Sanitarium

Sanitarium
N/A
Metacritic
94
Steam
86.079
xDR
Our rating is calculated based on the reviews and popularity of the game.
Price
$3.99
Release date
29 October 2014
Publishers
Steam reviews score
Total
94 (935 votes)
Recent
90 (11 votes)

Originally released in 1998 on PC, and awarded as the Adventure Game of the Year, The timeless horror point-and-click, Sanitarium, is returning to frighten the bravest adventure game fans.

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Sanitarium system requirements

Minimum:

  • OS: Windows Vista, 7, 8
  • Processor: Pentium 4 2.4Ghz
  • Memory: 1 GB RAM
  • Graphics: Intel HD Graphics
  • DirectX: Version 9.0
  • Storage: 3 GB available space
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sunstrider
sunstrider

A great, retro point and click game that has an interesting story and in the process, includes thoughtful puzzles along the way. A great introduction into these types of games that were made in the 90's.

tanuki_girl
tanuki_girl

I love this game, I played it when it first came out and have always loved the story and characters. I was so glad when it came to steam since it was becoming hard to run the disk version I had, due to years of use.
While this might not hold up to the current games out there, it is well worth the play especially for the absolute uniqueness of the levels and puzzles and how each different character and level plays into the overall plot. I mean heck the first level with the creepy kids, the corn patch, and that song still haunts me.
I would absolutely love if this game is very remastered as I think it still has a lot to offer and with updated graphic and game play more people could enjoy this wonderful title.

LunarRhythm
LunarRhythm

It's pretty damn good. i liked the story and atmosphere and the puzzles are overall tricky only one or two made me look at a guide.....the whole Aztec section kinda sucks though

Toilet_Wine_Connoisseur
Toilet_Wine_Co…

An absolute masterpiece of 90's point'n'clicks

an absolute masterpiece of horror adventure games.

A weird, dark but ultimately, warm and human narrative with a fucking incredible sense of style.

A 2.5D isometric view that we dont see enough of in adventure games.

great music, great art direction and puzzles that are more often than based on grounded logic you can intuit without to much help.

Gatekeeper
Gatekeeper

Definitely an old masterpiece. Although the graphics may look outdated to the millennials, the story and the atmosphere greatly compensate for it. It's a must-play for the adventure enthusiasts. Some puzzles are challenging though, and you will need some pixel-hunting interacting the world. Score: 9/10

mt91684
mt91684

a fun game that takes some time to play through. Fans of adventure and point and click gaming will love this.

Elephoont
Elephoont

One of the best point and click adventure games i've played. Very engaging story with eerie atmosphere.

notharry
notharry

Wanted to like the game a lot. Good visuals, soundtrack, quite creepy. Unfortunately playing felt too much like a chore after first few chapters. Gets real repetitive trudging through map asking every npc same question, clicking every thing that looks usable, then getting stumped and hardly progressing for a solid 15 min. I try not to use guides much, as it is more satisfying to progress on my own, but at the rate I would have to use them to complete this game, may as well watch someone else play. Perhaps I am bad at point and clicks.

Story is interesting, though. Has a few memorable moments from what I have played.

3lives
3lives

Incredibly atmospheric classic point'n-click adventure with the usual kind of inventory and device puzzles that follow the internal logic closely despite its surreal settings.
Some annoyances like awfully slow walking speed, a maze and a music sequence shouldn't distract from the overall enjoyment of this rightfully cult classic.

Elynti
Elynti

“Sanitarium” - 1998 - from DreamForge Intertainment, DotEmu.

~ A Classic Point & Click thriller based in dark, psychological horror with a heroically moral story layered in-between. ~

“After begin injured in a car accident, Max Laughton wakes with no memory of who he is or why he is in what appears to be an insane asylum.
As you play, Max is thrown into increasingly bizarre & surreal scenarios. From being transported to a rundown town full of mutated children & no parents to be found, to an ancient Aztec village tormented by Quetzalcoatl. Max becomes increasingly unsure whether anything that occurs is real or just the deterioration of his mental state as he falls into actual insanity.”

For me, this game is a wonderfully surreal experience rather than one of pure horror. It’s made with, what feels like, a well established, unsettling atmosphere from beginning to end.

