The Nameless City (PS5) | REVIEW | A PSX Style Love Letter to Lovecraftian Horror

SometimeYou, an indie studio known for crafting atmospheric and narrative-driven experiences, developed The Nameless City. The game is published by Cyberleaf Studio, a small outfit that often backs unique, story-focused indie titles. Together, they’ve brought a chilling adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s work to the PS5, aiming to capture the eerie essence of his cosmic horror.

The Nameless City follows a lone explorer venturing into the desolate Arabian Desert to uncover the secrets of an ancient, ruined city whispered to predate human civilization. The narrative draws heavily from H.P. Lovecraft’s 1921 short story of the same name, considered a cornerstone of the Cthulhu Mythos.

In the game, as in the story, the protagonist encounters unsettling carvings, cryptic murals, and an oppressive atmosphere that hints at a civilization far older and stranger than humanity. The plot unfolds as a slow descent into dread, with the explorer piecing together clues about the city’s non-human inhabitants and their otherworldly legacy. While staying faithful to Lovecraft’s themes of cosmic insignificance and forbidden knowledge, the game expands the narrative with its own flourishes, introducing visions and surreal phenomena that blur the line between reality and madness.

The Gameplay  ...

The Nameless City is a first-person horror-adventure game with a focus on exploration and light puzzle-solving. Players navigate the sprawling ruins, uncovering hidden passages, deciphering ancient glyphs, and piecing together the city’s history through environmental storytelling. The game emphasizes immersion over action, with no combat mechanics, instead relying on atmosphere and discovery to drive engagement. 

Key features include a sanity meter that fluctuates based on the protagonist’s exposure to the city’s horrors, affecting gameplay by distorting visuals or altering interactions. The game also incorporates a journal system for tracking clues and a save feature that allows progress to be preserved, though it’s designed to be experienced in a single, uninterrupted session of roughly 50-90 minutes for maximum impact.

The Mechanics ...

The mechanics are deliberately minimalist to keep the focus on narrative and atmosphere. Movement is smooth, with responsive first-person controls. The puzzle system revolves around discovering and using glyphs to unlock sealed areas or activate ancient mechanisms, such as dispelling unnatural winds or illuminating dark passages. 

These puzzles are straightforward, often requiring players to match symbols or follow contextual clues in the environment. The sanity meter is a standout mechanic, draining when players cast spells or linger in unsettling areas, which can trigger hallucinations or temporary control impairments. 

The Presentation ...  

Visually, The Nameless City adopts a lo-fi, PSX-era aesthetic with low-poly models and pixelated textures, evoking a retro horror vibe reminiscent of early 3D games. The art style is surprisingly effective, using stark shapes, vivid colors, and AI-generated surreal imagery to convey the alien nature of the ruins. The desert setting is stark yet haunting, with crumbling structures and grotesque statues that feel both ancient and otherworldly. 

The soundtrack, composed by Andrea Baroni, is a high point, blending ambient drones, eerie chants, and subtle percussion to create a pervasive sense of unease. Voice acting, including narrated quotes from Lovecraft’s story, adds to the immersion, though some lines feel overly dramatic. The sound design, from the howling desert winds to the clanging depths of the ruins, amplifies the game’s oppressive atmosphere.

The Verdict ...  

The Nameless City is a compelling, if brief, dive into Lovecraftian horror that captures the unsettling spirit of its source material. Its atmospheric storytelling and retro aesthetic make it a standout for fans of cosmic horror and indie games, offering a focused experience that doesn’t overstay its welcome. The gameplay, while engaging, is limited by its simplicity, with puzzles and mechanics that feel more like vehicles for the narrative than robust systems in their own right. 

The presentation, bolstered by a haunting soundtrack and evocative art, is the game’s strongest asset, creating a memorable sense of dread. For players seeking a quick, immersive horror experience on the PS5, The Nameless City delivers, but those expecting deep gameplay or extensive replayability might find it lacking. Overall, it’s a solid indie effort that respects its literary roots while carving out its own niche.