SOMA is a first-person narrative horror game from 2015 where you explore an underwater research facility, solve environmental puzzles, and evade hostile creatures in a quietly terrifying story about consciousness and identity. It was built on the HPL Engine 3, an engine well-optimized for its era that keeps CPU and RAM demands very low while leaning a bit more on the GPU for atmospheric lighting, shadows, and post-processing effects. At 1080p, SOMA's system requirements are genuinely modest. The game was designed and released during a time when 1080p was the standard resolution for PC gaming, and it reflects that in how easily modern hardware handles it. A dedicated graphics card is the main thing that matters—even an entry-level modern GPU covers the game's lighting and shadow work without issue. CPU performance rarely becomes a factor because the World scripting and enemy AI are straightforward with very few on-screen entities at once. The common mistake is assuming a horror game means demanding hardware. In reality, SOMA's performance challenges come from older integrated graphics slowing down or causing stutters in lighting-heavy areas, not from the game pushing the limits of any modern system. For anyone looking for a 1080p PC build for SOMA, the priority is basic compatibility and smooth frame delivery during exploration and evasion, not maximizing visual settings or resolving headroom.