PlayStation 4PC (Microsoft Windows)MacXbox OneNintendo Switch2018

Sagebrush

A first-person narrative adventure game about exploring a cult compound in the remote New Mexico desert. Discover the lives of the former inhabitants -- what brought them together, what they believed, and why they ended it all.

Community

Critics

Storyline

"I met Anne first, waiting for the bus. I asked her what she was selling and she laughed and said nothing, nothing at all, that what she had to offer was free for anyone who wanted it bad enough. I asked her what had helped her. She just said 'James.'"

Trailers

Screenshots

Very Positive

294 Steam reviews

Review History

Reviews

294 total

≥h

Steam User 6851STEAMRecommended

Вот эта игра мне прям понравилась, история ну прям интересная, плюс расслабляющий геймплей, пушка просто

Mar 14, 2026·2h·Verified

Steam User 8187STEAMRecommended

A quiet, unsettling story that pulls you in

Sagebrush is one of those short narrative games that really sticks with you after you finish it. The game drops you into the abandoned grounds of a cult compound and lets you slowly piece together what happened there. I really enjoyed the plot, and the way the story unfolds kept me going the entire time. Every note, tape, and location adds another piece to the puzzle, and it does a great job of building tension without needing constant action.

The visuals are another highlight for me. The style is simple but very effective, and it fits the atmosphere of the game perfectly. The lonely desert setting and abandoned buildings create a really eerie feeling that makes exploring the area genuinely engaging.

What I liked most is that the game trusts the player to discover the story themselves. It doesn’t force things on you — you learn about the characters and events by paying attention to the environment and the clues left behind.

It’s not a long game, but it’s a memorable one. If you enjoy narrative exploration games with a strong atmosphere and an interesting story, Sagebrush is definitely worth playing.

Mar 12, 2026·2h·Verified

Steam User 2975STEAMRecommended

A fantastic horror walking sim. The religious theme of it was executed greatly, and the atmosphere adds to the immersion. Graphics add a nice retro style.

Mar 8, 2026·4h·Verified

Steam User 9920STEAMNot recommended

Boring walking sim where nothing happens, thankfully its short

Mar 6, 2026·1h·Verified

Steam User 8302STEAMRecommended

if i played this four years ago i wouldn't have made so many cults. good game.

Feb 28, 2026·2h·Verified

Steam User 6055STEAMRecommended

Really liked this one.

Feb 23, 2026·4h·Verified

Steam User 3235STEAMRecommended

a short game but a very interesting story to discover! i loved slowly revealing parts of it. I also really liked the graphic, i think it fits this game very well, but I'm also biased as I'm a big fan of this type of stuff to begin with. It should definitely be played in one go. great work!

Feb 18, 2026·3h·Verified

Steam User 4054STEAMRecommended

Cults have always been a topic of interest for me due to their incredibly terrifying yet fully human nature. Sagebrush is a PS1-style walking sim that explores this topic. It is not nuanced or particularly deep thematically, but it conveys its atmosphere incredibly well.

The core gameplay involves walking (a lot, duh), mild interaction with readable items, and using keys to access new areas. The narration is delivered through voiceover, with tape recorders scattered throughout the cult compound. The mechanics are very simple, but they feel in place, as Sagebrush is more of an interactive experience rather than something you actively play.

The sauce of the game lies fully in its presentation: the low-poly graphics, the use of lighting (albeit a bit problematic during nighttime fetch quests), and the eerie sound design. The atmosphere of the game is daunting; it presses you to the floor and does not let go. There are weaker parts of the world, such as the mines section, but the main part of the cult habitat is extremely repulsive. I think that sometimes the horror of a topic is much more effectively conveyed through how something feels rather than through detail or nuance, and I liked this small experience a lot. It feels a bit less strong compared to when I first tried it during the pandemic, but it nevertheless hit me where it aimed.

Sagebrush is not a deep or particularly insightful exploration of its themes, but rather a depressing and horrific dive into atmosphere, framed by very appropriate PS1-like graphics. Good for what it’s worth.

Feb 4, 2026·1h·1·Verified

Steam User 7166STEAMRecommended

simplesmente incrível

a história, a dublagem, o jeito como o jogo te conta as coisas mas não de maneira direta - você descobre o que aconteceu e a cada coisa que você lê e acha pelo mapa você fica mais indignado (ou curioso)

a premissa é simples, e o jogo também é bastante, mas ele tem um jeito de te prender na história e você sente como se você estivesse lá, passando por aquelas coisas

é uma prova de que um jogo não precisa de um jumpscare ou algo correndo atrás de você pra ser assustador, você sente medo apenas da atmosfera, de imaginar as coisas que aconteciam ali, e mesmo o jogo não mostrando nada gráfico e explícito do que era feito no rancho, você imagina, e isso é de alguma maneira pior

não sei explicar meu amor por esse jogo, um dos meus all-time-favorites, ele não promete nada e entrega tudo!!!! joguem!!!!

Jan 15, 2026·5h·Verified

Steam User 4509STEAMRecommended

A short psychological horror game about a girl revisting at a camp she stayed for some time with others, indoctrinated by cult with twisted, religious ideals.

