Pneumata – PlayStation 5 Review: A Hallway, a Headache, and a Lot of Screaming
There are horror games that make you jump, and then there’s Pneumata — a game that makes you stare at the wall afterwards questioning your life choices. If Resident Evil and Silent Hill had a miserable love child raised entirely on insomnia and fluorescent lighting, this would be it.
Developed by Deadbolt Interactive, Pneumata is a psychological horror built on dread, decay, and paranoia. It’s slow, oppressive, and unapologetically weird — the kind of experience that doesn’t hand you answers, only more reasons to keep the lights on.
Setting: Welcome to the Building Nobody Asked For
You play as a detective sent to investigate disappearances inside a derelict apartment block that clearly missed several visits from the council. Each floor tells its own story, peeling wallpaper and all. The deeper you go, the worse it gets — strange noises, cryptic messages, and tenants who really should have been evicted long ago.
The world design is brilliant in a deeply unpleasant way: cluttered corridors, flickering lights, and rooms that somehow feel humid through the screen. You’ll open one door expecting clues and find something that ruins your week.
Gameplay: Exploration, Anxiety, and Terrible Life Decisions
This is a first-person horror that thrives on atmosphere rather than action. Don’t expect to mow down monsters — you’ll spend most of your time creeping, listening, and trying not to breathe too loudly.
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Investigation mechanics let you piece together the mystery via notes, photos, and unsettling noises behind walls.
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Puzzle elements blend logic with panic; even turning a valve feels like defusing a bomb.
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Combat is minimal but impactful — every bullet feels like an event.
What makes Pneumata stand out is how it keeps you guessing. Reality constantly bends, and you’re never sure if what you’re seeing is real, imagined, or just a symptom of not sleeping for a week.
Visuals and Atmosphere: A Love Letter to Unease
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Lighting: Shadows move where they shouldn’t, and every bulb seems ready to blow.
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Textures: Grimy, damp, and disturbingly tactile — you’ll want to wash your hands after playing.
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Audio: A masterclass in discomfort. Distant crying, doors creaking, pipes groaning — it’s practically ASMR for anxiety.
Running on the PS5, Pneumata looks superb and horrifying in equal measure. The 4K detail only makes the rot more vivid. DualSense support adds to the tension — subtle vibrations make every floorboard creak feel personal.
Story and Themes: Sanity Optional
Without spoiling too much, Pneumata explores the breakdown of identity, guilt, and memory through fragmented storytelling. It’s deliberately cryptic, rewarding players who pay attention — and punishing those who blink.
You’ll encounter surreal imagery, distorted realities, and enough symbolism to fuel a university dissertation. By the end, you’ll either feel enlightened or in need of a long walk outside.
Pros
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Outstanding atmosphere and environmental storytelling.
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Haunting audio and lighting that keep tension constant.
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Beautifully grotesque visuals on PS5 hardware.
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A horror experience that respects your intelligence.
Cons
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Pacing can feel slow if you crave constant action.
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A few puzzles flirt with frustration.
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You may never sleep properly again.
Verdict: 8 / 10 – “A Masterpiece of Misery”
Pneumata doesn’t rely on cheap scares. It seeps into your nerves and sets up camp there. Every creak, every flicker, every shadow is deliberate — designed to keep you questioning what’s real.
It’s not for everyone. But if you love psychological horror that demands patience and rewards curiosity, this is one of the most chilling, atmospheric games on PS5 right now.
When you finish, you won’t feel relief — just quiet respect for whatever brave soul made this nightmare playable.
Ready to Lose Sleep?
Investigate the unexplainable and face your fears in Pneumata – PlayStation 5.
Get your copy now at GameRaid UK — new, sealed, and waiting to haunt your console.