“The Hidden and Unknown” is probably one of the most expensive games on Steam. For a hefty purchase price of around €1,950, it aims to expand players’ perception. However, it can be completed in less than 2 hours. The developers see no problem with the short playtime; rather, they believe people could take advantage of it.
What kind of game is it? The Hidden and Unknown was released on Steam on January 23, 2023. The most striking aspect is the high price of the game, which amounts to €1,949.09. Meanwhile, the game’s graphics appear rather unconventional.
The Steam description of the game initially sounds quite vague: “The Hidden and Unknown is a story-based game that aims to expand the audience’s perception in the areas of psychology and philosophy” (via Steam).
The game description also sounds cryptic and reveals little about the actual gameplay. From the screenshots and gameplay videos on YouTube, it can be concluded that the game primarily involves a text-based experience that the player follows.
How is the game rated? Currently, there are only three game reviews for The Hidden and Unknown. Two of them are positive, stating that the game is worth its price.
One review is negative and advises against purchasing the game. The user writes that it is one of the worst games ever and criticizes it vehemently. The author suspects that the high price is a marketing strategy to gain attention.
If you’re always on the lookout for interesting games, you might be interested in our video about the 5 MMO highlights of the Game Awards:
Why is the game so expensive? In response to the question of why they decided to set the price of the game at $2,000, the developer Pro X explained to the gaming website Gamerant:
They set it at that price “as it feels right” and that it is their “right” to do so. However, the developers also stated that players could probably complete The Hidden and Unknown within 2 hours and thus cancel the game and get their money back. “[…] You can play through the entire story and then return the game to ensure you don’t feel cheated out of your money”.
Looking at the YouTube channel of the developers, you can find several unrelated clips where a computer voice reads Reddit threads.
It is difficult to assess whether the game is a revolutionary art project or just a pure troll project. Perhaps the developers simply hope that someone buys the game and forgets to return it in time.
Another game on the platform is currently causing players to speculate about what is behind it: The Day Before disappears from Steam, releases postponed to late 2023 – reasons leave fans doubtful
