Sleep Awaken Review – Life Without Sleep Is Horrible and Boring

SLEEP AWAKE offers the concept of an unusual post-apocalypse – one in which people disappear in their sleep, and the few remaining survivors do everything they can to stay awake. This foundation makes for a good story, and the developers generally succeed, but they still fall short in some areas. We’ll cover this in more detail in the review.

• Developer: EYES OUT, LLC.
• Publisher: Blumhouse Games
• Platforms: PC
• Release date: December 2, 2025

SLEEP AWAKE takes place in the last city on Earth. Although these ruined slums can hardly be called a city—they’re more like a collection of streets and the skeletons of high-rise buildings strewn with rubble and debris, in some places still huddled by those who have found the strength to stay awake.

The game perfectly captures the atmosphere of a doomed world consumed by sheer madness. People vanish in their sleep, leaving behind only barely discernible silhouettes. Government and law and order are nonexistent, and sinister cults flourish against this backdrop, their members tormenting themselves and others: some seek to stay awake by inflicting pain, others torture themselves with electricity, and still others breathe a special gas. However, neither of these groups has long to live: if they aren’t consumed by the mysterious disease known as HASH, they will surely be finished off by another earthquake or acid rain .

Katya, a young woman, is one of the few survivors who has managed to maintain a relatively clear mind. She takes refuge in a secure shelter, equipped with everything necessary for a relatively comfortable existence, including the tools to brew a special infusion that keeps her awake. However, she, too, will have to leave her cozy nest and embark on a journey through a city where reality blends with hallucinations.

SLEEP AWAKE intrigues with its unusual world. The backstory is revealed through microfilms and news recordings, gradually building a coherent picture of the events. The locations are eerily vivid, and some scenes are downright disturbing.

The developers integrated FMV cutscenes into the 3D graphics, regularly interspersing recorded videos of people, strange liquids, and rituals. It feels like you’re living in a never-ending nightmare alongside the protagonist, but at the same time, this presentation severely impacts the story’s comprehension—some images and scenes seem out of place, and a good portion of the plot is simply incomprehensible. The developers are in no rush to answer all the questions, so many secrets of the game’s universe will remain undiscovered. They’re likely saving them for a potential sequel, as the vague ending suggests.

Gameplay-wise, the project is a walking simulator with occasional puzzles and stealth sequences. The challenges are quite simple, mostly involving finding keys or correctly using ingredients. Enemies are somewhat blind, studiously ignoring Katya when she’s a meter away, and even if they do spot her, they’ll likely let her escape. There’s no way to fight them off— there’s no combat system at all.

There are virtually no outside activities in the game, but gamers who enjoy exploring every nook and cranny will be rewarded for their curiosity with notes, microfilms, and sketches from the lives of the city’s less fortunate residents.

---

Despite its shortcomings in the story and gameplay, as well as bugs and crashes, SLEEP AWAKE still manages to grab your attention. The visuals are superb, the soundtrack by Robin Finck of Nine Inch Nails is heartbreaking, and the setting is captivating with its chilling hopelessness. The game is primarily suitable for those who “love with their eyes,” but don’t expect it to scare you or surprise you with interesting gameplay mechanics.