While some (maybe most?) of the puzzles are not complex they can give you some struggle if you are not paying attention to details or your surrounds. But, admittedly, this game is forgiving & pushes you to continue.

From the tone of the music & art-style, to the cultural references & comments on morality & mortality, everything feeds so well into one another to give you an unsettling but rewarding adventure.

Sometimes there are areas that are a little muddled or confusing to make your way through or items that become hard to spot. However, it really only adds to the unnerving & mysterious settings that you land in from the very beginning, which is very much the intention.

I would absolutely encourage anyone to grab it & play. More so, I’d implore those who feel nostalgic for point & click adventures games, who love a twisted story that is rewarding & who enjoy a look into maybe some more adult topics & imagery to purchase this classic!

Thank-you for reading.
Lynti ก(≈ඒᆽඒ≈)ค

DataSci4Fun
DataSci4Fun

Certainly did age graphically, user interface wise, sound wise, and controls wise.........HOWEVER don't let that stop you from enjoying this gem which features a very unique and clever story. Play the game with a walk-through to keep it from being frustrating and just enjoy the story. It's worth going through the entire game for it. Pick it up when its on sale.

Manyak
Manyak

It's actually quite enjoyable game. Even though variations of the main story line have often been overused in the media space and the game lacks elaboration of characters, the overall quality of the story and logical threads connecting various chapters really well made.

rcmiller616
rcmiller616

The endgame music alone is enough reason to play this game. The rest of it is the icing on the weird, dark, demented cake.

ninosaur
ninosaur

Sanitarium is a fun, classic point & click horror/puzzle game from the late 90's that will bring you right back to your childhood. It has a well designed story with really cool environments. I really like the creepy places and vibes that all symbolize something special to your character, Max. Brace yourself for some interesting puzzles, some simple, others you'll be pulling your hair out trying to solve them. Bosses are easy, you will not be struggling with any of them, especially because you have unlimited lives.

The only issue I had with this game was the movement controls. The game suffers from the same issue with all games in the genre, the controls are awful. Once you get used to them, it isn't so bad, but I found myself mistakenly going up & down the same set of stairs because of the cursor positioning. Very minor complaint given when this game was made, and it certainly doesn't take away from anything.

Overall I highly recommend to anyone that loves the aesthetic and is a fan of classic point & click games!

Pevide
Pevide

Pensa numa jogabilidade horrível... Pensa numa movimentação podre e lenta... Pensa num jogo cuja mecânica não envelheceu bem... Isso é Sanitarium.

Agora pensa, por um momento bem curto, em uma narrativa simplesmente IMPECÁVEL. Tente se lembrar de um livro ou um conto maravilhoso, com uma ambientação perfeitamente plausível e convincente, que te prendeu do ínicio ao fim e te deixou ansioso pra fazer tudo de novo, em busca de uma compreensão cada vez maior de todo o universo em questão. ISSO É SANITARIUM.

Da vontade de morrer a cada 2 segundos toda vez que o personagem vai pro lugar errado numa velocidade de aproximadamente 0m/s ? SIM, LITERALMENTE TODA HORA.
Da vontade de esmurrar a tela do pc toda vez que você trava em um puzzle não por conta do seu QI mixuruca, mas sim porque o puzzle em si é mal feito? SIM, LITERALMENTE TODA HORA 2.0.

PORÉM, como eu disse, o enredo e a ambientação desse jogo faz tudo valer a pena. Ainda que assistir uma gameplay completa do jogo seja a forma menos nociva pra sua sanidade mental, eu realmente acredito que passar por esse sufoco por meio do seu próprio esforço é muito recompensador, te permite absorver toda a atmosfera do jogo e conhecer com profundidade todas as personagens, suas motivações, suas sinas, seus desejos, seus arrependimentos, suas frustações... É um f 0 d e n d o livrão interativo.

seanprice15
seanprice15

Creepy and nasty, but not without a sense of humour to compliment a wonderful oppressive atmosphere. It doesn't pull its punches when it comes to certain horror tropes that movies and TV won't touch (lots of dead kids!) and you'll get through most of this one without a walkthrough.