The story unfold itself quietly and very subtly with notes left by the other campers and voice recordings of the main characters inner monologue. This worked well with creating such a eerie vibe while you explored around the camp, searching for clue on what led the camp to collapse itself, leading to your imagination filling in the gaps!

I recommend playing this game in one sitting! This game has one hell of a story to tell!

Dec 31, 2025·6h·3·Verified

Steam User 7981STEAMRecommended

[h1]Sous le Soleil du Nouveau-Mexique[/h1]

Les expériences vidéoludiques traitant des cultes religieux ne sont pas légion, alors forcément, en fouillant les tréfonds de Steam, l'esthétique low-poly de Sagebrush, mêlée à son décor du Nouveau-Mexique et son parfum de secte américaine, a immédiatement piqué ma curiosité.
Le résultat s’est révélé à la hauteur de mes attentes, des attentes volontairement mesurées au vu de l’unique personne derrière cette œuvre.

Durant un peu plus de deux heures, Sagebrush ne démérite jamais.
Loin de la médiatisation entourant les productions de David Szymanski (Iron Lung, The Moon Sliver), ce jeu demeure étonnamment méconnu malgré des qualités évidentes. Après un court monologue énigmatique, on débarque en voiture dans un ranch nommé Perfect Heaven, avec pour objectif de lever le voile sur le culte du Flock et sa mystérieuse disparition.

Si l’on adhère à son esthétique brute, une 3D minimaliste mais charmante, magnifiée par une direction artistique qui évolue au fil de la journée, Sagebrush sait maintenir une tension constante jusqu’à son dénouement. La conclusion, d’ailleurs, se révèle sobre et intelligemment liée à notre venue dans ce désert isolé.

La principale force du jeu réside dans cette illusion d’un petit monde ouvert, où l’on croit mener l’enquête à son rythme, dans la direction de son choix. En réalité, un ordre précis guide la progression, mais la découverte naturelle des indices procure un sentiment de satisfaction réel, au moins pour une première partie.
Sagebrush ne bascule jamais dans l’horreur pure, mais parvient à instiller ce frisson particulier : celui d’avancer seul, entouré de champs de maïs silencieux, avec en tête l’ombre d’un culte aux pratiques inquiétantes.

Mesuré dans son ambition, le projet parvient en seulement deux heures à proposer une introduction, un développement et une conclusion abouties, avec en filigrane un propos pertinent sur l’endoctrinement même si l’analyse demeure un peu en surface.
On regrettera au passage quelques soucis de traduction en français et des environnements parfois trop sombres pour être pleinement appréciés.

Au final, si le concept n’est pas inédit, Sagebrush s’en empare avec une honnêteté rafraîchissante. Là où d’autres projets de cette envergure me laissent souvent sur ma faim, j’ai ici eu le sentiment d’une œuvre pleinement achevée.
Pour une soirée, c’est une expérience que je ne peux que recommander.

Dec 12, 2025·3h·1·Verified

Steam User 1822STEAMNot recommended

liked it, but wasnt worth the price.

the game never really delivered on its potential, and i wish the cult was more unique instead of being jonestown 2

Dec 2, 2025·2h·2·Verified

Steam User 3693STEAMRecommended

«Sagebrush» - хоррор, где источник ужаса не в призраках или монстрах, а в человеческой природе. Игра показывает, до чего могут довести препараты, вседозволенность и бредовая убеждённость в том, что человек является «голосом Бога». То, что Джеймс и Энн сделали с доверчивыми и уязвимыми людьми, вызывает настоящий ужас и грусть, так как подобное происходило и происходит в других местах.
Особенности:
📼Визуальный стиль: эстетика VHS, усиливающая ощущение тревоги.
😦Атмосфера: вместо скримеров и преследователей — гнетущее чувство запустения. Скрипящие доски, самозакрывающиеся двери, одиночество и тишина, которая давит.
🌎Локализация: замечены обрывы текста в некоторых записках (русский язык).
Секты - это не просто сюжет для хоррора. Это реальность, от которой стоит держаться подальше.

Dec 1, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 1033STEAMRecommended

this game was amazing. i finished it in about and hour and a half, so unique and beautiful. i only felt scared maybe once or twice but the atmosphere is insane and so is the soundtrack. if youre looking for a fun quick horror game thats a one of a kind experience you should 100% play this game. 10/10

Nov 30, 2025·2h·1·Verified

Steam User 0823STEAMRecommended

Short, immersive, and impactful.

Nov 26, 2025·3h·1·Verified

Steam User 7994STEAMNot recommended

Sagebrush is not a bad game, but it is a sloppy one, and some of the ways that it lacks attention to detail really compromise its coherence and value for me. The physical realism of exploring the compound is really limited, involving, for example, using wirecutters once and then never again, or the fact that your character seems to be incapable of jumping over a knee high wall. This really breaks immersion, and changes the dynamic from one of actual exploration, and actually attempting to compromise the physical integrity of a fortified area, to something that is a lot more akin to just following a trail of breadcrumbs, often having to double back when you realize you did something wrong. The final twist that reveals that not everything has been as you have seen it is good, but is especially hindered by the inconsistencies in how the environment was previously navigated. This whole dynamic alone is enough for me to say that I don't recommend it, no matter how much I want to.

