Review of The Midnight Walk VR for SteamVR & PSVR 2: An Artful Grotesque Experience

I’m walking through "The Midnight Walk," and honestly, it’s like I’ve tripped and fallen headfirst into a Tim Burton fever dream. Picture this: dark, tangled visuals, spooky yet kinda beautiful in a twisted way. I mean, would I put on a VR headset just to walk through it? Uh, dubious, but let’s see why it might be worth it—or not.

A Quick Rundown

Publisher: Fast Travel Games
Developer: MoonHood
Available On: Steam (VR optional), PS5 (VR optional)
Reviewed On: Quest 3 via Steam Link
Release Date: May 8, 2025
Price: $40

So what do we have here? Another “walking simulator,” trying to stand out with its artsy visuals and little story nuggets. The gameplay? Pretty simple—solving easy puzzles, dodging freaky monsters now and then.

What really grabs you is this otherworldly art style, crafted by hand and tossed into the game via 3D scanning. It’s this whole Burton-esque vibe, you know, kinda like a painting you’d hang in a haunted house, both creepy and picturesque.

Hands-on or Not?

Slapping on a headset lets you shrink down to the size of a mouse. Seriously, every tiny detail, every shadow and texture, it’s all in your face. The lighting plays weird tricks, making everything pop in eerie ways. But—here’s the kicker—the animations, ah, those are hit or miss. They tried mixing old school stop motion with slick animations. The result? Well, imagine a vintage horror movie glitching out midway. Not great, folks.

And about those puzzles? Meh, nothing that’ll make your brain do gymnastics. No big wow moments either. It’s like having a Halloween treat with no sugar hit. If you’re hoping for those jaw-dropping VR interactions, you might want to look elsewhere. This one doesn’t scream “Play me in VR!” It kinda whispers it, awkwardly.

And hey, not saying it’s a horror game, though it dresses like one—like your uncle at a costume party who only puts on a spooky mask. It flirts with being mysterious but doesn’t commit. It feels like listening to an old tale with missing pages. Characters didn’t stick with me at all, and I’m usually a sucker for narratives.

The VR Experience

Let’s chat about immersion—or the lack of it. Yes, you can explore this world in VR, but it’s like being told to dance without a tune. Opening doors and moving around feels more like pressing a button on your remote than actually, well, doing it. Simple tasks like climbing aboard a flying machine happen with a button press instead of a physical reach. It’s like the game gives you a ticket but not the ride.

Now imagine closing your eyes to find hidden sounds or clues. Sounds nifty? Sure, but again, it’s like a half-baked pie. You want a full slice, right?

Comfort Level

Overall, wandering around in VR isn’t painful—things move slow enough. But those cutscenes where the game hijacks your view and tilts the world? It’s kind of like a mild rollercoaster ride you didn’t sign up for. Still, not enough to send you spinning, just enough to make you tilt your head for a sec.

The Final Word

"The Midnight Walk" banks hard on its look and feel, an artsy canvas you walk through. But as someone hungry for gripping gameplay or a story that hooks you, it’s more like wandering an art gallery with sticky floors and dim lighting. There, but slightly off.

If you’re a fan of weird beauty and don’t mind a lukewarm story, maybe give it a shot. But if you’re looking for the VR experience of a lifetime, well, you might just find yourself taking off the headset with a shrug.