Soma (video game)
| Soma | |
|---|---|
| Developers | Frictional Games Abylight Studios (Switch) |
| Publishers | Frictional Games Abylight Studios (Switch) |
| Director | Thomas Grip |
| Writer | Mikael Hedberg |
| Composer | Mikko Tarmia |
| Engine | HPL Engine 3 |
| Platforms | |
| Release |
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| Genre | Survival horror |
| Mode | Single-player |
Soma (stylized as SOMA) is a 2015 survival horror video game developed and published by Frictional Games. It follows Simon Jarrett, who finds himself on an underwater remote research facility under mysterious circumstances, which contains machinery that exhibit human characteristics such as possessing a personality and consciousness. He embarks upon discovering its history, while trying to make sense of his predicament and potential future.
Soma's gameplay builds on the conventions established in the previous horror titles of Frictional Games (notably, Amnesia: The Dark Descent) including an emphasis on stealthy evasion of threats, puzzle-solving, and immersion. However, in a break with this tradition, it also de-emphasizes aspects such as inventory management in favour of a tighter focus on narrative and character development.
Soma was released on 22 September 2015 for Windows, macOS, Linux, and PlayStation 4, and on 1 December 2017 for Xbox One. A port to the Nintendo Switch developed and published by Abylight Studios was released on 24 July 2025. It received generally positive reviews from critics, with praise for its story, themes, atmosphere, sound design, and voice acting, though its enemy design and encounters received criticism. A spiritual successor titled Ontos is set to be released in 2026.