Beyond that, the graphics are great. The low fi setup really accentuates some of the strange features of American geography, and the fact that you're experiencing the ideas of objects, instead of the objects themselves works well. The way that the night progressively falls also makes it work better and better, and the seamless transition in levels of metaphor near the end works astonishingly well.

As for the story, and the themes, the overall presentation of the subject matter is...oddly tasteful and matter of fact given how horrifying it is. I just wish there was more effort in characterizing the various characters, since they really fall flat and end up not completely working as anything more than stereotypes.

Two more technical issues. At some point I hit a button by mistake, I believe F8, and all text in the game disappeared and I was sent back to a previous scene. I couldn't get text to work again, and didn't want to play through much more of the game again, and could tell I was near the end. So, that bug is weird and frustrating. Additionally, little of the audio is spatially encoded it seems. So, when you activate an audio track that's supposed to be coming from a TV, and you leave the area with the TV too early, the TV continues to play in your soundtrack even after you've left the building.

Nov 24, 2025·2h·2·Verified

Steam User 2460STEAMRecommended

As a lover of Faith the unholy trinity this game was delightful-
It brought through aspects of popular religions that are commonly construed inside of modern day cults e.g isolation, guilt surrounding sexuality, sexual immorality, devotion to a mortal, drug use, and a power imbalance all of which are inside of the religious text the cult is a branch from but are exacerbated and interpretations are twisted further.
This game reminds me of that case back in the 70's i think it was where a huge cult in america grew massively in a short time frame, the abuse of drugs such as LSD and acid were prevalent and abuses of power whilst followers where under these substances- the cult leaders after some time establishing themselves then ended up drugging their followers and told them they would ascend to a new plane of existence with some mention of extrarestrials or something- i read about this ages ago. This resulted in what looked like a mass su*cide to the FBI with in the compound that the church operated in with corpses laid on bunk beds with plastic bags over their heads and crazy amounts of acid in their systems where found.
This game has the grainy charming graphics all good horror games have with a good soundtrack and a well flushed out story line. My only criticism is any time you are indoors during the game there are periodically two floor creaking noises that play every couple of minutes that start off as scary- adding to the atmosphere but end up being frustrating as the game goes on- other than that im a huge fan of everything this game has to offer. If only it was longer.

Nov 23, 2025·7h·Verified

Steam User 9087STEAMRecommended

If you like walking simulator that talks to your soul (never said better than now), then you will enjoy this resident evil with no zombies but pure pshycological horror game. Everything is on your head, until your mind gets absorved by the story.

Nov 19, 2025·4h·1·Verified

Steam User 5485STEAMRecommended

Good atmosphere and well designed area

Oct 22, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 3547STEAMRecommended

This easily has a spot on my list of must-play games. While it's not necessarily a horror game, it made me so uneasy and tense for the entire playthrough. The story is captivating, and the ending does a better job of wrapping things up than most games in the genre. This game is perfect for a chill but spooky fall evening.

Oct 19, 2025·2h·1·Verified

Steam User 6299STEAMRecommended

A creepy look into the inner workings of a cult. A nice way to kick off spooky season if your looking for a quick unsettling time.

Oct 5, 2025·3h·Verified

Steam User 7551STEAMRecommended

If you're a fan of video games as a medium for storytelling, then I can't recommend it enough. It came recommended to me as a game similar to Gone Home and The Painscreek Killings, and while there are definite similarities in style, I think it has enough unique qualities to stand on its own two feet as well. The atmosphere is incredibly chilling, and the art-style mixed with dramatic lighting effects and incredibly subtle music make every action feel impactful, to the point where I jumped every time I would enter a room and the doors would close behind me a few seconds later.
There's always this feeling of something behind you, something chasing you even when there actually isn't, and that lends itself so well to the overarching story and narrative. I love this game, and I love how it felt to play it as someone who, while not an apocalyptic one, does have experience with leaving a cult and all that can come with that.

Sep 29, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 6534STEAMRecommended

Even though the game was very short, it had a rich story line that gripped you from beginning to end. The increasing intensity as the game transitioned into night-time paired with the escalating knowledge of Father James/Perfect Heaven and his practises made for a disturbing but fulfilling gameplay experience. The retro and rugged graphics enhanced that unsettling feeling of exploring the ranch, alongside the general ambience provided by the sound effects and audio tapes found in-game. I enjoyed having the ability to do further reading on the lore of Perfect Heaven because of the letters, notes, and diary entries, my only gripe is that there isn't more for me to consume because I'm in love with the worldbuilding. I made sure to 100% the game so I could experience everything Sagebrush had to offer me, thank you for giving me such an amazing game for such a cheap price, I hope the developer continues to make more games with an even bigger budget. You will do wonderful things! <3

Sep 27, 2025·3h·2·Verified

Steam User 6479STEAMRecommended

Шикарно

Sep 19, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 8741STEAMRecommended

she told me she could tell i had a hole in my life. she also had a hole, but it was gone now.