Dydock
Dydock

I never beat this game as a kid so it was satisfying to beat it as an adult. I suggest it if you remember it. great story line and tough puzzles.

livrodorri
livrodorri

PROS:
+Plot is amazing (the best part of the game):
Protagonist has no memory after a car crash. You slowly regain your memory to find yourself in the middle of a bizarre incident. Who are you? What happened? Why are you in that awful place?
+ Graphics are artsy and pretty. It reminded me of Diablo 2, which felt nice

CONS:
- Controls are absolutely HORRID!
- Some puzzles make no sense. You will need a walkthrough to move forward.

Sometimes you have to drag on. But the story makes up for it, so it is recommendable.

Tractor
Tractor

Plot is great. Visuals too. Atmospheric. I realy like it.
But character movement speed is hightly frustrating. Gameplay is very repetitive, and by that i mean : chapter is starting, you sloooooooowly walk around, talk with every npc/press any available conversations, you try to find items (it means that you need to find that looks like an item to pick up, then you need to inspect this item, and only then you can pick it up), then you try to find puzzles to solve, then you realise that you dont have "key items" to solve a puzzle (because sometimes you just cant pick up things if game decides that you dontt need them) which means backtracking aka "slooooooowly going back". Repeat.
I understand that back in 90s it was , how most of the people in the comment section call it, - HIDDEN GEM ( i agree with that at some point), but...you know, its not 90s anymore, face with it already. Modern games are exist, and even if not everyone of them have the same great storytelling and atmosphere (like Sanitarium) - atleast they have improved gameplay or else.
Its hard to enjoy a story while your ass is on fire,because of things i mentioned earlier.
In my opinion, if you are realy into this kind of games and you are patient enough - you will get a satisfaction while playing, no doubt.
Othervise i cant reccomend it.

Officer Zombie
Officer Zombie

First half of the game is pretty good. Quality of the puzzles really starts tanking near the end. The aztec stuff is truly awful

Appledeity
Appledeity

Easy and oftentimes relaxing to play. Not too many riddles and puzzles. Great dialogues with voice (optional subtitles included). Interesting mystery game, kind of like Escape Room where you examine objects and while picking up some objects to use except you also get to socially interact with NPC's. Would be great if the protagonist can run (although just walking makes the game last longer) but besides that, good artwork and I also like how at some point you get to play as a female character. Has cut scenes. You get to fight monsters too. I can't get bored of it. Overall great game that came out in the late 90's.

LukenGelis
LukenGelis

Sanitarium is an amazing horror/thriller classic adventure point-and-click game with interesting mystery and plot twists. It elaborates on the classic motif of recovering from a kind of traumatic coma and trying to figure out what happened and what's going on. It's getting even more complicated when it turns out that you've not only suffered physical damage but you're also considered insane and are currently a patient in an asylum.

The oldschool graphics may seem outdated to some players, but for me it only adds charm to all these at times picturesque and colourful and at times dark and viscious, and yet at all times grotesque locations that we visit throughout the game. It reminds me much of the good old days of Diablo II and evokes much nostalgia.

The music is quite atmospheric as well, and emphasises the events of the game, enhancing the experience of horror and mystery throughout levels. The cutscenes and the sound may seen quite outdated, nevertheless the voice acting in the game is absolutely top notch.

Despite the game being over two decades old, it feels and plays really smoothly. The controls are incredibly simple and you only need one hand and a mouse to navigate through the game. The not much dexteriety is required, so it's a nice and relaxing experience overall. The interface is very intuitive and there is just the bare minimum of HUD, which allows you to fully sink into the world of Sanitarium. The puzzles are at times simple, and at times quite difficult but it's all nicely balanced, so that you don't get tired easily.

Max and all the other characters in all the different levels are well pretty well written and marvellously protrayed by the actors. We often change environment in the game and all the aspects of these new surroundings only make them more intriguing, never boring or tedious to go through. There aren't many repetitive features in the levels we explore or the characters we meet, and there is always space for some humor in these interractions, which is pretty nice given the emotional burden the plot carries.

Sanitarium is one of the few oldchool games that I'll always want to come back to, so it's definitely worth trying.

