Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs

59%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,950 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs Game Cover
A cerebral and spooky sequel that expands on the franchises story and themes, while slightly dialing down the terror.
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In Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, players navigate a dark, surreal world as industrialist Oswald Mandus, seeking to rescue his children from a gruesome machine. Gameplay focuses on exploration and puzzle-solving, with a pervasive atmosphere of dread and horror. The game contains intense, psychological horror and is not for the faint of heart.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

59%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,950 reviews
story1,096 positive mentions
optimization20 negative mentions
  • Engaging and dark story that explores themes of guilt and redemption.
  • Atmospheric design with impressive sound and music that enhances the experience.
  • Unique setting in Victorian London with a steampunk aesthetic.
  • Gameplay is overly simplified with no inventory, sanity meter, or resource management.
  • Monsters are not threatening and encounters are infrequent, reducing tension.
  • Linear progression with easy puzzles that lack challenge and interactivity.
  • story3,160 mentions

    The story of "Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs" is a central focus, often praised for its depth and complexity, exploring themes of industrialization, morality, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. While some players find the narrative engaging and thought-provoking, others criticize it for being convoluted and difficult to follow, often requiring extensive reading of notes to fully grasp the plot. Overall, the game is seen as more of a story-driven experience than a traditional horror game, with a haunting atmosphere that compensates for its simplified gameplay mechanics.

    • “The story is by far the best part of this game.”
    • “A machine for pigs tells a great story about a father who is looking for his missing children, and if you are like me and have played the dark descent, you know that this game is going to be scary as well.”
    • “The story is unique enough to be mentioned; it doesn't win an Oscar though, still it's able to keep the atmosphere of the game stable till the end.”
    • “This game is absolutely linear as you can make it and is only stopped by a flashback or a telephone call to give you some piece of its thin story.”
    • “I read through all the notes the game has but still didn’t understand the story without video explanations.”
    • “The story is illogical and even people analyzing these things don’t know for certain for some parts.”
  • gameplay1,179 mentions

    The gameplay of "Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs" has been significantly simplified compared to its predecessor, "Amnesia: The Dark Descent," with the removal of key mechanics such as inventory management, the sanity meter, and resource constraints like lantern oil. This shift has led to a more linear, walking simulator experience that prioritizes storytelling and atmosphere over traditional gameplay elements, resulting in a less engaging and less frightening experience for many players. While the narrative and ambiance are praised, the lack of challenging gameplay and interactivity has disappointed fans expecting a similar experience to the original game.

    • “The gameplay of 'Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs' is almost exclusively 'go here and activate this' and includes some light puzzle solving that mainly takes place in the first few areas of the game.”
    • “While the gameplay is straightforward, so are the puzzles. However, the simplicity of gameplay is in this installment's favor, as the story, imagery, atmosphere, and themes are so complex and potent.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, 'A Machine for Pigs' focuses more on storytelling and atmosphere than traditional survival horror mechanics.”
    • “That means there's no hiding in closets, basically no physics puzzles, no interaction with the environment, no tinderboxes, no lamp oil, no laudanum, no sanity mechanic.”
    • “The gameplay is barebones to say the least (lantern that lasts forever, no sanity or tinderboxes, you cannot move every prop like the first game, the enemies are more pieces of the atmosphere than threats, the puzzles are simplistic, etc.), because the Chinese Room (the developer of the game) wanted first of all to tell a story, gameplay comes later.”
    • “The decision to simplify some gameplay elements might have been an attempt to focus more on the storytelling, but that decision came at the cost of messing with the already well-established and beloved structure of the predecessor.”
  • atmosphere970 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs" is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, effectively creating a sense of dread and unease throughout the game. While some players feel it lacks the intense fear and gameplay mechanics of its predecessor, "The Dark Descent," many appreciate its rich storytelling and atmospheric design, which evoke a dark, industrial Victorian setting. Overall, the game excels in delivering a compelling atmosphere that enhances its narrative, despite criticisms regarding its gameplay and scare factor.

    • “The atmospheric design and haunting soundtrack create an immersive experience that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
    • “A machine for pigs does some things well such as creating an immersive atmosphere and developing the story with some really interesting environmental design.”
    • “The atmosphere is incredible here with some interesting locations that change it up from the previous amnesia game.”
    • “However, the atmosphere, dialogue, voice acting, and story is where the game really shines.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game wasn't scary or unsettling; Amnesia: The Dark Descent's atmosphere was really unsettling, but Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs' atmosphere was not unsettling at all.”
    • “The atmosphere is well done but ultimately even that becomes a disappointment in the endless wait for something—anything—to happen.”
  • music491 mentions

    The music in "Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its haunting and atmospheric qualities, largely attributed to composer Jessica Curry. The soundtrack is described as beautiful and emotionally stirring, effectively enhancing the game's narrative and immersive experience, although some players noted a lack of chase music that diminished the horror elements compared to its predecessor. Overall, the music stands out as one of the game's strongest aspects, contributing significantly to its eerie ambiance and storytelling.

    • “The atmospheric design and haunting soundtrack create an immersive experience that keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
    • “This is one of, if not the most, musically beautiful games I have ever played in my entire life; incredible.”
    • “The music not only sets the tone for 'A Machine for Pigs', but the haunting melodies will stick with you long after you finish playing.”
    • “The music is also a total step down and the intense music when being chased is not scary and really the only thing that might scare you is a loud noise, something that occurs frequently throughout the game.”
    • “There are a couple of cheap jump scares in between the many forgettable monster encounters and terribly loud and terribly basic droning music which does nothing to redeem this hot mess.”
    • “The lack of chase music when a manpig shows up is quite an experience. The absence of the music that used to alert the player that an enemy is close contributed to that a lot.”
  • graphics396 mentions

    The graphics of "Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs" receive mixed reviews, with some praising the dark, gothic aesthetics and immersive environments, while others criticize the dated visuals and performance issues, including frequent crashes and low-quality textures. Many players appreciate the atmospheric design and sound, which enhance the overall experience, but some feel the graphics do not live up to the standards set by its predecessor, "The Dark Descent." Overall, while the visuals are considered decent for their time, they are often overshadowed by gameplay and narrative shortcomings.

