The article discusses the recent release of Reflector Entertainment’s action-adventure game, Unknown 9: Awakening, which has been overshadowed by other major titles. Released on October 18, it garnered a low player count and mediocre reviews, with a Metacritic score of 62. Criticism highlights poor graphics, animation issues, and subpar gameplay, leading to suggestions that players might want to avoid it. The game appears to be struggling due to limited marketing and a lack of awareness among gamers.
The final stretch of the year is proving to be quite packed with game releases. With high-profile titles like the Silent Hill 2 remake, the Vessel of the Hatred expansion for Diablo 4, DRAGON BALL: Sparking! ZERO, and Super Mario Party Jamboree, it’s easy to overlook games vying for attention. This includes Reflector Entertainment’s Unknown 9: Awakening, which launched yesterday but seems to have flown under the radar.
Is Unknown 9: Awakening Getting Lost in the Shuffle?
Unknown 9: Awakening officially debuted on Friday, October 18. The game casts players as Haroona, a Quaestor who can access a enigmatic realm known as the Reverse. In her pursuit of invaluable secret knowledge, she must harness the Reversal’s abilities to combat a malevolent secret society, as stated on its Steam page. Unfortunately, it appears the game may not have had the marketing push it needed, and many gamers may not even be aware of its existence.
At its peak, Unknown 9: Awakening had only 285 players, a figure that echoes the disappointment of one of the year’s biggest flops, Concord, a Sony exclusive for PS5 and PC, which saw its servers shut down just 15 days post-launch. Concord struggled to maintain even 700 players at the height of its popularity.
However, given that Unknown 9: Awakening is a single-player experience, it is less likely to vanish entirely. Still, if it fails to turn the tide, ongoing support for the game may become an issue.
Why Is It Struggling?
One major factor contributing to its underwhelming performance is the lack of exposure. It’s challenging to generate interest in a game when players are unaware of its release. Additionally, the game’s quality has come under scrutiny. Reviewing its performance on Metacritic, Unknown 9: Awakening has a median score of 62, with most reviews falling between the 70 and 50 range based on 30 critic assessments. The most negative feedback comes from GamersRD, which rates it a low 40.
On Steam, the player reviews tell a similar story. The game has received just 34 reviews, leading to a disappointing 26% positive rating. Overall, the reception has been quite bleak.
- ‘The first 20 minutes of gameplay are among the worst I’ve ever experienced, and I know I’m done playing. It feels like the game was rushed out or needed several more years in development.’ – Le_Bebert
- ‘I got this game for free with my AMD GPU purchase, and I still feel like I want my money back.’ – GIEF
- ‘This ranks as one of the worst games I’ve played for some time.’ – Hypnotic
- ‘Value your time and money; don’t waste it on this game.’ – Arch3R
The primary complaints focus on subpar graphics, clumsy animations that fall short of industry standards, dull and uninspiring combat, and poor optimization. A particularly noticeable flaw is the eye animation, which seems to lack proper focus. In summary, while a select few players may appreciate Unknown 9: Awakening, the overwhelming consensus recommends steering clear.
In contrast to this disappointment, Unknown Worlds is back in the limelight with Subnautica 2, following the success of Subnautica’s standalone expansion, Below Zero. They’ve recently released an exciting trailer along with great updates.