King Henry
King Henry

If you're looking for a creepy, atmospheric and thought-provoking old-school point and click adventure game, look no further than Sanitarium. Despite clunky game mechanics and some irritatingly difficult puzzles, Sanitarium's moving story, haunting soundtrack and beautifully macabre art design make it well worth checking out. I'll certainly never forget playing it.

Couch Potato
Couch Potato

Pretty cool game. Not as long as I was expecting and the ending was a bit abrupt and a bit predictable, but worth a play-through at least once, I think.

I managed to do the whole game without looking up anything except during the Aztec bit, but it was partially my fault because I didn't talk to the right person, but I had no idea that I had to! Overall, I'd say the Aztec part is the worst and that maze is fairly annoying, but it's not terrible, the circus is pretty cool and the parts in the asylum are quite good. The puzzles aren't very hard so don't expect a significant challenge, but I think it's substantial enough for the price point.

The game definitely starts stronger than it finishes I would say, everything up to the Aztec level is quite good, although the final level is also not too bad, but not as good as some of the earlier levels.

>:3 I'm a lion
>:3 I'm a lion

Late 90's point 'n click horror classic!

It has a pretty interesting horror story, all dubbed characters, some cheeky lines, and a sorta dark humor to it... but it's gonna be all spoiled if you don't have the patience for it.
Biggest problem - your character is excruciatingly slow, and to add insult to injury, there are a ton of go fetch and come back to use objectives that always takes you from one side of the map to another... which means a whole ton of back and forth where you will be waiting a lot for your character to just move around.
It really wouldn't be a problem for me, if the character moved like 5x faster.

In line with some point 'n click adventure games of the era, there's also lots of stuff that's not all that clear, a bit subjective, or perhaps seemingly made complex just for the sake of extending the game. This is a problem lots of point 'n click games have... stuff like you need a tool to get something, there should be multiple ways to go around this, but nope, you need the friggin very specific tool or you just can't advance.

Again, this would've been a minor thing... if it didn't compound with dealing with the character sluggish pace.
So what ends happening A LOT in this game, particularly if you are not following a walkthrough, is that you get to a corner of the scenario/map, and then go - that's not right, maybe it's the other thing I didn't try just yet... OMFG, this means I have to go to the other corner of the map just to try it, which means 5 minutes of holding the damn right mouse button guiding the character there. Then after the whole ordeal, you get there, and it's also not that... and then you give up.

So there ya go... is it a bad game? Nope, it's a classic. And incredibly, it'd be a totally awesome game if the character just walked faster or there was an option to make him do it.
So, I still recommend it for the story... it's just weird to have an interesting game like this ruined by a single mechanic.

Perhaps there are more problems ahead since I didn't play the game a whole lot just yet... but I ran out of patience.
It looks very dated being over 2 decades old and all, but again, I wouldn't really mind the looks if it wasn't for the mechanics problem... because it has that typical, if not a bit trope-y stereotypical 90s horror. xD

Svartalvheim
Svartalvheim

Fun game from when I was a kid :) I do recommend it.. it has a basic story and some fun puzzles... although... it's sluggish for the modern gamer for sure and also there is one annoying thing that I have encountered which is that sometimes cutscenes don't always play or don't play till the end... good thing you can replay them though :) Classical point and click game :)

canmehmetuyanik
canmehmetuyanik

This is an adventure classic! I've played and finished the game about 20 years ago. And after all these years, nostalgia gets me and I am playing it again.

Roxannethefox
Roxannethefox

I absolutely love this game; after playing other retro point and click horrors like I Have No Mouth And I Must Scream I wanted to look into more older psychological horrors and boy wasn't this a good choice! While the graphics and voice acting can be quite dated in my opinion it only adds to the eerie atmosphere. There's one frustrating thing about it and I must admit the combat can be.. quite stiff controls wise, for those sequences I recommend linking a controller or getting a mouse. The writing and story telling is great, honestly putting a summary here doesn't give this experience any justice! My heart ached, I deeply connected and feared for the fate of the characters to be honest in some more emotional moments I was on the verge of tears. Now unlike most of these retro point and clicks I would say the puzzles aged well, they are challenging but fair if you do enough digging in the environment the answers are hidden in plain sight no bullshit like finding a tiny obscure pixel at the corner of your screen. The game is very clever and along with it's fairly reasonable price I strongly recommend it.

