Important Notes

Important Notes for SOMA

SOMA is a deeply narrative-driven horror game with no combat, no skill trees, and no grinding. However, its philosophical themes, hidden lore, and branching story decisions mean that careful attention and save management are crucial. Below is everything you need to know to avoid common regrets and pitfalls.

1. Irreversible Choices & Branching Story

SOMA has a handful of key decisions that affect dialogue, ending variations, and character fates. There is no “correct” choice – only different emotional outcomes. Choices are made through direct interaction (e.g., pressing a button, pulling a lever) or by choosing to do nothing.

Major decision points (spoiler-free):

• Encountering Carl Semken (Upsilon) – you can either attempt to help him or leave him. If you help, you must complete a short puzzle; otherwise, he remains trapped.


• The fate of Amy Azzaro (Theta) – You can choose to end her suffering or leave her attached to machinery.


• Robin Bass (Delta) – You can pull her into the machine or leave her.


• Destroying the WAU core (Omega) – Activating the override kills the WAU but also has side effects.


• The ARK launch (Omega) – You can choose to launch the ARK, not launch it, or even destroy the ARK.


• The final choice – The game offers two different endings based on your action at the very last moment.


> Tip: Before any major confrontation with a named character, manual save. Some decisions are irreversible and cannot be undone by reloading checkpoints if you overwrite the autosave.



2. Missable Content



SOMA is linear for the most part, but a few areas become inaccessible after you leave them. Almost all lore (audio logs, notes, computers) is optional, but reading/listening to everything greatly enhances the story.

Areas that become permanently locked:

• Upsilon – Once you take the tram to Lambda, you cannot return.


• Theta – After descending to the Abyss, you cannot go back.


• Delta – After moving to Tau, the path back is cut off.


• Omicron – Accessible only in a specific sequence; leaving means no return.


Missable collectibles:

• Several hidden log entries and audio recordings are tucked in corners or behind furniture. Use your environment to scan thoroughly.


• The PIN codes for certain locked doors are found in earlier areas. Write them down or take screenshots; they are not saved in a journal.


• Omnitool upgrades (batteries, strength, etc.) are optional but make puzzles easier. They are found in optional side rooms.


> Tip: Explore every side corridor and dead end before moving forward. The game will often give a clear visual clue that you are leaving an area (e.g., a tram, a hatch, a ladder that goes one way).



3. Difficulty Spikes & Stealth Sections



SOMA has no combat; you cannot fight enemies. Death comes from being caught by hostile robots (Proxies, monsters) or environmental hazards (drowning, crushing).

Stealth encounters can spike in difficulty:

• Proxies move unpredictably and can one-hit kill you. You must hide in lockers or behind objects.


• The “Cave Monster” (Abyss section) has no way to be avoided – you must run and hide repeatedly.


• Enemies in the Black Coral (Tau) can be disoriented by shutting down coral nodes, but they still pose a threat.

Safe Mode: The game includes an optional Safe Mode (accessible from Settings > Gameplay). This makes enemies non-lethal – they will still stalk you and cause damage if caught, but you will not die. Safe Mode does not disable achievements/trophies. If you struggle with stealth, enable it without shame.

No grinding traps: There is no XP, no currency, and no leveling. You cannot grind for power or items. Progress is purely story-driven.

4. Save Management (Critical!)

SOMA relies on manual saves for preserving progress. Autosaves occur at major transitions (e.g., entering a new area), but these are easily overwritten.

Save system details per platform:
Best practices:
1. Save before entering any new zone (tram ride, ladder, airlock).
2. Save before interacting with a character that seems to be in distress (i.e., potential choice point).
3. Save after unlocking a new area – if you die later, you can reload from the recent save rather than a distant checkpoint.
4. Do not rely solely on autosaves – they can save right before a lethal trap, forcing you to restart.

> Common regret: Players forget to save for an hour, then die and lose a large chunk of progress. Always manual save whenever you see a save station (wall-mounted terminal) – they are placed frequently.

5. Things Players Regret Not Knowing Earlier

• You can sprint (Shift on PC, L3 on controllers). Many players don’t realize sprinting is available, which is vital for stealth escapes.


• Flashlight uses batteries – Batteries are finite. Turn off the flashlight when not needed, especially in dark but safe rooms.


• Omnitool upgrades require you to interact with crafting stations (fabrication terminals). You don’t automatically get them – you must read blueprints and use materials.


• The game’s ending is based on a single action in the final room – watch carefully for prompts.


• No jump scares – SOMA relies on atmospheric dread, not cheap scares. But enemies can appear suddenly if you make noise.


• Audio logs and text logs contain crucial story context. If you skip them, the plot may seem confusing. Read everything.


• The “Pulse” tool (from Omnitool) can be used to scan environmental clues; use it often to highlight interactive objects.


• Replayability: Once you finish the game, you can replay chapters via the Main Menu (Chapter Select). However, your choices are reset. To see all endings, you must either reload older saves before the final choice or start a New Game.




6. Online Etiquette & Anti-Cheat



SOMA is a single‑player offline game. There is no multiplayer, no online leaderboards, and no anti-cheat software. No need to worry about online etiquette or cheating accusations. Mods are available on PC (Steam Workshop) and are safe to use, but they can alter the experience – back up your saves before installing mods.



7. Technical Warnings




• Autosave during cutscenes: Do not close the game during a cutscene – wait for the autosave icon to appear.


• Quick saving (F5 on PC) is automatically bound and creates a save file but does not overwrite autosaves. Use it liberally.


• Performance: On PC, large areas with many dynamic lights (Abyss, Tau) may cause frame drops. Lower Shadow Quality and Volumetric Fog if needed.


• Consoles: SOMA runs at 1080p/30fps on base PS4 and Xbox One, with improvements on Pro/One X. No major performance issues.




Summary Checklist Before Playing




• [ ] Understand that combat is not an option – stealth and hiding are your only tools.


• [ ] Enable Safe Mode if you are not confident in stealth sections (no penalty).


• [ ] Create multiple manual save slots before every major story beat.


• [ ] Explore every room, read every terminal, and listen to every audio log.


• [ ] Write down PIN codes when you find them.


• [ ] Do not expect grinding – the game is linear and focused on narrative.


• [ ] Be prepared for philosophical, unsettling themes – SOMA is more disturbing than scary.

Following these notes will ensure you get the fullest, least frustrating experience from one of the best sci‑fi horror games ever made.