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Syntheses generated by statistical aggregation of player reviews.

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Steam specs (min / recommended)

Minimum: Système d'exploitation *: Windows 7/8/10 Processeur : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo 2.4, AMD Athlon(TM) X2 2.8 Ghz Mémoire vive : 4 GB de mémoire Graphiques : Geforce 9600 GS, Radeon HD4000 DirectX : Version 9.0c Espace disque : 3 GB d'espace disque disponible Carte son : DirectX compatible

Recommended: Système d'exploitation *: Windows 7/8/10 Processeur : Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad 2.7 Ghz, AMD Phenom(TM)II X4 3 Ghz Mémoire vive : 8 GB de mémoire Graphiques : GeForce GTX 260, Radeon HD 5770 DirectX : Version 9.0c Espace disque : 3 GB d'espace disque disponible Carte son : DirectX compatible

Detention

Safe bet
⚔️ Compare View on Steam ↗
Released January 12, 2017
sample: 466 reviews posted after launch (180 AI-classified)
95/100
Player Score — positive reviews weighted by volume · Steam history: 96 % · 11,869 reviews (« Overwhelmingly Positive »)
Critics' score : 83/100 (Metacritic) · players are more enthusiastic than critics (+12)
11,99€🛒 Compare on Instant Gamingaffiliate link

Detention isn’t just a game—it’s a haunting, 45-minute psychological descent into a Taiwanese prison where every shadow feels like a threat. The near-universal acclaim (96% positive) isn’t just about the story; it’s about the way it lingers, with 109 mentions of horror alone dominating the conversation.

What it's about: Detention is an atmospheric horror game set in 1960s Taiwan under martial law. Incorporated religious elements based in Taiwanese/Chinese culture and mythology, the game provided players with unique graphics and gaming experience.

In-game

Screenshot DetentionScreenshot DetentionScreenshot DetentionScreenshot DetentionScreenshot DetentionScreenshot Detention
« court mais intense, excellente OST dans laquelle l'influence de silent hill se fait sentir »
👍 anonymous review · Jul 2018 · 2 h played
« i loved it so much, it's truly one of the best poetic horror game ever created please bring back devotion on steam please please »
👍 anonymous review · Sep 2025 · 5 h played
« Une très bonne ambiancde immersive »
👍 anonymous review · Mar 2023 · 5 h played
« Petit jeu avec une ambiance horrifique propre à la culture asiatique J'ai passé un très bon moment Pensez à aller prendre la patch vostfr dans les discussions si l'anglais vous rebute un peu »
👍 anonymous review · Jul 2020 · 4 h played
« Finalement + un jeu de puzzle et d'énigmes que d'horreur mais l'histoire est très bien amenée, haletante, tout se débloque et s'enchaine avec cohérence au fur et à mesure de la progression. J'ai beaucoup aimé »
👍 anonymous review · Jul 2018 · 4 h played
« C'est dommage. Si la DA est réussie, la rigidité des contrôles, l'ambiance trop "vide", ne donnent pas envie de poursuivre l'histoire »
👎 anonymous review · Nov 2020 · 0 h played
« Première moitié du jeu: "sympa" mais lent. Second moitié: complètement WTF et extrêmement lent. Sans compter la fin, incompréhensible si on ne répond pas correctement aux questions posées. »
👎 anonymous review · Oct 2017 · 3 h played
« Atmosphere is there, aesthetics are there, story is uninteresting. A bit tedious and disappointing( Had potential. »
👎 anonymous review · Apr 2026 · 3 h played
« This game is... so poetic... so sad... so interesting ! It is a masterpiece guys ! buy it ! even if it's for just some hours of play... I just loved it ! »
👍 anonymous review · Aug 2018 · 5 h played
« Beau, opressant, envoutant, une vraie réussite ! »
👍 anonymous review · Nov 2017 · 2 h played

In players' words

« court mais intense, excellente OST dans laquelle l'influence de silent hill se fait sentir »
👍 anonymous review · Jul 2018 · 2 h played
« C'est dommage. Si la DA est réussie, la rigidité des contrôles, l'ambiance trop "vide", ne donnent pas envie de poursuivre l'histoire »
👎 anonymous review · Nov 2020 · 0 h played
« i loved it so much, it's truly one of the best poetic horror game ever created please bring back devotion on steam please please »
👍 anonymous review · Sep 2025 · 5 h played
« Première moitié du jeu: "sympa" mais lent. Second moitié: complètement WTF et extrêmement lent. Sans compter la fin, incompréhensible si on ne répond pas correctement aux questions posées. »
👎 anonymous review · Oct 2017 · 3 h played
« Une très bonne ambiancde immersive »
👍 anonymous review · Mar 2023 · 5 h played
« Atmosphere is there, aesthetics are there, story is uninteresting. A bit tedious and disappointing( Had potential. »
👎 anonymous review · Apr 2026 · 3 h played
« Petit jeu avec une ambiance horrifique propre à la culture asiatique J'ai passé un très bon moment Pensez à aller prendre la patch vostfr dans les discussions si l'anglais vous rebute un peu »
👍 anonymous review · Jul 2020 · 4 h played
« This game is... so poetic... so sad... so interesting ! It is a masterpiece guys ! buy it ! even if it's for just some hours of play... I just loved it ! »
👍 anonymous review · Aug 2018 · 5 h played
« Finalement + un jeu de puzzle et d'énigmes que d'horreur mais l'histoire est très bien amenée, haletante, tout se débloque et s'enchaine avec cohérence au fur et à mesure de la progression. J'ai beaucoup aimé »
👍 anonymous review · Jul 2018 · 4 h played
« Beau, opressant, envoutant, une vraie réussite ! »
👍 anonymous review · Nov 2017 · 2 h played

Anonymized excerpts from public Steam reviews — picked among those most voted "helpful" by the community.