I AM SUCH A HUGE FAN OF THIS GAME. i have played it through twice now, initially on my girlfriends account and then on mine due to how much i loved it >.< even after playing it through twice, this game continues to make me feel on edge CONSTANTLY through out the whole play through. there are some wonderful homages to the original resident evil games and also silent hill (as quoted above) and the only games that truly make me feel this level of anxiety are old school 90s-2000s games with low poly graphics which sagebrush did such a fantastic job of imitating. it perfectly encapsulated not only the experience of being in a cult and how someone vulnerable could be manipulated into joining that lifestyle, but also the repercussions after it and how your experience is now something you carry with you throughout all aspects of your life, cropping up wether you like it or not.

amazing and very poignant soundtrack that has been delicately placed only where it is necessary. otherwise all youre getting is creaky doors and insects :>

i would highly recommend if youre looking for an evening of anxiety and beautifully voice acted storytelling ^_^

Aug 19, 2025·1h

Steam User 9892STEAMRecommended

loved piecing the whole story together, very dark backstory
it felt like im a part of it

Aug 17, 2025·3h·Verified

Steam User 4848STEAMRecommended

this game was a masterpiece, i promise i had chills throughout the game.... thanks for gifting me it omg (you know who u are)

Aug 14, 2025·3h

Steam User 0356STEAMRecommended

the game is awesome, had me on edge the whole time and the old retro style was a refreshing sight!! 10/10

Aug 12, 2025·2h·2

Steam User 5114STEAMRecommended

The game is not overly hard and should only take about 1-2 hours to complete. There are some spots in the game that may be hard to figure out, but nothing is too complicated overall. During my playthrough, I did use something to scribble some codes too, but it’s nothing too much or overwhelming.

As far as the environment and atmosphere go it does feel very uneasy at times. The doors will magically close behind you, which could startle you a few times until you get used to it. The scenery will go from sunset to a shadowy night. You’ll be given a flashlight during your playthrough and this will come in clutch in some areas of the game.

There is only one ending to this game, which makes sense because it’s a narrative of events that have already happened. There is an achievement for completing this game in under 20 minutes; I’ll leave my walkthrough of getting that achievement in the comments.

Overall, I would recommend this game if you’re in the mood for a dark narrative game. I am a sucker when it comes to indie games with a good story. This game retails for $6.99 but I grabbed it on sale for under $3. I would not purchase this game at retail price, but I would recommend this game on sale.

Aug 11, 2025·3h·Verified

Steam User 4647STEAMRecommended

There is nothing I could say to enhance someone's playthrough other than just to say that going in blind was the best decision I ever made. Seriously, if this looks interesting, I urge you to play it with no spoilers. It's a phenomenal experience that kept me hooked.

Onto mild criticisms with the game (spoilers) (duh).

[spoiler]I wish I didn't know about the mass suicide, as it would have made the ending significantly more powerful and shocking, but ultimately a very minor complaint. I also wasn't huge on the graphical style; while I like old low-poly style graphics, sometimes I found myself getting lost, unable to tell what direction I was going due to just how limited the detail was. Also a very minor criticism however and not one that actively detracted from the experience.[/spoiler]

All things considered, easy 9/10 game if I had to rate it. I will say that the tags may lead you to believe that it is something that it is not. This is not a psychological horror game, rather just a dark story of a cult, giving you a general idea of how cults like this exist and function. That being said, it is still wonderful.

Aug 10, 2025·2h·2·Verified

Steam User 5111STEAMRecommended

The mystery is good, the voice acting is great, the SFX and the music are beautifully done and those fried PS1 graphics do what they need to do (although i could have been optimised a little bit better, in ultra my PC sounded like it was going to take off.). A very atmospheric, eerie and melancholic tale of faith, abuse of power and belonging.

Aug 8, 2025·2h·2·Verified

Steam User 3679STEAMRecommended

pretty neat

Aug 6, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 6163STEAMRecommended

This was so good. The eerie atmosphere keeps you on edge and expecting something to be around every corner. It was really fun finding all the clues to piece the story together. It's a short game; took me around 2.5 hours to complete.

Aug 5, 2025·4h·Verified

Steam User 3343STEAMRecommended

I know that this is a fictional story, but the events are at least based on things that really happened and are still happening. It's important, that this game exists.

Aug 4, 2025·3h·Verified

Steam User 2132STEAMRecommended

i love games that have graphics like this and the story was super interesting

Aug 1, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 9621STEAMRecommended

Perfectly eerie and uncomfortable. Loved and dreaded every second.

Jul 31, 2025·4h

Steam User 8911STEAMRecommended

don't kill yourself. and don't write too much.

