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Close to the Sun
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Close to the Sun

byStorm in a Teacup•2019

Close to the Sun is a story-driven horror game that takes place at the turn of the 20th century on a mysterious ship complex created by Nikola Tesla for the sake of knowledge. In this alternative version of history, his scientific breakthroughs have already had a major impact on the world. You’re a young journalist looking for your sister and, as y...

Details

Released
May 2, 2019
Genres
Action · Adventure · Indie · Horror
Platforms
PC · PS4 · Xbox One · Switch

How it plays

3h
main
4½h
main + extras

Time to beat · 3 player times (IGDB)

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Close to the Sun Reviews

Professional reviews from gaming critics

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Close to the Sun has a great premise and gorgeous graphics. However, the execution falls short due to the short plotline, use of jump scares, and clunky movements.

May 5, 2020

In an alternative history Nikola Tesla won out and his imagination comes to life aboard the Helios. Read our review for Close to the Sun.

Dec 4, 2019

It’s short, beautiful, has solid writing and voice acting, and a thoroughly creepy atmosphere.  There isn’t much music, I think the game’s entire soundtrack is a single song that’s a few minutes long.  Most of the time you will be hearing the creaks and groans of the ship, occasionally intermingled with the screams of its inhabitants.

Jan 3, 2024

Inspired by the historic feud between Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison, Close to the Sun is a steampunk mystery that absorbs you into the heart of a dark investig

Dec 21, 2019

A very competent, well-made survival horror adventure with clear BioShock inspirations, Close to the Sun is a smart and compelling game marred only by some ill-advised showing of naff monsters.

Oct 29, 2019

Granted, the chase sequences are frustrating and the story falls a bit flat, but there's some wonderful attention to detail in Close to the Sun's environments, and tension is present even in the game's calmest moments.

Jun 5, 2021

To say that Close to the Sun heavily evokes BioShock in its opening chapters is a massive understatement. Stop us if you’ve heard this one before: Arriving at a seabound utopia - established as a place where the great minds of the time can flex without being restrained by their governments - you find it in total disarray, with a variety of nasty fates having befallen a large portion of its residents. While Close to the Sun switches fictional businessman Andrew Ryan for real life scientist Nikola Tesla, and the underwater city of Rapture for gargantuan cruise liner the Helios, the parallels are...

Oct 29, 2019

Overall, I have pretty mixed feelings about Close to the Sun. I love the setting and the atmosphere, but the technical problems, chase sequences, and lack of story cohesion ultimately left me wanting.

Oct 29, 2019

Close to the Sun manages to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. The early parts of the game establish a genuinely interesting narrative and world before the later parts throw most of this away in favour of repetitive and dull chase sequences. The narrative remains interesting enough to keep you playing and there's some strong character development, but the ending comes as a relief rather than a reward. It isn’t a disaster but it is a missed opportunity.

May 30, 2019

Close to the Sun is a story-driven horror game that takes place at the turn of the 20th century on a mysterious ship complex created by Nikola Tesla for the sake of science.

Nov 14, 2019

Leave it to a game focused on Nikola Tesla’s boundless imagination to seldom demonstrate the same kind of inventive spirit.I'll be the first to admit I hated Storm In A Teacup’s first effort, N.E.R.O.: Nothing Ever Remains [...]

Nov 28, 2019

Close to the Sun is an exceptional narrative game but it is held back on Switch from really shining.

Nov 10, 2019