Alone in the Dark 3

About

Alone in the Dark 3 is a single player survival role playing game with a horror theme. It was developed by Infogrames and was released on December 13, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Edward Carnby looked up. An Eagle was visible as it skimmed the light of the moon. Slaughter Gulch, never had a ghost town been so aptly named! The hot sierra wind blew open the swing door to the old saloon bar... A scream echoed through the night air... The old Navajo witch doctor was right. Emily Hartwood's life was at risk. A sudden crack... A Winchester being loaded... Carnby drew his six-shoo…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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73%

Audience ScoreBased on 48 reviews

graphics4 positive mentions

Alone in the Dark 3 features the best graphics and sound of the original trilogy with detailed pre-rendered backgrounds and improved 3D models.
The Western ghost town setting provides a distinctive and memorable atmosphere, blending pulp horror and supernatural elements.
The game returns to a more puzzle-focused and atmospheric gameplay style compared to its predecessor, with a better balance of combat and exploration.

Puzzles are frequently obscure, illogical, and require pixel-perfect positioning, often leading to frustration and reliance on walkthroughs.
Controls and camera system are outdated and clunky, contributing to awkward combat and sometimes unfair difficulty spikes.
The narrative and tone are inconsistent, with weak character writing, forced plot connections, and uneven shifts between horror, comedy, and pulp western themes.

story
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
76%
12%
The story of Alone in the Dark 3 offers a more creative and coherent narrative compared to its predecessor, set in a unique 1920s Wild West setting. However, it is often criticized for confusing plot developments, exaggerated character writing, and underdeveloped lore, which detract from its seriousness. Despite these flaws, many players find the weird, outlandish elements and spooky atmosphere entertaining and enjoyable.
- “Set in 1925, the story follows Edward Carnby, the self-proclaimed 'supernatural private eye,' as he investigates a mysterious disappearance in the ghost town of Slaughter Gulch, located in the Mojave Desert.”
- “The story of this game is way better than Alone in the Dark 2, and in my opinion this installment has the most creative story out of all three games in the original trilogy.”
- “The wild west theme and the story as a whole form a more coherent narrative this time around.”
- “While the premise is serviceable, character writing and voice acting veer into exaggerated territory, making it difficult to take the story seriously.”
- “Attempts to tie the plot back to earlier antagonists feel forced and underdeveloped, adding lore without meaningful payoff.”
- “Then there is the story: at first it was a simple ghost town story, but as you play through it goes off the rails and gets more confusing, especially the villain and his plan.”
gameplay
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
64%
18%
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat rooted in older survival horror mechanics, featuring clunky controls and fixed camera angles that some find frustrating. While it retains the original's atmospheric and experimental charm, it suffers from dated mechanics, occasional pacing issues, and inconsistencies in design that detract from the experience. Fans of the series who appreciate its vintage style and deliberate pacing may still find enjoyment despite its roughness.
- “Gameplay builds upon the framework established by its predecessors, combining exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat within fixed camera angles and pre-rendered environments.”
- “Mastery of these mechanics becomes part of the challenge, and while occasionally frustrating, they reflect the experimental period in which the game was created.”
- “While later titles in the genre would refine and streamline these mechanics, this installment captures the raw experimentation that helped shape survival horror’s evolution.”
- “The graphics and audio are improved, of course, and the UI is more modern, but the gameplay suffered.”
- “Its weaknesses stem from aging controls, occasional pacing issues, and mechanical roughness that reflects its era.”
- “It wasn't a good experiment, mixing fast-paced shooting with base mechanics that simply were not suited for it, while throwing out the atmosphere that the original game was so influential for.”
graphics
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
50%
21%
The graphics are generally praised for their impressive, nostalgic, and atmospheric presentation, with a well-realized western horror aesthetic that marks a creative shift from traditional gothic settings. However, some users find the visuals lacking in detail for gameplay clarity, making item interaction difficult, and note that despite strong art direction and sound design, outdated graphics can hinder usability. Overall, the game's visual quality is recognized as strong for its time, though not without some practical drawbacks.
- “The western ghost town aesthetic stands out as one of the game’s strongest creative decisions, offering a refreshing departure from more traditional gothic horror settings.”
- “The dusty, decaying western aesthetic is well realized, and the game consistently looks impressive for its time.”
- “Great atmosphere, amazing graphics for the time, the sounds and music so creepy that it actually gives me chills till this day.”
- “First, like AITD2, it relies heavily on visual clues but the graphics lack detail, making it hard to distinguish interactable items from background elements.”
- “I would love to see a remaster of the first three games as the only negative point is that the graphics are too dated to the point I had to follow a guide for a large portion of the game because you can't see where items are within the game world.”
- “If you are trying to recapture the horror aesthetic of the first game, you won't get that with AITD 2 or 3.”
atmosphere
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
43%
21%
The game's atmosphere is praised for its distinctive setting, atmospheric sound design, and narrative-driven exploration, capturing the pioneering spirit of 1990s survival horror. While tank controls and fixed cameras may feel outdated, they enhance the mood alongside voice acting and effects that add theatrical flair. However, some entries in the series diverge from this strength by mixing action elements that dilute the original's tense, creepy atmosphere.
- “Tank-style movement and fixed camera perspectives can feel restrictive to modern players, but they contribute significantly to the atmosphere.”
- “Sound design further enhances the mood, with atmospheric effects and voice acting that, while occasionally campy, add personality and theatrical flair to the experience.”
- “Great atmosphere, amazing graphics for the time, the sounds and music so creepy that it actually gives me chills to this day.”
- “It wasn't a good experiment, mixing fast-paced shooting with base mechanics that simply were not suited for it, while throwing out the atmosphere that the original game was so influential for.”
- “Now add a cowboy hat, remove atmosphere, and multiply the confusion.”
- “I think it's better than the second, at least to start, but all the atmosphere, spooks, and solid tension and pacing of the first game are still not back again here.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The music in the game receives mixed feedback, with some finding it mediocre or ill-fitting compared to previous titles, while others praise it as amazing, atmospheric, and chilling. Improvements in soundtrack variety and reduced repetitiveness are noted as positives, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
- “Not bad, pretty nice story, gameplay is alright, (especially the part where turn into a frikin jaguar at the end!!) and the music as usual is amazing.”
- “Still, there are some definite improvements to the other games, including a different setting from ghost pirates, a better story with more cutscenes and setpieces, the inclusion of difficulty options, and great music that doesn’t get too repetitive.”
- “Great atmosphere, amazing graphics for the time, the sounds and music so creepy that it actually gives me chills till this day.”
- “This part I found especially disappointing, as Even Alone in the Dark 2 impressed with a well-composed, albeit ill-fitting soundtrack.”
- “Also, the soundtrack is mediocre.”
- “There was only a CD version, albeit there was some difference in voices and ending song between European and American versions.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by its outlandish and silly story, with quirky elements like playing as a cougar and facing cowboy zombies adding to the fun. Despite questionable voice acting, the impassioned performances contribute to an enjoyable, humorous experience that balances silliness over fear.
- “Probably the most fun I had playing an Alone in the Dark game. Though the story is super weird and written pretty badly, it was the most fun simply because of how weird and outlandish it was. Playing as a cougar was hilarious, and the movement and combat are basically the same as the first two games, just slightly better. I also like how all three games have zombies, and in this one, it's cowboy zombies, lmao.”
- “Although the voice acting is more questionable than ever, it continues to be impassioned and therefore enjoyable in a humorous way.”
- “Notwithstanding that the overall silliness remains, which makes the game overall quite funny but also not exactly fear-inducing.”