Initial critical assessments suggest that Code Violet is unlikely to be the breakout hit of 2026. Despite heavy promotion from PlayStation and frequent spotlights across Sony’s social media channels promising a deep, atmospheric horror experience, the reception from reviewers has been overwhelmingly negative.
Following its debut, the game was immediately lambasted for its lackluster visuals, technical instability, and a surprisingly brief campaign that concludes in under three hours. Early reviews aggregated on OpenCritic confirm these concerns, with Code Violet currently holding a dismal average score of 40%. Critics have largely dismissed the title as an unfinished product that was rushed to market prematurely.
While some praise has been directed toward the game’s core concept and eerie atmosphere—with specific sequences drawing inspiration from horror classics—the shortcomings far outweigh the merits. The list of grievances includes archaic graphics, subpar lighting, and desolate environments populated by primitive enemies. Technical performance is equally problematic, characterized by poor optimization and frequent frame rate drops below 30 FPS, all tied together by a threadbare narrative.
