{{Short description|2025 video game}} {{Infobox video game | title = Sleep Awake | image = File:Sleep_Awake_steam_art.jpg | alt = The artwork for sleep awake showing the title and person using an eye dropper on their eye, all in red tones | caption = | developer = Eyes Out | publisher = [[Blumhouse Games]] | engine = [[Unreal Engine 4]] | platforms = {{ubl|[[PlayStation 5]]|[[Windows]]|[[Xbox Series X/S]]}} | director = {{ubl|Cory Davis|[[Robin Finck]]}} | designer = Clay Westing | programmer = Chris Brown | artist = Stephen Ratter | writer = {{ubl|Bryan Keithley|Jordan Guerette|Max Wong|Clay Westing}} | composer = Robin Finck{{efn|Additional music by Jordan Guerette, [[Morgan Sorne]], [[Josh Freese]], and Cory Davis}} | released = December 2, 2025 | genre = [[Walking simulator]],<ref name="Polygon"/><ref name=ShackNews/> [[Psychological horror game|psychological horror]]<ref name=ShackNews/><ref name="Guardian">{{cite web |last1=Gordon |first1=Lewis |title=Sleep Awake review – Gary Numan cameos in an overly straightforward sleep-deprivation horror |url=https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/dec/03/sleep-awake-review-gary-numan-cameos-in-an-overly-straightforward-sleep-deprivation-horror |website=[[The Guardian]] |publisher=[[Guardian Media Group]] |access-date=9 March 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251203103754/https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/dec/03/sleep-awake-review-gary-numan-cameos-in-an-overly-straightforward-sleep-deprivation-horror |archive-date=3 December 2025 |date=3 December 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> | modes = [[Single player]] }}
'''''Sleep Awake''''' is a 2025 [[First-person (video games)|first person]] [[psychological horror]] indie game developed by Eyes Out, founded by ''[[Spec Ops: The Line]]'''s Cory Davis and Robin Finck of [[Nine Inch Nails]], and published by [[Blumhouse Games]]. The game was released on December 2, 2025, on [[PlayStation 5]], [[Windows]] and [[Xbox Series X/S]] with a mixed reception.
==Gameplay== Players play as Katja (played by Persia Numan) in an ever-shifting far futuristic world of The Crush, navigating through death cults and otherworldy forces, all while trying to stay awake. While this game include puzzles to solve and stealth sequences to avoid a group known as the DTM, the key factor to this is the eyedrops on the player known as an anti-sleep defusion. If the player falls asleep, it could mean certain doom.<ref name=Polygon/><ref>{{Cite news |last=Gould |first=Elie |date=2025-10-13 |title=Blumhouse's latest horror game Sleep Awake is the first psychological horror I've enjoyed in a hot minute |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/horror/blumhouses-latest-horror-game-sleep-awake-is-the-first-psychological-horror-ive-enjoyed-in-a-hot-minute/ |access-date=2026-03-06 |work=PC Gamer |language=en |archive-date=2025-12-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251218040841/https://www.pcgamer.com/games/horror/blumhouses-latest-horror-game-sleep-awake-is-the-first-psychological-horror-ive-enjoyed-in-a-hot-minute/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Development== Developer Eyes Out is based in [[Los Angeles]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/-i-spec-ops-the-line-i-creative-director-opens-studio-with-nine-inch-nails-guitarist|title=Spec Ops: The Line creative director opens studio with Nine Inch Nails guitarist|website=[[Game Developer (website)|Game Developer]]|date=August 11, 2021|access-date=March 10, 2026|first=Kris|last=Graft|archive-date=February 28, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228192526/https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/-i-spec-ops-the-line-i-creative-director-opens-studio-with-nine-inch-nails-guitarist|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Blumhouse Games]] showcased ''Sleep Awake'' during the [[Summer Game Fest]] on June 7, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Destiny |date=2024-06-07 |title=Blumhouse Games Conjures Upcoming Indie Horror Games Slate At Summer Game Fest |url=https://deadline.com/2024/06/blumhouse-games-summer-games-fest-1235961966/ |access-date=2024-06-13 |website=Deadline |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915152827/https://deadline.com/2024/06/blumhouse-games-summer-games-fest-1235961966/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The game features an original score from the game's co-director Robin Finck of [[Nine Inch Nails]], giving the music a visceral journey with brooding guitar motifs, immersive synth passages and evolving rhythmic pulses, all while capturing the emotional and existingal depths and stylistic inventiveness.