SCP: Fragmented Minds

A survival horror inspired by an ever-expanding collection of fan fiction, SCP: Fragmented Minds puts the player in a tense fight for survival against some eldritch horrors. Including many monsters from the SCP mythos, this game is posed to be a treat for fans of the written horror sensation that has taken the internet by storm.

The game also promises to be one of its kind for its genre, and considering the positive fan reaction it has garnered, there seem to be a lot of reasons to consider playing this one. So, even if you’ve never heard of what an SCP is before, should you give this one a chance? Let’s find out.

Amidst the ruins

SCP: Fragmented Minds takes place in a derelict station located on Mars. After a world-ending event bends reality beyond recognition, you’re left to fend for yourself against some SCP horrors. The space station setting is reminiscent of another fantastic survival horror game, Alien: Isolation, yet this one doesn’t seem to use its space setting to its full potential.

However, the presentation looks superb: environments look creepy and abandoned, filling players with an impending sense of dread. If there’s one minor complaint in the art department, that would be the game’s excessive use of chromatic aberration, although that’s mostly a matter of personal taste.

One thing is for sure: SCP games have come a long way since SCP Containment Breach. As we mentioned before, SCP: Fragmented Minds is almost visually on par with some of the most renowned AAA survival horror titles, a remarkable feat for such a small indie game.

You are never alone

As you explore the creepy station, you’ll soon discover that something is always there, lurking in the shadows. Developers HST Studios went through great lengths to include some fan-favorite SCP characters and monsters, while also adding some new ones to the mix.

These are great news for long-time fans of the SCP mythology, as it offers them a chance to see their favorite literary monstrosities like never before. Additionally, some characters will also act as interactable NPCs, aiding players throughout their journeys.

The fun doesn’t have to end at the game’s main story mode, as there’s also a multiplayer component coming to SCP: Fragmented Minds. Most of the SCP games available deal with the monsters already under containment, yet, very few of them are about the actual capture process.

Fragmented Minds remedies that situation by way of its original multiplayer experience. The developers tout this mode as “bringing the fight to the SCPs in their natural habitat.” What this means is that you and a team of friends will get to travel the world of SCP: Fragmented Minds hunting some of the most dangerous SCPs.

PC Friendly

Despite the game being made on the latest Unreal Engine, the developers seem to have an excellent understanding of optimization techniques. Even though the game is visually impressive, it still requires relatively older hardware to run properly.

Granted, the game seems to lack some of the bells and whistles of modern AAA titles (like ray tracing or DLSS support,) but we’re still some years away from those features being the norm for indie games.

Pros:

• Excellent graphics
• Greatly optimized performance
• Tons of interesting characters

Cons:

• You might need to know a bit of the SCP universe to fully comprehend the game’s plot