Consume Me Review – A Tasty Blend of Puzzle and Horror That Leaves You Hungry for More

Consume Me, released on September 11, 2025, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch, is an indie puzzle-horror hybrid from developer Bitter Root Studios. Blending psychological horror with intricate puzzle mechanics, this debut title casts players as a chef trapped in a nightmarish kitchen where food fights back. With a solid 77/100 (Generally Favorable), Consume Me delivers a unique, unsettling experience that shines with creative puzzles and a creepy atmosphere, but its short length and uneven difficulty hold it back from true greatness. For fans of indie horror like Amnesia or puzzle-driven games like The Witness, it’s a deliciously weird treat that satisfies but leaves you craving a bit more.

A Nightmarish Recipe for Survival Set in the surreal Greystone Manor, Consume Me follows Elias, a disgraced chef who wakes in a grotesque kitchen where ingredients—living vegetables, sentient meat—turn hostile. The 8–10-hour campaign unfolds as a psychological descent, with Elias piecing together his past through cryptic journal entries and environmental clues. The narrative explores themes of guilt and obsession, with a food-centric twist that feels both absurd and chilling. While the story’s ambiguity adds intrigue, it can feel underdeveloped, with key plot points left unresolved. Compared to 2025’s Silent Hill f, Consume Me leans harder into surrealism but lacks the emotional depth of its AAA counterpart. X posts praise the premise—“A horror game about evil carrots? I’m in!”—but some note, “The story ends too abruptly.” The quirky tone and grotesque imagery make it a standout, though it’s best suited for players who enjoy open-ended narratives.

Puzzles That Sizzle, Combat That Simmers Gameplay splits between environmental puzzles and light survival horror. Puzzles are the heart of Consume Me, ranging from mixing alchemical ingredients to decoding recipes etched in blood. These challenges are creative, requiring lateral thinking—like arranging sentient spices in a specific order to unlock a door—though later puzzles can feel overly complex, disrupting the flow. Combat is minimal, with Elias wielding kitchen tools (knives, rolling pins) to fend off animated food monsters. The system is clunky, with sluggish controls that make dodging tricky, but the scarcity of combat keeps the focus on puzzles. A “Fear Meter” mechanic, where Elias’s panic affects visibility and movement, adds tension but can frustrate when it triggers during precise tasks. Accessibility options, including adjustable puzzle hints and difficulty sliders, make it welcoming, though the lack of multiplayer or co-op limits replayability. X users raved about the puzzles—“They’re so clever!”—but griped about combat: “Why is swinging a spatula so awkward?” Compared to Portal’s cerebral challenges, Consume Me’s puzzles are engaging but less polished.

A Feast for the Eyes with Some Spoilage Visually, Consume Me impresses with its grotesque yet stylized art direction. Running at 4K/60 FPS on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, the game’s kitchen environments—dripping with slime, blood, and pulsating ingredients—are both repulsive and captivating. The Switch version, capped at 1080p/30 FPS, sacrifices detail but maintains the eerie vibe. Character models, especially the anthropomorphic food enemies, are delightfully creepy, though animations can feel stiff. The sound design, with squelching footsteps and distorted whispers, amplifies the horror, complemented by a minimalist synth score. Technical performance is mostly stable, though PC players reported occasional crashes during loading screens, patched post-launch. PS5’s DualSense haptics enhance immersion, with vibrations mimicking chopping or heartbeats. Compared to 2025’s HOTEL BARCELONA, Consume Me’s visuals are less flashy but more cohesive, though texture pop-in on Switch disappoints.

A Tasty but Short-Lived Dish Priced at $30, Consume Me offers decent value for its 8–10-hour runtime, with extras like a recipe-themed artbook and unlockable costumes adding charm. However, the short length and lack of endgame content limit replayability, and the steep difficulty spikes in later puzzles may alienate casual players. X feedback reflects the sentiment: “Super creepy and fun, but it’s over too fast.” Compared to indie hits like Hollow Knight, it lacks longevity but nails its niche. The game’s polish and creativity make it a standout, but more content could have pushed it higher.

Consume Me earns its 77/100 for its inventive puzzles, unsettling atmosphere, and unique premise, making it a must-play for indie horror fans. While clunky combat and a brief runtime hold it back, its blend of brains and scares is a refreshing addition to 2025’s lineup. Bitter Root Studios shows promise—here’s hoping their next dish is even meatier.