Scanner Sombre

Scanner Sombre

Released Apr 2017

Scanner Sombre is a 3d horror cave exploration game where darkness is your greatest foe. Illuminate the unseen with your LIDAR scanner, revealing the eerie beauty and peril of the abyss. From the creators of Prison Architect, this immersive adventure uses light and shadow for a haunting experience.

89% positive · 4,542 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence

Where to buy

Steam $2.09 $6.99 −70%
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Evaluation

Scanner Sombre launched on April 26, 2017 as a self-described finished game — the developer's pre-launch announcement on April 24, 2017 explicitly stated "our sixth game 'Scanner Sombre' is finished." Post-launch, Introversion added VR mode and language translations in a beta update on June 23, 2017, and released the official soundtrack as a free download on August 13, 2018. The soundtrack is the only DLC listed, and it has been available since August 13, 2018. There are no unreleased DLC entries, no roadmaps, and no announcements of future content. The most recent developer communication was a compatibility bug fix on September 18, 2024 to address a crash affecting Intel 10th Generation and later CPUs — this is routine maintenance, not a signal of new content. The overall picture is of a compact, complete game that shipped with its full experience intact and has since received only minor technical upkeep.
Evidence
Developer announced the game is finished and launching on April 26, 2017
news post · Apr 24, 2017 source development ending
high
Official Soundtrack released as a free thank-you gift to supporters; no mention of future content plans
news post · Aug 15, 2018 source content shipped
medium

Content

1 of 1 released · no outstanding content

Media

Details

Publisher
Introversion Software
Achievements
—
Platform
Windows, macOS
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Verified
Players
Single-player

About this game

Scanner Sombre is a tense 3d horror cave exploration game where oppressive darkness becomes your greatest enemy. The silence, broken only by echoes and hesitant footsteps, builds chilling tension, while the unseen unknown keeps you on edge. Blending psychological horror with discovery, it challenges you to navigate a hidden world lit by a LIDAR scanner. From the creators of Prison Architect, this immersive adventure uses light and shadow to craft a hauntingly beautiful yet terrifying experience.

In Scanner Sombre, the LIDAR scanner is your lifeline. Armed with this innovative tool, you reveal the unseen by casting light into the abyss, slowly mapping the cave around you. As the silence presses in, and shadows twist, the scanner’s color-coded beams uncover hidden dangers and untold mysteries lurking in the dark.

Scanner Sombre features a striking visual style built around vibrant, rainbow-colored point clouds, inspired by industrial LIDAR scans. Players use a handheld scanner to gradually reveal the environment, with color-coded points helping to perceive depth. This distinctive, inhuman aesthetic creates an eerie atmosphere and enhances the exploration experience.

In Scanner Sombre, the story unfolds subtly through the environment, with hints of forgotten histories hidden within the cave. As you explore, remnants of the past, strange symbols, and eerie remnants suggest a deeper, darker narrative. Each step forward invites you to unravel the mysteries bit by bit.

Introversion Software has been developing games since 2001, and stands behind acclaimed titles like Uplink, Defcon, Darwinia, Multiwinia, Prison Architect, Scanner Sombre, and their latest release, The Last Starship. Introversion has garnered both critical and commercial success being recognised with multiple awards including the IGF grand prize for Darwinia and BAFTA for best persistent game (Prison Architect). They have sold more than 4M copies of their games worldwide.

Last evaluated Jun 25, 2026
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