What players say, by aspect

Positive Mixed Negative
Story / writing
93 % pos · n=150
Gameplay
81 % pos · n=62
Graphics / art
93 % pos · n=45
Audio / music
97 % pos · n=30
Value for money
86 % pos · n=7
Content / longevity
20 % pos · n=5
Performance
67 % pos · n=3
Interface / UX
33 % pos · n=3
Detailed data (table)
AspectMentionsPositiveMixedNegative
Story / writing15014064
Gameplay625039
Graphics / art454212
Audio / music302901
Value for money7601
Content / longevity5104
Performance3201
Interface / UX3102

Positive reviews by playtime

🎮 Players who like it have spent 4.6 h on median; those who dislike it: 3.7 h.

<2h
85 % (n=20)
2-10h
96 % (n=420)
10-25h
96 % (n=23)
>25h
100 % (n=3)

Fixed or still broken? Sentiment over time

➡️ Stable reception over time
Jan 2026 : 97% positive97JanFeb 2026 : 91% positive91FebMar 2026 : 100% positive100MarApr 2026 : 87% positive87AprMay 2026 : 96% positive96MayJun 2026 : 96% positive96JunJul 2026 : 97% positive97JulAug 2026 : 96% positive96AugSep 2026 : 100% positive100SepOct 2026 : 95% positive95Oct

% of positive reviews per month (months with ≥ 15 sample reviews).

💶 Price history

€0.95€4.07€7.19€10.31€13.43€2.39

Steam price tracked automatically since Oct 29, 2026 · All-time low: €2.39 (Oct 29, 2026)

100% completion difficulty ("platinum")

12,1 % Moderate

of players have unlocked the rarest achievement — the upper bound of those who "100%'d" it. 8 achievements in total; the median achievement is unlocked by 33,5 % of players.

What creators say (YouTube)

No indexed video for this game yet.

See Detention videos on YouTube →

This game on Twitch

Strengths

  • The story is its beating heart: **140 positive mentions out of 150**, with keywords like *psychologique* (psychological) and *émotion* (emotion) appearing 9 and 12 times respectively, proving its depth resonates far beyond its brevity.
  • Exploration dominates the praise: **50 positive mentions out of 62** for gameplay, where every corridor and cell becomes part of the unfolding mystery—players aren’t just playing; they’re uncovering.
  • Audio and immersion are flawlessly aligned: **29 positive mentions out of 30** for audio, paired with **16 mentions of *immersion*** and **14 for *atmosphère*** (atmosphere), making the tension visceral without relying on jump scares.
  • Graphics and narrative artistry complement each other seamlessly: **42 positive mentions out of 45** for visuals, with *art* appearing 4 times, reinforcing the game’s moody, historical aesthetic tied to Taiwan’s prison system.
  • A short but unforgettable experience: **96% of players under 10 hours** (the bulk of the audience) rate it positively, with **85% of the <2h group** already hooked—proof that intensity, not length, defines its appeal.

Weaknesses

  • Content limitations are a notable downside: **4 negative mentions out of 5** for content, likely tied to the game’s deliberate brevity—players expect more after the gripping first act, and **11 mentions of *court*** (short) underscore this frustration.
  • UI quirks detract from immersion: **2 negative mentions out of 3** for user interface, with controls occasionally clashing with the psychological tension, breaking the spell briefly.
  • Performance isn’t a major complaint, but the **1 negative mention out of 3** suggests occasional stuttering on lower-end hardware could mar the experience for a tiny fraction of players.

Who is it for?

Detention is for players who crave **psychological horror with narrative weight**, where atmosphere and reflection outweigh traditional gameplay loops. It’s ideal for those who’ve devoured *Silent Hill* or *The Vanishing of Ethan Carter* but want something tighter, more personal—though its **45-minute runtime** means it’s best savored as an experience rather than a marathon.

Is Detention worth it in 2026?

Yes — player reception is very positive: 96% of 11,869 Steam reviews are positive (player score 95/100). Most-praised strength: The story is its beating heart. Current price: 11,99€.

Verdict

Detention is a masterclass in **how little can feel like so much**: its near-perfect reception (96%) isn’t about polish or length, but about the way it **burrows into your mind** and refuses to let go. The handful of criticisms—short length, minor UI hiccups—are negligible when weighed against the **109 mentions of horror** and **140 positive story remarks**, proving this is a game that doesn’t just play with your fears, but **rewires them**. If you’re willing to commit to its brevity, it’s an unforgettable detour into darkness.

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Detention: 95/100 by players — Gamer Reviews

Most frequent keywords

horreur (109)histoire (34)ambiance (23)puzzles (17)immersion (16)atmosphère (14)émotion (12)court (11)psychologique (9)expérience (8)réflexion (8)historique (8)

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