Hatsen
Hatsen

Altough the last part (specially after the Aztec part of the game), can be a little rough, Sanitarium is just one of those games that are stuck in your head forever.

With lots of fun puzzles, characters, beautiful world design and an intrigue story, you will not be dissapointed!

bφmbis
bφmbis

This is absolutely no doubt one of those games that makes you go "hmmm," and "WAWAAWAA."

And its got so many triumphant stories! WHo can complain?
If the game scares you then try not to close it because then you'd have interrupted the nice triumphant story and severed your mind from the nicest most absolutely moment that will definitely on the other hand. It is quite, for all intensive purposes and intents and purposes, a most intensive and detailed imagery which implies the very much and probably leading to a most likely IN a very major way.

Cabal
Cabal

Momma always said life at the sanitarium was like a box of choc'lates. You never know what level you're gonna get.

thevexedfroggy1
thevexedfroggy1

This game has an excellent story, it was the thing that kept me going till the end. The puzzles in this game are quite tough though for a number of reasons, either they require you to pay extreme attention to the dialogue or hints, key items blend in with the background and are literally invisible to the eye or the puzzle was simply just impossible to figure out, I used a guide for the most part, but was able to figure out some levels on my own. The look of this game was really cool, environments were creepy and fit the story well. Even if you don't like point and click games, give this game a shot for its awesome story. 7/10 for puzzles, 10/10 for story and design

thewillofd.
thewillofd.

Great game. The player will experience a surreal and bizzare atmosphere with logical and not that difficult puzzles to solve. I got stuck in one or two points, but it was worth the patience in order to reach the end of the game. Also, heart touching story that may bring tears to your eyes! If you are not familiar with it give it a chance asap!

Epsilon
Epsilon

A classic game from an era of fun puzzle adventure games that can never be faithfully recreated today. You play a man who may or may not be mad in a world that has definitely gone mad. Multiple worlds and good puzzles, a great experience! Hated the final level though, tough as hell.

grizzly1111
grizzly1111

Short and relatively easy point and click adventure game. Interesting story and superb visuals, very trippy and surreal maps. Recommended for fans of retro games.

SATVRNIVS
SATVRNIVS

This is an excellent point-and-click adventure game and one of my favorites for sure. Emulated it way back when and I finally got this copy for a second-run and it still surprisingly holds up, despite the last few chapters starting to get overly difficult and abstract with the puzzles.

The voice acting in the game is pretty decent! I'd say it even saves the actual plot at points from being too cheesy. Max's VO can be a little off but for the most part he has some great dialogue moments. It's a game I'd recommend for someone looking for a point-and-click *horror* definitely, as it does a good job being both creepy and emotionally poignant with it's story.

rhibles
rhibles

Everything up to chapter 7 is amazing! Loved it but then the ending falls a little flat and the puzzles that involve movement suck. It's a great game I just wish you didn't use the mouse and drag to move.

swagamer256
swagamer256

This game is honestly an underrated masterpiece. I wish that more people would talk about the game, or that it got the love it gets now when it first came out. If you ever want a game involving very f’d up imagery, ideas, and settings, while telling a very amazing story about one mans journey and fight against those he once worked for, then I highly recommend you give this game a try.

ro7or
ro7or

This Point&Click adventure feels like a curious artefact from a bygone era, that succesfully manages to establish a vivid and somehow dizzying gameplay experience, with decent graphics and competent dubbing.

The player is tasked with making rhyme or reason of many bizarre and varied settings, whose relationship is made progressively clear by the beautifully animated video sequences, that punctuate the game most important moments.

The archaic, somehow inexplicably byzantine interface, makes it painfully evident how much videogames of this genre have evolved in the last two decades... and the decision to make some crucial gameplay sequences depend on the most frustrating movement controls I have ever seen, left me baffled and perplexed.

There's absolutely no hand-holding here: the player often has to leave their "comfort zone", try many object combinations, hunt for pixels, explore every possible nook and cranny of the map to make any progress whatsoever.