Jul 30, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 6964STEAMRecommended

Симулятор білого братства рекомендую 10/10

Jul 30, 2025·2h·1·Verified

Steam User 2304STEAMRecommended

great game, very interesting and spooky and the ending was impactful

Jul 30, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 2148STEAMRecommended

holy crap dude this changed my life

Jul 29, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 6181STEAMRecommended

sat through the game for 2 hours in order to enjoy every bit of depth about it- worth every minute, even when i got lost, i stayed satisfied and enjoyed myself- the only part i struggled on was finding the code for the home james and anne lived in,

but it was an incredibly powerful story and it was very beautiful- it kept me hooked

would definitely recommend to play

Jul 29, 2025·3h·Verified

Steam User 9857STEAMRecommended

loved it! big fan of walking stories and hunting for clues so this fed my sleuth brain for a solid 2 hours, really interesting story, reminds me a lot of the mortuary assistant [spoiler] with the protagonist dealing with the ramifications of their past [/spoiler].

Jul 29, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 0007STEAMRecommended

Game is in the genre of walking simulators and has a little bit more text reading than I would've like but overall this was a really good indie game. We had a great time with it and really enjoyed it's art style and minimalist approach.

Jul 29, 2025·2h·2·Verified

Steam User 6119STEAMRecommended

A great and interesting story, highly recommend

Jul 29, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 2187STEAMRecommended

One of the best gaming experiences I've had in years.

Jul 29, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 5100STEAMRecommended

J'ai n'es qu'une chose a dire, INCROYABLE!

Le jeu es insane et j'ai adorée le plot twist a la fin.

Jul 29, 2025·3h·Verified

Steam User 8747STEAMRecommended

This game is amazing, it's incredible atmosphere keeps you on edge the entire time and helps elevate the feeling of dread you player character is feeling after returning to this forgotten memory. I would love to see more games like this and exploring similar themes. For the price it is HIGHLY worth it and I recommend everyone at least watches a playthrough of this game, expesually if you're interested in the inerworkings of cults.

Jul 29, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 6726STEAMRecommended

any media about cults can be hit or miss, this is an absolute hit. the atmosphere is also crafted beautifully.

Jul 27, 2025·1h·3·Verified

Steam User 2298STEAMRecommended

god, this was good. while nothing outright scary happens in this game, the ambiance paired with the notes and tapes that put together the story are truly horrifying. this was such a cool way to put together a narrative. everyone should play this once

Jul 24, 2025·2h·2·Verified

Steam User 1508STEAMRecommended

Short but dosent overstay its welcome or its gameplay gimmick, hope it gets alot of eyes as in Father James they have made a really hateable villain the more you find out about him and alternative cleansing only knock I had is sometimes inventory use puzzles would work a little funky but would recommend to anyone who is a fan of the genre.

Jul 22, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 2924STEAMRecommended

this game is genuinely creepy. i loved how the atmosphere just had me tense and on edge the whole time. even though it's short i think it's one of the more unique gaming experiences i've had - from the sounds, the graphics, and especially the dark story. was cool to piece it together

Jul 22, 2025·3h·6·Verified

Steam User 3606STEAMRecommended

Great short game. Absolutely worth it to play through it for a haunting tale through a cult.

Jul 21, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 5059STEAMRecommended

If ever there was a genre of "Lo-Fi horror to chill to"- Sagebrush would define it. It's not too much, doesn't try to be anything it isn't, short and sweet and to the point. The graphics and colour palate are what the children call a "vibe". Don't go into it expecting to be terrified- just melancholy and creeped out sometimes. There is no action and that's the whole point: You're solely witnessing the aftermath. Highly, highly recommend if you're seeking something to relax and experience.

Jul 12, 2025·1h·Verified

Steam User 4637STEAMRecommended

what amazing storytelling about an insane event. well worth it and very recommended

Jun 30, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 0403STEAMRecommended

This was well made, but be forewarned that the story is very, very heavy. It was hard to get through, but in a good way.

Jun 19, 2025·1h·Verified

Steam User 7395STEAMRecommended

peak

Jun 16, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 5656STEAMNot recommended

May 15, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 4525STEAMRecommended

Однозначно да

May 4, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 1120STEAMRecommended

I guess I only wrote this in the activity section but I very much enjoyed the story and was happy to find a guide online for the couple of times I got stuck as I am not a real gamer and did not want to run around aimlessly. Totally worth checking out if anyone is in to dark cultish binds.

May 2, 2025·5h·Verified

Steam User 7118STEAMRecommended

Dojebane
Nawet w 2k25

Apr 3, 2025·2h·1·Verified

Steam User 4036STEAMRecommended

"I love you all so much.... Amen"

what a gorgeous game, what a well written story, and what an interesting main character.
also- prob the only game I've played whose audio recordings make sense in context

Mar 17, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 8581STEAMRecommended

Sagebrush is a nice little game if you are just looking to knock something out in a few hours. Where this game shines is through it's atmosphere. Almost immediately I found myself feeling on edge. From the music, the sound queues, and the overall tone of things, you really feel the need to check your surroundings constantly. You always feel like you are being watched. Like you shouldn't be there. Like every diary you read wasn't meant to be seen. While the story isn't anything groundbreaking, putting the pieces together yourself and getting to the conclusion is engaging. I felt immersed during my time with it. It's short and sweet, presented in a nice enough way, and I didn't mind the little bit of time I spent with it.

Mar 16, 2025·3h·Verified

Steam User 6720STEAMRecommended

Story was amazing, loved how dark it got later into the story.

