often clever, just bear with its awkward shooting.

Sorry We're Closed is one of the most unique and memorable survival horror games we've ever played. The juxtaposition of bright colours and quirky characters against moments of true terror is unlike anything we've ever seen before, and the first-person combat mechanics manage to feel immensely satisfying and empowering while still retaining a sense of creeping dread. This is a world we won't soon forget, and unlike the protagonist's desire to shy away from love, we suspect you'll immediately fall head over heels for this one.

Thankfully, Sorry We’re Closed only ran around six hours before I saw one of the endings. Those moments of anguish were not massive parts of the game, although they were gnarly roadblocks. Everything else, from the vibes to the storytelling, and even the combat when it was reasonable, were compelling to the end. I’m still curious about the other endings, but the trauma from that generator setpiece has me wanting to wait for possible adjustments or new settings in the future. Horror enthusiasts, especially those who revel in the weird, who are also secret gaming gunslingers and are cool with sudden spikes in difficulty will find a lot to like here.

Sorry We're Closed beautifully takes that otherworldly psychological horror of games such as Silent Hill and puts its own colorful spin on things, resulting in a game filled with an eye-popping visual style, a terrific story with a clever look at relationships via angels and demons, and an amazing cast of characters, including one truly memorable and unsettling villain, alongside a lot of other surreal and spooky moments. While the combat may be a tad frustrating later on, it all still makes for a great entry into the genre and definitely one to pick up.

In summation, Sorry, We’re Closed provides a unique retro-feel of survival horror while plumbing the deeper nature of love and the worlds of angels and demons. While not a genre that I historically, or even currently, gravitate towards, I was pleasantly surprised with the depth of the game and how much I enjoyed what I experienced!

Any horror game that gets me to play it—and actually enjoy it—is worth checking out. Sorry We’re Closed weaves a heartfelt narrative of heartbreak and loneliness through a cast of charming, memorable characters. The ability to switch between isometric and first-person perspectives is well-executed, and the third-eye power adds a clever twist to both puzzles and combat. I didn’t know what to expect when I first booted it up, but I found myself deeply connected to the characters and their stories. Don’t sleep on this game—Sorry We’re Closed is doing things I haven’t seen in many other games.

By shamelessly blending visceral and garish elements, developer à la mode has crafted a weird survival-horror game that's tough to put down.

Even with its issues and hitches, don't get me wrong: Sorry, We're Closed is a great and very fun game. Especially with its relatively short campaign and multiple endings, with some backtracking that may annoy some players, but that works for the concept.