The reward is a very good story, with a likable protagonist, that explores a lot of themes that can potentially resonate with the player, even long after the game is over.

Zerek
Zerek

This game is fucking awesome! a true classic adventure game and a great game to play for people to dip there toes into the genre. From the music, atmosphere, environments, characters, voice acting, and story this game is an A+

the gameplay itself is pretty clunky as most old adventure games are....you'll probably need a walk-through.. but its worth uncovering the horrors of this fucking nightmare just for the visuals and presentation alone! there was a lot of heart put into this game and it includes very early CG renders which are awesome. id love to see a graphic adventure game project done in the same exact way but with crazy rendering capabilities of modern engines!

Bayta
Bayta

I played that game with my Dad and brother when I was much much younger.

Really loved it back then, really enjoyed playing that game again in 2021!

The story is very nice, so is the atmosphere.

Galli from Hell
Galli from Hell

I saw this game for the first time in '98 on my friend's computer. I didn't have one so I watched him playing it.
I found it to be an extremely hard game to play and very creepy. 23 years later, I played it from A to Z and it's still enjoyable and creepy. I love the story and the way everything goes back and forth from fantasy to the real story.

One minus for people playing Sanitarium in the modern PC times is that the pathfinding is not perfect.
Save often, it crashed for me once.

Kissa Ninja
Kissa Ninja

Point & click works the controls are clunky.
The 90s super weird style fits the game.
To me the game got more annoyingly difficult the more I progressed. It could my fault because I lost the interest. I'd say half of the game is fun.

DollMunch
DollMunch

My dad and I played this when I was young. Great to be able to play it again! The puzzles are so much fun

Sid Vicious
Sid Vicious

So nostalgic, so different. What an amazing experience. Couldn't finish it when I was a kid, and now I've finally done it!
I also bought it on Android but the controls don't work so well there.
I wanna play it again, but I'm MacOS nowadays. Any chance of a MacOS port, guys?

JeffPot
JeffPot

DO NOT BUY.
The 3rd chapter has an impassible bug that prevents you from making any progress afterward. This happens a little more than two afters after the start of the game, so there's a chance you may not even get a refund for it.

Reborn
Reborn

The story is great and fun to explore the bizarre world. The puzzles are quite difficult as there is only one way to resolve each of the puzzles. Many hints are subtle and it takes a lot of trial and error.

There's a game breaking bug in chapter 3. Make sure to save multiple saves in chapter 3 and complete the music area before talking to the hooded women in front of the church.

You are not alone and to play the right rune are the two achievements easiest to miss. There's no chapter replay function so have to replay the whole game for missed achievements.

v.dienes
v.dienes

From the adventure games which I ever played, this one has one of the best storytelling so far. From what I recall, only other adventure games which are comparable in term how story is intriguing and how it can "grasp" you, are Gabriel Knight games. Maybe there are better adventure games when you compare puzzles or graphics or other game mechanics, but storytelling really shines in this game and this element itself is worth enough to play this game.

The game has mysterious and unsettling atmosphere which just adds to immersion. Regarding adventuring/puzzles, the game is quite easy, no over-complicated puzzles. I finished the game without walk-through easily, being stuck only in chapter 2 for 10-15 minutes until I realized what to do to move forward.

There's one 100% reproducible bug in chapter 3, but is easily avoidable (see discussion in games community section here on Steam).

All in all, great adventure game, I can recommend easily.

Addraelisk Uxltec
Addraelisk Uxltec

This product is an unforgettable classic abounding with technical issues due to the fact that its code was not modernized and fully sorted. What one may experience while playing can range from inescapable event scenes to the standard application crash. After hours of experiences the same technical issues many a time and oft, I have lost all ambition to continue exploring this video game's disordered and vivid imagery and story.

Crentin Dalbs
Crentin Dalbs

this is one of those games that has stuck with me since its release. certain parts (speaking of subject matter here, rather than gameplay) haven't aged very well, and some of the adventure game pixel hunting/puzzling can be a little frustrating without a walkthrough, but the story has heart in a way i've rarely seen since.

