The Inpatient

The Inpatient is a much quieter game than Until Dawn. It adopts a straight-faced tone, opting for psychological horror rather than grisly thrills. There's nothing wrong with that approach, but coming off the last game, it took some adjusting. I couldn't help but wish it was more, well, exciting. It's a technical marvel, but at times the experience feels hollow and uneventful. In the end, even though I'm glad to return to this universe, The Inpatient comes across as a bit of a missed opportunity.

I came away from The Inpatient genuinely disappointed. There’s such a strong foundation for a narrative horror game in VR, but it’s never utilized in a way that is anything other than boring, especially during the second half. With little to do here besides moving slowly, I’d suggest just looking for a summary of the game rather than actually playing it. That way, you can get all the world building without any of the boring stuff.

The Inpatient is a difficult game to recommend, with inconsistent scares and a mundane cast. It still offers some frightful moments, but they aren’t wrapped up in a captivating enough narrative to keep you engaged. Even if you’re a hardcore Until Dawn fan, this watered-down horror experience is probably worth skipping.