Title: Sorry, We’re Closed
Developer: a la mode games
Publisher: Akupara Games
Release Date: November 14th, 2024
Platforms: All modern platforms: Nintendo Switch, PC, Xbox One and Series X/S, and PlayStation 4 & 5.
Price: $24.99 (USD)

Intro

Sorry We’re Closed was one of my highlights of PAX East, and I’ve been eagerly anticipating its full launch. Developed by a team of two out of the United Kingdom, a la mode games serves us a delightfully quirky and retro-style horror title with memorable characters. Initially released in PC, Sorry We’re Closed became available on modern consoles in March 2025. They even landed a physical deal with Serenity Forge, where you can get a neat Premium Edition for an affordable $44.99 USD.

Author’s Note: A game key was provided that allowed me to play and review this game. Thank you, Soft Source Publishing and Akupara Games.

Synopsis

In Sorry We’re Closed, you play as Michelle (a badass with blue hair and a hot pink coat), who recently went through a devastating breakup with her partner. If things weren’t tough enough, a demon has gravitated toward her loneliness and makes her an offer she literally can’t refuse. This demon, referred to as The Dutchess, imparts a curse upon Michelle that begins a countdown: declare her love to the Duchess or suffer a fate worse than death. An odd side effect of this curse is a Third Eye that allows Michelle to see the Demon realm. In a desperate attempt to escape The Duchess’ “love”, she balances her everyday life with battling demons. Will Michelle find a way to break the curse in time?

Analysis

Gameplay

A la mode games based much of their gameplay off retro horror games of yesteryear. While the primary perspective is third person, there are fixed camera angles as well as a first-person (and immobile) view when attacking enemies. The game also alternates between two distinct phases–one without combat where Michelle can explore her neighborhood and socialize with others. Here, she can talk with truly unique characters and choose to help them (or not) with their dilemmas.

Then, the game will switch over to a combat and puzzle-filled section: an underground subway station, a run-down aquarium, and a catacomb. These sections remind me a lot of the old-school Resident Evil and Silent Hill games. You can choose to engage in combat or run, being mindful of resource conservation. Ammo and water (to restore health) is limited. One additional aspect of combat is the use of Michelle’s Third Eye. If you open your Third Eye when an enemy is within range, it will stun them momentarily. In view of the Third Eye, you expose their weak spot(s). This leads to combos and stronger hits, but if you stay in a Third Eye view, you must their weak points or your attack won’t land. You can attack without your Third Eye, but it’ll require more hits.

These levels are atmospheric and challenging. Some puzzles are easy but can become pleasantly intricate as time goes on. Exploration is rewarded with artifacts you can trade in for various upgrades. While each area isn’t massive enough to get lost for very long, I did wish there was a map so I can manage my completionist tendencies. At the end of every level, you are assigned a score based on various factors such as number of times you died, consumed water, and accuracy of hits. While unexpected, it was neat to see how I did and encourages me to replay the game. Another aspect that lends to replay value are the different choices you can make that impacts the lives of other characters and the ending. The characters are so memorable that I sought to speak to every single one any chance I’d get.

Overall, the retro feel of Sorry, We’re Closed was a pleasantly chilling experience. I felt more “hopeless” with the limited camera angles and movement while engaging in battle. And for the most part, it leaves the rougher parts of “older gaming” behind. With that said, sometimes I did feel frustrated with the slower movement when trying to evade larger, stronger enemies, especially bosses. When you get knocked over, it takes times for Michelle to get back on her feet and ready to engage in battle again. Also, when I’m running from a boss attack, it can take longer to shift my first-person view to where I need her to look. Boss fights took much longer than standard enemies because I’m running around so much, and when the enemy slams their tentacle (or whatever) and I enter first-person view, I’m usually looking 90 degrees in the other direction. By the time I turn, the enemy already has moved on, and I missed its weak point.

Visuals and Sound

I absolutely love Sorry We’re Closed‘s art style. The games’ graphics are modeled after the PlayStation era, and the character avatars that pop up during dialogue are gorgeous. The character designs are bright and memorable, while the monsters are horrifying–like something straight from Silent Hill. Even the environments remind me of the “dark side” of Silent Hill with its rusty fencing and rotting walls. Despite the overall limited areas you can visit and explore, a la mode games utilizes every bit of space. You can read descriptions of most items in this world. Characters usually have something funny or sassy to say.

Sound design compliments the spooky atmosphere and helped immerse me fully into the game. What stuck out to me was the boss music. At first, the head-boppin’ hip-hop was a bit jarring against what I’ve been listening to leading up to the boss, I ended up enjoying the neat touches to each boss and their theme.

Final Score

Sorry We’re Closed is such a delightful horror game with a personality that’s hard to forget. I appreciated the retro look and feel that is blended in with modern story-telling. I was intrigued on the spin between a tale as old as time: the complicated relationship between angels and demons. Sorry We’re Closed leverages this topic, generally reserved for religious discourse, to explore themes of love and loneliness. Many characters in the game have some struggle with being with the person they love, which is relatable to the challenges we see today, especially in the LGBTQ community. In fact, the game is filled with diverse characters and relationships that gives ample (and respectful) representation to under-represented groups in the video game industry.

The game is darn near perfect minus some minor movement clunkiness and lack of a map in combat-riddled levels. Even with those taken into consideration, the levels respect your time enough where you can play it over and over again and it’ll likely be easier and more enjoyable over time. But personally, I found myself enjoying the non-combat segments even more. I simply fell in love with characters like Robyn, Benedict, Matilda, Chamuel, and of course, The Duchess. I can’t believe I fell in love with the demon themselves! If you like stylish games with a god story and/or retro horror, Sorry We’re Closed comes highly recommended!

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Featured Image Source: a la mode games