I had no idea what I was getting into when I jumped into the world of Sorry We’re Closed, a narrative-driven survival horror adventure that pairs the grime and decay of Silent Hill with the stylish, sexed-up demons of Persona games. But the artists behind Sorry We’re Closed have managed to remix some of my favorite gaming memories into something unique and surprising.
That even includes pairing Resident Evil-style tank controls and fixed camera angles with arcade light-gun shooters. Somehow all of these disparate gameplay influences come together in a nearly magical way.
Sorry We’re Closed focuses on Michelle, a struggling, heartbroken Londoner who has an unlucky encounter with a sleep-paralysis archdemon known as the Duchess. This experience sends Michelle on a journey of discovery, during which she becomes immersed in a world of angels and demons in conflict; this experience ultimately unlocks magical powers within her. Cursed with mystical vision through a third eye, Michelle can see through the veil of the real world into the demon world and converse with its residents.
The Duchess has pursued Michelle as part of the archdemon’s mission to find love, and she’ll stop at nothing to convince her heartbroken prey to give in to these advances. Rebuffing her archdemon suitor, Michelle works with her friends (some of whom have secretly been demons this whole time) to break free of the Duchess’ curse and chase down the archdemon’s former flames/victims.
Image: à la mode games/Akupara Games
Michelle’s Evil Eye vision comes into play both narratively and in gameplay. With the press of a button and a snap of her fingers, Michelle can see other layers of her world, uncovering secret doors, hidden objects, and the corporeal forms of ethereal figures. Sorry We’re Closed uses this vision for environmental puzzles as well; a painting of eyes on a wall in the real world is revealed to be a smart-mouthed eye demon that blocks a pathway, and obstructions like an indestructible metal box can be revealed in the demon world as wooden boxes that can be smashed with an ax.
These Evil Eye powers also factor into combat. In the real world, you’ll face monsters that can be killed with multiple swings of an ax or riddled with bullets. But if Michelle flicks on her Evil Eye, she can see into the hearts of her enemies, attacking their weak point to slay them quickly. Michelle’s otherworldly vision only extends so far, though. There’s a trade-off between fighting enemies inefficiently in the real world at distance and allowing them to get closer so Michelle can kill them quickly but incur more risk in the process.
Combat and movement can be a bit clunky in Sorry We’re Closed. While exploration is done in third-person view, combat switches to a sometimes disorienting first-person view. Here, the developers draw influence from light-gun games like Time Crisis or House of the Dead, pushing the player to attack rapidly and chain together combos. Pulling off a series of perfect attacks charges up a weapon called the Heartbreaker, a powerful rifle that deals massive damage to enemy demons.
Image: à la mode games/Akupara Games
Combat encounters in Sorry We’re Closed clicked with me, but I can see them being a sticking point for some players. Fortunately, failure in Sorry We’re Closed is rarely frustrating. The game has a manual save system with frequent save points and generous autosaving. While rationing bullets and health items — water bottles, because it’s important to stay hydrated — is a concern, the game is less punishing than many other survival horror games. (Accessibility options can also make the game much, much easier.)
Beyond combat and exploration of the game’s demonic worlds, Michelle spends a good deal of her time conversing with friends, frenemies, and the angels and demons she can see through her third eye. There’s a rich cast of characters, many of them relatably flawed people trying their best to find love or heal from trauma. These characters (and monsters) are all beautifully realized; Sorry We’re Closed oozes style with its mix of horny, elegant, and wonderfully weird misfits. It’s lovely to see a horror game with bright, flashy pops of color.
Sorry We’re Closed has been out on PC platforms since November 2024. Developer à la mode games and publisher Akupara Games have since brought the game to consoles (Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X) and upgraded the original release with new features. For survival horror fans looking for a queer-romance-infused spin on retro Resident Evil-style gameplay, Sorry We’re Closed comes highly recommended. You might just fall in love, which is exactly what the Duchess wants.
Sorry We’re Closed was released Nov. 14, 2024, on Windows PC and March 6 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. The game was reviewed on PC using a download code provided by Valve. Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. You can find additional information about viraltrendingcontent’s ethics policy here.
