Every so often I’ll come across a really unique title that checks all the boxes on the “weird indie game” checklist, and I believe I’ve got another one to share here today.

sin(e)s is categorized as a single-player atmospheric low-poly analog horror game developed by Future Reality Softworks. It was released for free in June of 2023 and is introduced on its Itch.io page as “An interactive piece of software presented by the Seismic Safety Commission – SSc. It simulates the events of a catastrophic earthquake and aims to prepare the trainees for all eventualities.”

The experience starts out with a very convincing vintage webpage featuring some late-80s era training videos explaining best practices for safety during and after a major earthquake. They’re all relatively short, and really convey the sense of 80s cheesiness you expect from this type of video. You can click around on the webpage with your mouse like you would any other.
Once you’ve watched the videos, you’re able to enter a simulator where you can attempt to practice some of what you learned in a post-earthquake scenario. At this point, the visual style shifts from the retro webpage look to a slightly unnerving mid-90s PlayStation aesthetic.

From here, movement is done using the WASD keys, with F serving as an action key. The gameplay itself is somewhat minimal, focusing more on the atmosphere than the action, almost like a point-and-click adventure. There are a handful of spots where you can interact and progress the story.
You wake up in an area that’s been badly damaged by an earthquake, requiring you to move around the room to check on different areas while you work to make sure you’re safe. The majority of what happens from here comes by way of some puzzles where you decode radio signals using an analog TV in and attempt to pick up some radio transmissions from emergency services. This is where the title “sin(e)s” comes from, as far as I can tell. The signals (or signs) are decoded with an oscilloscope-like display, and shown as sine waves.
I’m going to avoid saying too much more from here. The entire experience probably takes around 45 minutes or so, and it’s free, so what could it hurt to try it? That said, being so short, I can only say so much without giving too much away. Overall, It’s big on atmosphere, and a little low on action, but definitely an interesting experience.
How much?
Free
Is it good?

Is it fun?