Laffibob Dongripants
Laffibob Dongripants

Sanitarium is a pretty weird game, but it's also very well made. You have tons of levels, characters, cut scenes, music, sounds and all kinds of funny, scary and horrible things happening...all at once! I must say right off the bat that I do recommend the game, but it's actually taken me some time to get through it.

First off, this game is easy to get into, because the start of the game isn't that complicated. You just need to figure out how the game works, how you pick up items, and how to use those items to progress in the game. The game requires a bit of patience, but it's completly doable without a walkthrough.

Now that is said, I did have a problem pretty early on, and had to use a walkthrough. The problem was that the place I was in was huge, and the ONLY way to get further was to litterary click on one pixels through this level. Not only was it frustrating to not find it that easily, but the background sounds in that place annoyed me so much I had to actually turn off the sounds for the game. Not very fun! For that part I did actually use a walkthrough, but I don't think I would have found it out myself, simply because it was ONE pixels in a HUGE level.

I'm not a big fan of using walkthroughs, and that part annoyed me so much, that not long after I stopped playing the game completly, for more than a year. I was also thinking about giving the game a negative review, because it really got my patience, and everytime I thought of wanting to enter the game again, I did not.

Honestly. After that long time, I started playing the game again, and this time around it was actually very good. I was already into the story from before, or at least now I began to understand it better than before, and everything made more sense. I also found the story and puzzles interesting, and I was able to figure it out all by myself...WHICH I LIKE!

Anyway. If you want an interesting point and click game (made for adults), with horror elements and an exciting, but weird story, this is the game for you. It might require some patience, but eventually you will figure things out.

I recommend this game! (And I am kinda glad I am done with it now)

Dan Allen
Dan Allen

You there! What is your station?
I am Olmec! Holy Warrior!
The gods have sent me here to tell all who see this message to buy this game!
This inanimate object they call a "PC" mocks me with its silence...

Big head.

Diabolic
Diabolic

One of the best adventure-horror games ever made. Period.

It might be almost 25 years old but it's still the same masterpiece.

Josiah Rogers
Josiah Rogers

The movement is a bit annoying but it's a game from the 90s so it's not a valid complaint. This game looks very cool and has a very strange and interesting story.

Reblee
Reblee

Strange darkly hypnotic dreamlike game with surprisingly stellar atmosphere for a game with the perspective and graphics of
an old CRPG.

Only complaint is that my favorite world is the first by far.
Still had some cool levels and a pretty satisfying conclusion, but that first levels atmosphere was so much more interesting than the others to me.

El Spooples
El Spooples

A creatively dark and surreal game with a good good bit of variety. Each one of max's hallucinations is it's own story that takes you to a weird and disturbing world with cold unforgiving atmosphere.

The puzzles can be pretty creative at times though sometimes a real chore to find and when you finally find the answer you realise how stupid you are or sometimes just scream at how stupid the solution was. Granted I only noticed this a couple times in the game.

The soundtrack is wonderfully atmospheric especially in Chapter 2 and 4. Each track really gives feeling to each area and is worth a listen.

The voice acting can be pretty campy but in a charming way that adds to the crusty and dingy style that in my view ages well with the overall theme of the game.

The addition of combat is probably my only major gripe in terms of this game though it only happens in chapter 2 and 4 then remains absent for the rest of the game. That as well as the rather annoying maze section later but it's short and is over within seconds.

Overall this game remains a point and click classic and is definitely a favourite of mine in terms of the genre.

Just be careful not to use the Quicksave feature it crashes the game.

themonsterofthenet
themonsterofthenet

I'm actually a bit conflicted. The plot is great, the graphics are alright (for its time, at least), the puzzles are very good, the voice acting is excellent (though the recording is bad... the voice volume fluctuates wildly, and sometimes becomes so low that it's masked by ambience; I had to turn the subtitles on). But the controls are SPECTACULARLY bad, even compared to similar games from the same era.

In order to move, you have to DRAG (why???) with the right mouse button, and it's so clunky that a lot of the time your character will climb stairs or enter a room when you wanted to go the opposite direction. This annoyance would be forgiven if the creators hadn't included a level where you have to navigate a maze while avoiding timed traps, which of course requires precision in your movement.

