Squarexo - 9.5/10
BRING HER is displayed across my screen, bring who? To where exactly? This is just one mystery you'll want answers to in this unique Sci-Fi thriller experience.
Gamepitt - 9.2/10
Observation is one of the most immersive interactive narrative-based games I've played outside of Virtual Reality. Instead of taking control of the protagonist directly, you'll be in control of the AI which can traverse through the various systems as you investigate the disappearance of the crew. You'll be fooled into thinking you're watching an '80s Sci-fi film with all of the VHS post-effects and familiar surroundings which look like they've been ripped right out of the set from Alien. Although built around the incredibly strong narrative and immersive interactions, you'll have to overcome various puzzles as you move around the ship trying to uncover the truth.
Gamespew - 9/10
If you're after an experience like no other, that will challenge your problem-solving skills in logical and believable ways, you absolutely need to play Observation. It's one of the most compelling and surprising games I've played in recent years. Its biggest achievement, though, is that it didn't make me feel like I was playing a game; it made me feel like I was genuinely assisting a crew member in distress.
IGN - 9/10
Observation's novel approach to puzzle design and gripping plot combine to create a unique science-fiction experience.
God is a geek - 9/10
Observation is a fantastic game, bringing gripping science fiction and unique gameplay together for a truly remarkable experience.
Gameinformer - 9/10
I ripped through Observation in one six-hour sitting, propelled forward by the novel blend of challenging puzzles and gripping storytelling. Though at first glance, Observation may appear to be your traditional first-person horror game, I've never played anything quite like it. Challenging and unnerving in equal measure, Observation shouldn't be missed by anyone in search of a mind-bending and unsettling thrill.
Pcworld - 4.5/5
Observation is grander than Stories Untold, more ambitious by half, but equally fascinating and inventive.
Everyeye.it - 8.8/10
The No Code space odyssey will delight those in the genre and those looking for a playful experience that only a great indie could offer.
Player.one - 8.5/10
An amazing, unique and genuinely mind-bending entry into the science-fiction genre, Observation draws on its distinct set-up to pull you into a mystery set deep in space. It's existential dread condensed into roughly six to eight hours of gameplay.
Pcgamer - 82/100
A stylish, understated, and subtly chilling psychological thriller with a compelling mystery at its core.
Hobbyconsolas - 8/10
Observation is an intriguing, sometimes terrifying, sci-fi thriller. Exploration and puzzle solving, combined with a great atmosphere, create a unique tribute to some classic movies such as Alien, 2001 A Space Odyssey, MOON and Gravity.
Stevivor - 8/10
Despite those occasionals falter — and a somewhat polarising, disappointing ending — I was desperate to complete Observation to get to the bottom of its mystery. I enjoyed it so much that I immediately went out to acquire No Code's last game, Stories Untold.
Culturedvultures - 8/10
No Code's sophomore title nails the organic intricacies of feeling like an artificial intelligence system while also telling a compelling and ambitious science fiction narrative.
Videogamer - 8/10
An exquisite atmosphere and fresh premise make up for some slightly obtuse puzzles. Observation brims with ideas and images that fill your head.
Indiegamewebsite - 8/10
It feels personal and emotional, even if the ending is decidedly oblique. After a rush of pure action games, this is a welcome palate cleanser; a game that really just wants to tell a spooky, evocative, and engaging story. At maybe 5-7 hours (if that) Observation isn't a huge time sink either, but will likely be a game that sticks in your mind long after you put the controller down.
Eurogamer - Recommended
Observation works almost in spite of itself. Its individual parts aren't particularly interesting, but the slow dread, the pull of uncovering the next bit of the puzzle, makes you bear with its less confident parts. Perhaps its premise of an AI suddenly attaining consciousness is ultimately underused, but this remains an intriguing, atmospheric spin on a rare theme in games.
Spaziogames - 8/10
Observation is a good sci-fi thriller, a step-by-step story made of puzzles and mistery.
TSA - 8/10
Observation is a sci-fi thriller that puts you in a situation quite unlike any other. You never quite know what to expect, but the writing is solid enough to make sense even at its most unbelievable, and the characters of Sam and Emma really grow on you. A few niggly navigational hiccups and a couple of dull puzzles can break the immersion a bit, but even so any sci-fi fan should have a look at Observation.
Pushsquare - 8/10
Observation uses the unfathomable vastness of space to wonderful effect, conjuring a palpable sense of both isolation and dread that rarely falters across the six or seven hours it'll take for you to see it though. Minor quibbles with some aspects of the storytelling and a couple of quality of life issues don't detract from what is an engrossing adventure that thrills far more frequently than it frustrates.
Screenrant - 4/5
Observation is a chilling and enthralling space-bound horror game, allowing players to act out their best HAL 9000 impressions through a great story.
Dualshockers - 7.5/10
Like Stories Untold before it, Observation is game that I think you really need to play to appreciate how masterful No Code is at setting a tone and building a compelling world for players to explore
PSU - 7.5/10
Observation does a lot of things correctly. Honing in on the isolation of space generates a wonderful tension on its own. Some pacing issues keep it from excellence, but there is plenty of appeal here for many different gaming preferences.
Slantmagazine - 3.5/5
The setting of the game is the familiar stuff of science fiction, but the lens through which it's viewed is not.
Wegotthiscovered - 3.5/5
The gameplay in Observation might be a bit of a slow boil, but it's unusual enough to be engaging in between its fascinating narrative moments.
Pureplaystation - 6.5/10
Observation is another worthwhile sci-fi adventure even if the daily habits of an artificial intelligence are a little mundane and there's not clear answers to some of the puzzles. Aside from that I enjoyed exploring the derelict station and uncovering the mystery of what's plaguing the ship and its programming.
ACG - wait for sale
Wccftech - 6/10
Observation spins a solid sci-fi yarn steeped in ominous atmosphere, but it fails to live up to its intriguing "Play as HAL 9000!" pitch. Too much of the game feels like irritating busy work as you wait for something interesting to happen. Folks who care about story first and foremost will want to give Observation a look, but those hoping for both an engaging plot and mechanics may find this space odyssey a drudgery.
Gamerant - 5/10
Observation has the visuals, atmosphere, and story that would put it in the conversation of the best horror games of 2019, but the nausea-inducing camera, uninspired puzzles, and frequent lack of clear direction ruin it.
Usgamer - 5/10
Observation has no trouble grabbing you from the go, with gripping central mysteries and questions that demand answers. Painstaking progress through even the simplest commands and instructions counteract any sense of progress in Observation, and ultimately dilutes and cheapens the experience.
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