Moons of Madness Review
By Kevin Mitchell | Posted: November 18, 2019
Set in the universe of Funcom's The Secret World and Secret World Legends, Rock Pocket Games' Moons of Madness follows an Orochi Group engineer's descent into cosmic horror on Mars.
Moons of Madness focuses on psychological horror over jump scares, building tension through dark environments and atmospheric sound. Combat-free gameplay requires evasion and specific reactions to survive Lovecraftian horrors and hostile robots. The opening dream sequence sets an ominous tone that intensifies when nightmares manifest in reality.
Shane's exploration of the Mars base and surface creates persistent unease. While he maintains radio contact with others experiencing similar nightmares, his humorous facade masks deeper fears. This duality shows particularly well in puzzle sequences, where his deteriorating composure affects simple tasks.
Core gameplay revolves around environmental scanning, device hacking, and engineering puzzles - from pipe repairs to solar array alignment. While not complex, some puzzles feel overextended. The oxygen management system, though present, rarely creates genuine tension. Shane's increasing clumsiness with basic operations effectively conveys his psychological decline.
Simply Put
This Lovecraftian horror title delivers genuine scares despite occasional over-reliance on basic puzzles. The haunting, interactive environments shine - where else can you flee cosmic horrors only to pause for a fresh cup of coffee?
Note: Moons of Madness was reviewed on PC. A digital copy of the game was provided by the publisher/developer.