You interact by clicking the left mouse button. The path-finding algorithm only works if you're practically next to the thing you want to interact with; often you'll only be a couple of paces away and you'll get a message like "the way is blocked". Moreover, sometimes you get the message "I can't do that" just for standing in the wrong place, which may make you rule out solutions that would actually work. You access your inventory by clicking your character, which is something people may overlook in the beginning, because when your character is still carrying nothing, NOTHING happens when you click on them (as opposed to a message that you are carrying nothing). Personally, I had to google where the inventory is.

So all in all, it's a very interesting game, which would be one of my favourites if it were not so annoying to play. If you can tolerate this flaw, I recommend it, mainly for the original plot and the impressive atmosphere, but also for the puzzles.

Sroka
Sroka

Wonderful, charming game,
I don't know why it took me so long to play it. I've heard about it already in around 2012 but somehow I forgot about it. Either way it's very creepy (not scary tho) and engaging game. I think it's absolute must play for people who like point and click adventure games.

John | κѕғ |
John | κѕғ |

A bizarre point & click adventure game, reminiscent of "Harvester" from 1996. Recommend this game to people that can see past clunky graphics for an enjoyable story. To be fair I'd say that watching someone like DansGaming play this on YouTube is also a good way to experience this game. But if you have the money to spare, I'd recommend this.

SlusheeWolf2 (That jRPG Wolfo)
SlusheeWolf2 (…

One of the best horror adventure games in history, dam. Please, buy this. On sale, not on sale, it doesn't matter. This game has downfalls, such as Chapter 11's annoying Maze, and the story falling apart after Chapter 3 and then the story coming back strong later, but I haven't played a game that filled me with dread like this since I finished the original Silent Hill.

starshipwaters
starshipwaters

sanitarium gets a good amount of coverage when there's talk about horror point-and-click games, and it is warranted imo.

while i wouldn't consider the game especially "scary," is it macabre and at times depressing as well. this feels like a b-horror movie, and i love that for it.

there is a good amount of variety in terms of locations and puzzles, but things do get into 'adventure game solution' territory at times; sometimes due to the alien locations and items, sometimes due to obtuse puzzle logic. i had to use a guide at times with this, but some of that was due to my being impatient.

while pretty low resolution, i did appreciate the art style of the game and think it holds up decently. there is a bit of pixel hunting, but i have played worse. there are also a few times when needed items are obscured by things in the foreground and you can't see them until you pass under/behind that foreground item.

not sure if i would recommend this to someone who is a horror fan but never played a point-and-click adventure game before, but if you are a point-and-click fan, you will likely find something to enjoy here, especially if you enjoy a less orthodox and more unsettling story and world.

extra info- i initially purchased sanitarium on GOG a decade ago, but regularly would hit a game-breaking bug about halfway through the game i never was able to get past. giving in and purchasing the steam version all this time later, i was able to complete the game (and all achievements) without issue.

Aguy454
Aguy454

Lovingly crafted adventure with great art, great story, and fun characters. My only problem is the very slow walk speed that is painful when you're just doing laps around the area trying to figure out what you missed, but other than that, Excellent game.

OmniZelic
OmniZelic

Watch my YouTube Playlist of the game here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhHpuaD1dFtZNOR_b3xJtW0lXh_foHrtK

I love this game! This has always been a favorite classic of mine. If you're looking for something Nostalgic, yet creepy and love Point-and-Click Adventure games, you'll love this.

Kipsicle
Kipsicle

This game hits me hard in the nostalgia feels.
Movement is slow, but it's from the 90's so can't really complain much!
If you like point and click with a strange story, play this game.

thefunnyzombie1997
thefunnyzombie1997

What a chilling game great horror puzzle surprising relaxing for a horror game pay attention to details don’t look up walk-throughs greatly ruins experience unless you have tried and really stuck its my big log back for a reason so many games so little time

wibby1
wibby1

The movement is painfully slow other than that, great story and decent puzzles

SaraHeb
SaraHeb

This is a must play for lovers of psychological horror point and click games. The story is great, I loved the graphics and the puzzles are just the right amount of challenging. Although sometimes I wish our character would move faster, but maybe I'm just impatient. Overall it's a classic and I wish it was longer!! (Don't mind my play time, it's innaccurate)