What happens when you combine the puzzles of Antichamber, the story of Zero Escape, and throw in some Portal-esque platforming and unnerving humanoid robots for good measure? You might not end up with The Spectrum Retreat, but you’ll come pretty close. The Spectrum Retreat promises puzzles, story, and platforming as you navigate a sinister art-deco hotel run by tuxedo-clad robots. You’ve lost your memories, and the story takes you deep into the past on your quest to discover the truth. And you will remember – for better or worse.

Note: this review contains mild story spoilers. For a spoiler-free summary of my thoughts, head down to the conclusion.

Welcome to The Penrose Hotel, or, “I believe you’re being held here against your will.”

The story takes place in The Penrose Hotel. It’s quiet, clean, and calm, but soon you realise that something is not quite right. The hotel is silent – too silent. As you make your way to the restaurant, ominous messages begin to appear on your phone. The unnerving, robotic staff are no help, offering merely trite commentary on the weather and other such mundane topics. Things were already looking weird, but then you receive the phone call from a stranger named Cooper. Of course, that’s when things get weirder.

What follows is an intense experience combining immersive storytelling and challenging puzzles. According to Cooper, you’re being held at the hotel against your will. Guided by her voice, you will explore the hotel in search of clues, codes, and “authentication challenges” that you must complete in order to escape. However, despite the urgency of the situation, she instructs you to “act normal”. You must follow the hotel’s daily routines, avoiding attracting undue attention from the staff. If they work out what you’re up to, Cooper warns, the consequences will be disastrous.

I love a well-crafted narrative, and this is where The Spectrum Retreat shines. Its delivery is smooth and the tale is so gripping that even days after finishing the game, the plot and its twists still haunt me. The story is incredibly relevant, touching on various topics from politics and healthcare to relationships and beyond. But don’t say I didn’t warn you: it would be right at home as the next episode of Black Mirror.

Access Granted

In terms of gameplay, the authentication challenges are where you’ll spend most of your time in The Spectrum Retreat. In order to pass each challenge, you will use your phone to manipulate colours in various ways. This ability allows you to open gates, create paths, and teleport to different areas. Although not what I’d consider extraordinary, the puzzles are decently satisfying to complete. And, while they do make you think, they’re not so difficult that I ever found myself stuck.

Unfortunately, like most puzzlers, The Spectrum Retreat fails to provide much in the way of replay value. While there is an “impossible” colour mode which changes the bright colours of the puzzles to various shades of grey, this doesn’t change the solutions themselves. And, to be honest, the most exhilarating part of the game is unravelling the mystery of who you are and why you are here. The magic lies in not knowing the answers. Much like discovering the trick behind a magician’s show, once you’ve played this game to the end and uncovered its secrets, the mystery – and the magic – will be gone.

“Act Normal!”

But the magic, while it lasts, is exceptional. While The Spectrum Retreat is not a horror game, its atmosphere is incredibly tense. In the hotel stages, Cooper’s commentary and cryptic clues build a sense of urgency that will have you on the edge of your seat. Moreover, her commentary is accompanied by a brilliant soundtrack. The audio is eerie, at times grating, with modulations and distortions that will make your skin crawl. It’s not an easy soundtrack to listen to, but that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it is entirely appropriate for the game’s sinister story and setting. And, on the topic of audio, the voice acting is excellent.

In contrast to the audio, however, the graphics aren’t what I would consider exceptional. In fact, my first impression was that the visuals look pretty dated compared to many of the first-person games that are currently available. The textures are rather flat and monotonous, and while there’s nothing wrong with them, there’s not much to make them stand out. There are, however, some excellent details that make up for this. For example, the hotel changes in subtle ways every day. Small items that are scattered around the hotel will change depending on the memories you have uncovered. Framed pictures may change, move, or vanish entirely. Just as unnerving, the staff track your every move with their eyeless faces. They appear and disappear without warning, watching as you go about your day.

A Retreat for (Almost) Everyone

As a game that relies on players’ perception of colour, it was great to see that The Spectrum Retreat includes colour-blindness accessibility options. There are also subtitles, although these are small and difficult to read on the handheld screen.

Unfortunately, there were certain details that made the game less user-friendly. The game uses harsh flickering lights which come on unexpectedly partway through the game. These moments were quite uncomfortable to play through even on a low brightness setting, and there didn’t appear to be a warning of any kind. Secondly, the puzzles which involve rotating the perspective of the room gave me motion sickness. If you’re sensitive to motion in games, this is definitely something to keep in mind.

A Thoroughly Creepy Experience

The Spectrum Retreat offers an immersive, intense experience. While the puzzles are good, it’s the game’s atmosphere, audio, and story which make the game stand out. The graphics are nothing special, but this is something I was happy to overlook because the rest of the game is phenomenal. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t jump out of my skin in a couple of places, but for a game that attempts to be creepy and unnerving, I wouldn’t have settled for anything less. If you’re looking for a game that will keep you on your toes and haunt you for hours after you’ve put it down, The Spectrum Retreat is definitely worth your time.

Thank you for reading! Do you tend to be a fan of unnerving games? Drop us a line with your thoughts in the comments, or come and hang out on our Discord. If The Spectrum Retreat doesn’t sound like your thing, don’t stress! There’s bound to be something on offer in the Nindie world this September to suit your tastes. And finally, don’t forget to follow us on Twitter – you can find me here.