Subsurface Circular

 PC
Subsurface Circular Image
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 22 Ratings

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  • Summary: When the truth is buried, go underground. Step into this new take on text-based adventure from the award-winning team behind Thomas Was Alone and Volume. A short story that hands you the fate of the world above, as a detective looking for answers on the Subsurface Circular.

Trailer

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Subsurface Circular - Nintendo Switch Trailer

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. GameSpace
    Dec 5, 2017
    90
    Subsurface Circular is an exploration of our humanity… as presented by robots. It presents you with the opportunity to wrestle with what you value along with the questions of autonomy versus automation.
  2. Polygon
    Aug 17, 2017
    90
    Subsurface Circular extracts maximum entertainment from limited resources through the admirable trick of great writing, excellent pacing, sparkling dialogue and bang-on story beats. It’s a lovely little game, the fine work of a developer whose main skill differential is neither coding, art nor level design, but good old-fashioned storytelling.
  3. GamesRadar+
    Aug 17, 2017
    80
    The first Mike Bithell short feels like a pleasant stretch of the grey matter, offering players a story that keeps the intrigue throughout.
  4. games(TM)
    Oct 6, 2017
    80
    A meaningful and memorable text-adventure. [Issue#192, p.84]
    All this publication's reviews
  5. VideoGamer
    Aug 17, 2017
    80
    With a cast of well-realised characters, and a story that captivates from start-to-finish, Subsurface Circular's robot mystery will have your attention from the moment the train leaves the station.
  6. PLAY! Zine
    Oct 12, 2017
    70
    Interesting experiment that wraps a tech-noir short story/text adventure in an elegant, meaningful and modern wrapping. It's short, and has its flaws, but the presentation is great, and worth your time.
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  1. The Verge
    Aug 27, 2017
    Subsurface Circular is a good game, and one that’s worth experiencing. It’s well-written, well-paced, and engaging without being frustrating. It’s a small indie project whose ambition stays within its reach. But it’s a game that easily could be far more memorable. Fortunately, Bithell has also created a structure that could be refined and repurposed for new games. I’m looking forward to whatever comes next.

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. ZX_Stryker
    Dec 23, 2017
    10
    Easily one of the most interesting games I've ever played, if it sounds even a bit like it's something you'd be interested in i HIGHLY suggestEasily one of the most interesting games I've ever played, if it sounds even a bit like it's something you'd be interested in i HIGHLY suggest you pick it up.… Expand
  2. RagingPoet
    May 2, 2019
    9
    Subsurface Circular is an almost perfect text adventure game. It has good writing, interesting story, unusual setting, difficult moral choiceSubsurface Circular is an almost perfect text adventure game. It has good writing, interesting story, unusual setting, difficult moral choice and logical dialogue-based puzzles.… Expand
  4. JJTX
    Mar 24, 2019
    8
    A great visual novel that can and should be completed in one sitting, though I recommend the Nintendo Switch port as it offers portability.
  5. gloriouspotato
    Jan 25, 2018
    8
    A neat text adventure with a striking aesthetic and soundscape. The interactive dialogues prove interesting and insightful, but could probablyA neat text adventure with a striking aesthetic and soundscape. The interactive dialogues prove interesting and insightful, but could probably be more complex and varied. These 'dialogue puzzles' also culminate into a final chapter of the story that I feel is approached and concluded a bit too bluntly and simplistically.

    Overall rating - 8.0/10    … Expand
  6. pawq
    Mar 27, 2021
    7
    Subsurface Circular is a short dialogue-based game that I'd describe as philosophical sci-fi. It considers very interesting themes regardingSubsurface Circular is a short dialogue-based game that I'd describe as philosophical sci-fi. It considers very interesting themes regarding the future of humanity and AI, and felt kinda like reading a decent short novel. The cool visual design made it a very pleasant experience too.… Expand
  7. kch3691
    Mar 26, 2018
    7
    A purely conversation based game with a cool aesthetic and good ending. The few riddles/puzzles don't really feel like they belong and areA purely conversation based game with a cool aesthetic and good ending. The few riddles/puzzles don't really feel like they belong and are just busy work. If you like good sc-fi it's worth a try though. 13/13 achievements can be had in 2.5 hours.… Expand
  8. Akk3d1s
    Jun 10, 2019
    4
    Good graphics, nice music but the dialogue is not even remotely interesting.

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