Mar 10, 2025·2h·Verified

Steam User 0747STEAMRecommended

[Jugado entero en la Steam Deck, funciona perfectamente]

Este es un juegazo que te da una patada en los huevos que te cagas hasta mañana. Es un thriller de miedo de este que te da canguelo pero sin darte jumpscares.

La atmósfera está perfectamente conseguida gracias a un diseño de sonido exquisito (también música), un diseño visual de puta madre, y el estilo pixelado de baja resolución que ayuda a que sea tu imaginación quien rellene los detalles que faltan, y que ayuda a que te cagues más.

Es terror religioso. Católico en particular. Y me encanta está temática, me puedo comer tantos juegos así como me lances.

Y tío, el juego solo tiene 200 reviews... Por favor....

Mar 2, 2025·4h·1·Verified

Steam User 3585STEAMRecommended

This is a real banger, everything about this game is really amazing : the story, ambiance, music and the graphic style

Jan 10, 2025·2h·4·Verified

Steam User 8291STEAMRecommended

This is really good. If you enjoy walking simulators with interesting stories, you'll enjoy this.
Runs well, and I didn't encounter any bugs.
My one complaint is the actors. The main girl isn't too bad, but the man portraying the leader is really bad. Everything about his energy and personality is the opposite of what it should be.

Jan 1, 2025·3h

Steam User 4428STEAMRecommended

This is a short indie narrative game styled like a PS1 game. It's a very unique and tragic setting for a video game that I've never seen before, this story will certainly stick with me for a lot longer than I played it.

Dec 11, 2024·1h·3·Verified

Steam User 7558STEAMRecommended

Comprei pq tinha achado bonitinho e terminei com essa reação: 😧

Dec 2, 2024·2h·Verified

Steam User 8201STEAMRecommended

cinema

Nov 20, 2024·4h·1·Verified

Steam User 0185STEAMRecommended

Yeah it's aight, interestin' premise - explore, solve puzzles and thats bou't it. Like the music at the end tho.

Nov 16, 2024·3h·2·Verified

Steam User 7545STEAMRecommended

A wonderful atmospheric spooky afternoon without a monster chasing you or some other nuisance. Just you and the tragedy

Nov 12, 2024·3h·2·Verified

Steam User 6639STEAMRecommended

curto, voce consegue completar em menos de 2 horas, menos de 1 se for atencioso aos detalhes e 20 minutos na segunda vez. Porém com um historia muito boa, somente em ingles, mas interessante e levemente assustadora.

Nov 6, 2024·3h·1·Verified

Steam User 4920STEAMRecommended

A short little walking simulator, with narrative told mainly through documents and audio diaries. The cult setting is more serious and realistic than most explorations of the topic; the horror is in the reality of it rather than any supernatural spooks, and the subject is handled empathetically and maturely rather than as a cheesy trope. Veers into psychological/religious horror, especially towards the end.

Gameplay is very simple, as expected from a walking simulator, but the movement isn't too tedious. I guess the biggest strike against it here would be that, despite the impression that you can explore at your leisure, progress is extremely linear: most buildings are locked up, and the key is in a previous area, which is itself locked until you get the key from the area before that, and so on. Very little replay value except for achievement hunting, but at this price point I'd say that's okay.

Nov 1, 2024·2h·2·Verified

Steam User 9866STEAMRecommended

Es ist ein sehr gutes Spiel mit guter Story, die Grafik ist gut umgesetzt. Es gibt kleinere Rätsel zu lösen und die Story baut sich langsam auf.
Man braucht für das Spiel jetzt auch keine guten Gaming Skills oder leistungsstarke Hardware. Ist sein Geld definitiv wert und würde ich so wieder kaufen.

Oct 31, 2024·3h·2·Verified

Steam User 1674STEAMRecommended

I was looking for an eerie walking sim/puzzle game for Halloween, and this one hit the mark. It’s a story about investigating a Southwest cult leader, using the game’s format to pull you into the mundane yet eerie life within a cult. Often, it’s hard to imagine what daily life in a cult is like, but this game presents it effectively. The lo-fi graphics add to the unsettling vibe without becoming too intense. My only complaint is that some scenes get extremely dark—I had to double the brightness just to see clearly toward the end.

Oct 31, 2024·2h·Verified

Steam User 3524STEAMRecommended

One of the best narrative adventures you can play. A delightfully lo-fi aesthetic, some good puzzle solving, an effective story told through non-linear progression, and decent voice acting - it's all there. The game is fun to explore, while at the same time getting done quite quickly with no busywork. This game feels like an under-the-radar gem that people will continue to uncover and discover years from now.

Oct 5, 2024·2h·3·Verified

Steam User 7273STEAMRecommended

Nice little short narrative game. Good for an evening when you just want to start and finish something quick.

Sep 30, 2024·2h·Verified

Steam User 9423STEAMRecommended

Short but interesting, referencing real events if I understand correctly, and very immersive.

Sep 19, 2024·2h·Verified

Steam User 7599STEAMRecommended

Interesting little game. As a Christian, I thought it handled the idea of a cult pretty well. I'd recommend if you want a short mystery experience.