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shutler |first=Ali |date=2025-12-03 |title=Nine Inch Nails' Robin Finck releases horror game and soundtrack |url=https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/nine-inch-nails-robin-finck-horror-game-sleep-awake-soundtrack-3915275 |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=NME |language=en-GB |archive-date=2025-12-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251216145433/https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/nine-inch-nails-robin-finck-horror-game-sleep-awake-soundtrack-3915275 |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Release== During the Indie Horror Showcase, the game was announced to be released on December 2, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/video-games/3910907/blumhouse-games-sleep-awake-launching-december-2-trailer/|title=Blumhouse Games' 'SLEEP AWAKE' Launching December 2 [Trailer]|website=Bloody Disgusting}}</ref>
==Reception== {{Video game reviews |MC = PC: 63/100<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/sleep-awake/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Sleep Awake critic reviews - Metacritic|publisher=Metacritic}}</ref><br>PS5: 73/100<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/sleep-awake/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5|title=Sleep Awake critic reviews - Metacritic|publisher=Metacritic}}</ref> |OC = 50% recommended<ref name="OC">{{Cite web|url=https://opencritic.com/game/19718/sleep-awake|title=Sleep Awake Reviews|date=December 16, 2025|website=OpenCritic|access-date=March 5, 2026|archive-date=March 30, 2026|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/ctXbB|url-status=live}}</ref> |GRadar = 2.5/5<ref name=GameRadar>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/survival-horror/sleep-awake-review/|title=This surreal, sleepless horror can be visually captivating, but the stealth ends up a little tired|date=December 2, 2025|website=GamesRadar+|access-date=March 5, 2026|archive-date=January 8, 2026|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260108211121/https://www.gamesradar.com/games/survival-horror/sleep-awake-review/|url-status=live}}</ref> |SN= 8/10<ref name=ShackNews>{{Cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/147008/sleep-awake-review-score|title=Sleep Awake review: Delaying the inevitable|date=December 2, 2025|website=Shacknews|access-date=March 7, 2026|archive-date=December 16, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251216114859/https://www.shacknews.com/article/147008/sleep-awake-review-score|url-status=live}}</ref> }} ''Sleep Awake'' received "mixed or average reviews" based on 12 critic reviews according to [[review aggregator]] website [[Metacritic]].<ref name="Metacritic">{{Cite web |title=Sleep Awake Reviews - Metacritic |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/sleep-awake/ |access-date=2026-03-06 |publisher=Metacritic |language=en |archive-date=2026-02-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260221034159/https://www.metacritic.com/game/sleep-awake/ |url-status=live }}</ref> 50% of critics recommended ''Sleep Awake'' on [[OpenCritic]].<ref name="OC"/>
''[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]'' gave it a good review on the visuals and soundtrack with an off-the-wall plot being more grounded in reality for a satisfying, thought-provoking, and truly unique experience.<ref name="Polygon">{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Claire |date=2025-12-03 |title=Sleep Awake is a trippy nightmare worth savoring |url=https://www.polygon.com/sleep-awake-review-pc-ps5/ |access-date=2026-03-06 |website=Polygon |language=en |archive-date=2026-02-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260203012048/https://www.polygon.com/sleep-awake-review-pc-ps5/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Bloody Disgusting]] gave the game a solid 3 out of 5 for the visuals but lacks a weak story with undercooked gameplay elements.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/video-games/3919595/visual-treats-in-sleep-awake-mask-a-weak-story-and-undercooked-gameplay-elements-review/|title=Visual Treats in 'SLEEP AWAKE' Mask a Weak Story and Undercooked Gameplay Elements [Review]|website=Bloody Disgusting|access-date=2026-03-05|archive-date=2026-01-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260105233710/https://bloody-disgusting.com/video-games/3919595/visual-treats-in-sleep-awake-mask-a-weak-story-and-undercooked-gameplay-elements-review/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Note== {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|https://www.blumhouse.com/games/sleep-awake}}
[[Category:2020s horror video games]] [[Category:2025 video games]] [[Category:Blumhouse Games games]] [[Category:PlayStation 5 games]] [[Category:Psychological horror games]] [[Category:Single-player video games]] [[Category:Video games developed in the United States]] [[Category:Walking simulators]] [[Category:Windows games]] [[Category:Xbox Series X and Series S games]]