Scholar's Mate wastes little time throwing you into its grim escape by any means scenario
As Judith, I found myself locked inside an abandoned psychiatric hospital with no way out. With only a torch to see by and the lurking sounds of something sinister close behind, my mission was clear - escape by any means.
Scholar's Mate wastes little time throwing you into its grim scenario. I awoke alone in the dark, with faint clues pointing to a tragic history within these walls. Piecing together the narrative kept me motivated as I explored, despite gaps leaving some questions unanswered.
This is very much an escape room experience. I had to scour each area, solving puzzles that grew more devious the further I delved. Some stumped me for ages, truly testing my wits. Figuring out obscure solutions brought a real sense of achievement. However, I didn't have peace to ponder puzzles. Something stalked the shadows, following a haunting rhythm as it prowled ever closer. A brief glimpse was all I needed to send chills down my spine. One misstep and it would end my attempt - I had to slip past unnoticed or die trying.
Sound design played a huge part, with each creak and footstep crystal clear through headphones. My heart would race at the slightest noise, unsure if safety lay behind the next door. Graphically it could look rough in places, but atmosphere more than made up for it.
While the story left some threads loose and the relentless pursuing grew tiresome, Scholar's Mate conjures an unnerving atmosphere through its grim confinement. Deviating escape rooms and a gruesome antagonist make it a decent diversion for horror fans seeking a unique challenge. Thanks for reading!
The game was reviewed on a PS5 via a promo copy provided by the publisher. Scholar's Mate is available on PlayStation, Xbox and PC.