Sep 16, 2024·2h·4·Verified

Steam User 5532STEAMRecommended

No comments ... the game worth time

Jul 31, 2024·1h·3·Verified

Steam User 2067STEAMRecommended

Very well done, great story.

Jul 6, 2024·2h·Verified

Steam User 2899STEAMRecommended

fire game

May 11, 2024·2h·Verified

Steam User 3197STEAMRecommended

Hell yeah, hell yeah.

May 7, 2024·2h

Steam User 9996STEAMRecommended

Fun short narrative game, would definitely recommend buying when on sale.

The story was creepy and engaging enough to stand out in the hordes of relatively short walking simulator games out there, and how it executes its plot was very well done in my opinion, especially with its use of implication. The game's definitely simple, and the ending itself can be seen coming a hundred miles away, but it pulls it off exactly as well as it should.

I do question why this game has a speedrun achievement in the first place, though, considering the actual story and its seriousness, but steam game's gotta steam game i guess.

Mar 30, 2024·2h·2·Verified

Steam User 1757STEAMRecommended

Simplesmente fenomenal. Não veja nada sobre o jogo, só jogue. Uma experiência única.

Mar 27, 2024·2h·Verified

Steam User 9113STEAMRecommended

it really explores the things only on the surface level, feels like a mediocre movie. but i had only expected that, so it was not a problem.

Mar 20, 2024·1h·Verified

Steam User 9868STEAMNot recommended

i really wanted to recommend this game since cult stuff is really cool, but it's severely lacking in polish in some important areas. first off is the voice acting, it's not great, now that's not immediately a bad thing, tons of games got bad VA work and are still great, namely RE1 and Silent Hill2, but they also had characters and gameplay that backed them up.

it makes sense you don't interact with anyone as you're trespassing on the sight of a mass death, and the gameplay doesn't need to be far cry 5, but when what you're relying on is notes and voiceovers, those voiceovers need to be really good, and when your gameplay boils down to walking around & grabbing things it'd be nice if you didn't have to, say, wander around a trailer park in the dark where every door is rusted shut, or it'd also be great if your character didn't get stuck on every piece of furniture in a tightly packed room.

the ending also goes on way too long, with a backstory dump that doesn't add anything, since that's the point of the game and it tells us nothing that couldn't be inferred already. i will say that despite these flaws there are positives, the soundtrack is killer, the "set design" is good in places like the cleansing room & the mess hall, & the story of the cult was interesting.

Jan 31, 2024·3h·2·Verified

Steam User 6899STEAMRecommended

Dark, atmospheric, no jump scares - a simple game, very recommendable for an evening session!

Jan 24, 2024·2h·Verified

Steam User 5130STEAMRecommended

The atmosphere of this game is...heavy. I felt it from the moment I pressed play, this weird weight on your shoulders as you look around this now abandoned cult compound and slowly learn what went down. From what I've seen from documentaries and true crime podcasts it does a great job of having the cult operate very closely to the way real life cults work and operate, which adds an extra level of unease to the already uncomfortable atmosphere.

The sound design and voice acting is great. Game play is simple, walk around, find keys, open new buildings/areas, read notes, listen to messages. The game is very much about exploring the area and the story.

Overall it was good. I was a little worried about where the ending was going but it ended on a note I'm happy about. Worth checking out if you have a few spare dollars or find it on sale.

Jan 23, 2024·2h·Verified

Steam User 7927STEAMRecommended

Sagebrush is a narrative-driven walking sim. Most of the time you'll spend reading about the events and people involved in a cult.

The narrative idea might seem generic but the originality, for me, comes from the perspective from which the player relives the events of the cult.

Recomended if you like compact 2-3 hour exploration/mystery experiences.

Jan 13, 2024·3h·Verified

Steam User 1002STEAMRecommended

Sagebrush opens with headlights crossing a desert. There’s a brief monologue wherein a woman recounts meeting someone named Amy, who promised inner peace through the teachings of a man named James. Not the disciple, but an actual flesh-and-blood figure who had a church out in the wilderness. Shortly thereafter, the car pulls up outside of the Black Sage Ranch, an abandoned compound somewhere in the American Southwest where the gates are chained and the windows are dark.

Past the chain link fence there is a rec hall, fields of corn, a barn, and a church on a hill overlooking it all. From there, the charcter goes to the trunk of the car and take out a pair of pliers to cut a hole in the damaged fence–this is the first hint that they came here with an intention—and perhaps knows this place. The year is 1993, and the site before her is that is the old compound of Perfect Heaven, a new revelation Christian cult that grew and flourished throughout the 1980s until the cult members committed mass suicide...

Full Review: https://www.voguehorror.com/games/game-review-sagebrush-2018

Jan 6, 2024·2h·Verified

Steam User 5285STEAMRecommended

I revisited Sagebrush here on steam after initially playing on the Xbox One, and I'm still taken aback from the experience. The story is a blend of discomfort, innocence and vulnerability, leaving a lasting impact on me. Whilst gameplay is minimal, the graphics pixelated and retro - its the narrative that truly sets this game apart.

