Iron Lung
Hooks you almost right away
What the data shows
- In the first 2 hours 1 in 10 reviews are negative (10%); after 3h it's 1 in 30 (3%).
- Fully opens up by hour 3.
- The opening is criticised less than in 90% of games we track.
- 64% of players who start reach the ending.
- Most players drop off before “Not a Whale” (Photograph the complete skeleton): only 81% of starters get there.
- Only 68% of owners have even the first achievement — the rest barely played.
When it gets good
Share of positive reviews by how many hours the reviewer had played when writing the review.
before it gets good opening up fully opened up
Based on all 11,607 Steam reviews in every language. Median playtime in a sample of 297 reviews: 2.1h for positive, 1.3h for negative. Almost every game is rated lower in the first 2–3 hours: that window includes refunds and quick first impressions. What matters is how deep the dip is and how fast the game recovers.
Where players quit
Share of players who started the game and reached each story milestone. 100% is the most common achievement (67.6% of owners), so people who bought the game and never launched it don't count.
- Started playing 100%
- Not a Whale Photograph the complete skeleton Most players quit here 81% −19
- ??? Photograph the anomaly 67% −14
- Beyond the Veil Finish the game 64% −2
story milestone ending biggest drop-off
Story milestones were labeled by AI from achievement names and descriptions; mistakes are possible.
All achievements (7)
story milestone ending side
- Spatial Awareness Crash into a wall 100%
- Freedom Read what the last person left 93%
- Not a Whale Photograph the complete skeleton 81%
- ??? Photograph the anomaly 67%
- Beyond the Veil Finish the game 64%
- Burner Subs Learn about The SM-8 30%
- You've Played this Before Photograph the top right node 23%