This is a easy to pick up short story, achievements that arent stressful and a story that you can discuss with friends. {Especially if you are intrigued by stories related to people like Jimmy Jones}

I am thankful to the creator/s who crafted this experience. It struck a nerve - in a good way. Myself and friends have put hours into this and enjoyed it very much.

Jan 5, 2024·2h·Verified

Steam User 7506STEAMRecommended

Tldr: Excellently written Story about a woman's experience with a (fictional) cult. Walking Simulator with minor puzzles.

Trigger Warnings (slight spoilers of course): [spoiler] No Depictions, exclusively Mentions of the following: Sexual Coercion/ r*pe, Domestic Violence, Self Harm, Suicide, Murder General Cult Stuff [/spoiler]

You play as a young Woman returning to the compound of an old cult she has escaped from. You explore this space, finding recordings of her experience, as well as letters from the members of the cult, sermons of the leader and similar things. The cult itself is an amalgamation of various well known cults and does its best to offer a more nuanced view of the people living in this cult and their lives and motivations, instead of just going for the shock value of the cult itself. Even though there are some issues it does a good job and it and manages to be pretty successful at exploring these topics in a respectful way.

The artistic style is very fitting and in combination with the great sound design, you have a constant feeling of unease and dread as you explore this abandoned cult compound. Certain parts of the narrative made me feel quite sick (in a good way).

The horror of this game is definetly psychological. There are no jumpscares or anything of the sort.

The puzzles are simple, mostly consisting of "find x and use it on y" but are thematically appropriate and don't detract from the experience.

The Voice Acting is well done, both in terms of casting and performances.

All in all, a solid 7/10, would recommend at full price.

Edit: Typo

Jan 4, 2024·2h·Verified

Steam User 7506STEAMRecommended

The beginning of this game feels kinda cozy. The setting sun makes the place look inviting,...at least until you start reading the notes and start listening to the tapes.
A short but nice narrative game, it was interesting seeing the story unfold and exploring all the different buildings.
Sometimes the map felt a little too big and I was running around while looking at memes.

[spoiler] Don't forget picking up the batteries before entering the mines... I didn't have the fleshlight on me and couldn't find the exit for ~15 minutes. [/spoiler]

Jan 3, 2024·6h·Verified

Steam User 7443STEAMRecommended

Amazing walking sim with some simple puzzles, great atmospheric graphics, and a story that far exceeded my expectations. Highly recommend.

Dec 30, 2023·3h·Verified

Steam User 1245STEAMNot recommended

Triste historia.
Arranqué el juego, me pareció muy interesante, toda la atmósfera tan misteriosa o "uncanny". El tener miedo sin saber por qué, El formato en el que se cuenta la historia es aburridísimo pero no me importaba, aún así estaba interesante, y me pegaba sustos solamente con el sonido de las puertas o de sonidos raros del campo, sabiendo que estás completamente solo pero con la extraña sensación de que algo te sigue.
Pronto cayó el sol, se oscureció un toque, empezaba a ver bastante poco, suponía que iba a encontrar una linterna.
Curioso, no encuentro la linterna, capaz me la pasé? Bajo a unas minas.
En las minas no veo un joraca, definitivamente me debí haber pasado la linterna. A ver en una guía? Uh, bueno, tengo que subir.
No me deja subir.
Tengo que encontrar si o si un coso que abre otro coso que permite que vuelva la energía y así subir de nuevo.
Pero no veo.
Tuve que usar la guía constantemente para continuar y así volver a subir, en el medio de la oscuridad. Finalmente lo conseguí, volví a subir e incluso agarré la linterna.
Pero toda la inmersión que el juego había creado, toda esa atmósfera, ese misticismo se perdieron completamente.
Todo por una decisión horrible de diseño, no hacer que el personaje tome la lógica decisión de llevar de entrada una linterna y ponerla en algún lugar random del escenario, que ni siquiera se marca en el mapa.
Obviamente ni me terminé el juego y voy a intentar hacer el refund.

Nov 17, 2023·2h·Verified

Steam User 6873STEAMRecommended

Wish there were way more indie games just like this one out there. Absolutely loved it, 10/10<3

Nov 3, 2023·3h·Verified

Steam User 1894STEAMRecommended

This is such a good game. The graphics, the atmosphere, the story, the voice acting, the sound design, all amazing and pretty immersive. The story was a bit cliche but still very good, and the ending was super satisfying. Very nice experience altogether

SPOILERS BELOW

I like how there weren't any jumpscares. the horror was very much based on sound design and enviroment. It's not too scary but scary enough to be a bit on your toes)

Sep 29, 2023·3h·Verified

Steam User 6175STEAMRecommended

Everything works. The pacing, the art style, the sound design, THE WRITING.
The writing is so good, I wanna praise this game for so many things but the writing is just so good and natural.

It's a great (and nasty) little work of art.

Sep 26, 2023·2h·Verified

Steam User 5101STEAMRecommended

Interesting project. Much of what I liked about Sagebrush is the growing of tension. You know that something has gone so obviously wrong, yet you must slowly peel back what befell in this cult compound. Biggest gripe would be the voice acting, but for the price and experience, I'd say it's worth.

Sep 12, 2023·3h·Verified