    • “The graphics are dark, detailed, and dripping with gothic aesthetics, from the foggy streets to the macabre interiors.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, so much effort has gone into creating this world.”
    • “The graphics, sounds, voice acting, and overall atmosphere are very well done.”
    • “On top of that, the visuals are much muddier than the previous title, something that makes it feel more like a budget title compared to the first.”
    • “The graphics are poor and seem filtered.”
    • “The game is graphically ugly, unlike 'Everybody's Gone to the Rapture', which is gorgeous.”
  • emotional63 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its deeply affecting narrative, which explores themes of loss, suffering, and the darker sides of human nature. Players report feeling a range of emotions, from sadness to discomfort, as they engage with the protagonist's tragic backstory and the haunting events he witnesses. While some criticize the gameplay, many agree that the story and its emotional weight provide a compelling experience that resonates long after playing.

    • “The story hits all of the right emotional beats, and the environments do a lot of the moody, scary weightlifting in direct contrast to the enemies.”
    • “A machine for pigs is a beautiful narrative, enhanced by moody lighting and an emotionally stirring soundtrack.”
    • “It's deep, thought-provoking, and emotional.”
    • “Boring story, absolutely nothing like Amnesia: The Dark Descent.”
    • “Boring gameplay, not even scary, too short, too easy, and puzzles that are unchallenging, along with a predictable story.”
  • optimization58 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including stuttering and inconsistent frame rates, even on high-end hardware. Despite the game's strong narrative and atmospheric elements, the technical shortcomings significantly detract from the overall experience, leading to frustration among users who feel they should not have to modify game files to achieve acceptable performance. Overall, the optimization is deemed poor, with many players expressing disappointment given the game's potential.

    • “Despite some issues with performance, I wholly recommend this game to fans of the original.”
    • “It runs smoothly and doesn't require a monster computer to run it.”
    • “The game is good for low-performance PCs, perfect for new gamers on PC too; you'll learn the basics of PC gaming fast with this game.”
    • “The game, however, has massive performance stability issues on modern hardware.”
    • “First, let's get this out of the way: this game's performance is garbage.”
    • “The game does also have some serious performance issues; no matter what settings I changed, the frame rate dropped rapidly between 60 fps and 30 fps.”
  • replayability54 mentions

    Overall, the game suffers from a significant lack of replayability, with most reviews highlighting its short playtime of around 3 to 6 hours and minimal content beyond initial playthroughs. Many players express disappointment over the absence of features that contributed to the replay value of the original game, such as multiple endings and custom stories. As a result, the consensus suggests that while the game may offer a decent experience, it is not worth its full price due to its limited replay potential.

    • “I honestly enjoyed this one more than Amnesia: The Dark Descent, and feel that it has more replay value.”
    • “However, if you are persistent, this can actually add in replay value, something very important for any game to have.”
    • “This was simply one of the best things about the previous Amnesia and gave such a high level of replayability to it.”
    • “As much as it pains me to say this, due to the lack of replayability and the short duration, I recommend buying this during sales.”
    • “The game has no replay value at all.”
    • “The overall scare factor is too weak for this game to be called a 'horror survival' and it has no replay value.”
  • grinding39 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be overwhelmingly tedious and monotonous, with many describing the gameplay as a slog through uninspired environments and repetitive tasks. The removal of challenging mechanics and the reliance on simple objectives contribute to a lack of engagement, leading to a frustrating experience that diminishes the potential for horror and immersion. Many reviews express disappointment that what could have been a compelling narrative is overshadowed by the tedious nature of the gameplay.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “However, it soon descended into monotonous, gloomy, and tedious locations with little interest.”
    • “The game is easily finishable in under an hour, having lackluster levels, enemies, and horror. If you think you'll be scared, think again; nothing is scary and it's only a tedious, mediocre grind.”
    • “And let's face it, what good is immersion if the gameplay itself is tedious and incites no feelings or emotions in the player other than absolute boredom?”
  • humor36 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely derived from its absurd and unintentionally comedic elements, such as the pig-headed enemies and the bizarre scenarios they create, which often overshadow the intended horror. Many players found the enemies more amusing than frightening, with instances of slapstick moments, like a pig stealing a truck, contributing to a lighthearted experience. Overall, while the game attempts to deliver a serious narrative, it frequently misses the mark, resulting in a blend of humor and frustration that leaves players laughing rather than scared.

    • “But atmfp makes you feel like being in the 20th century (kinda hilarious, the story happened in 1899, so it should be 19th, but who cares about details?).”
    • “He creates an army of pig men from street bums, Frankenstein style, who he uses to build and run an underground factory for him in secret, and whom are generally scary except for the one who steals a truck and takes it for a joyride outside the factory, which is really funny.”
    • “The monsters are more funny than scary, and overall it did not give off the vibes the devs intended.”
    • “You can see around 5 monsters for 5 minutes together, and there's one 'boss fight'... if I can call it that. The game is boring and not funny, and what is the worst - it's not scary!”
    • “(sh-shush baka, n-not funny)”
  • stability24 mentions

    The game is widely criticized for its numerous bugs and glitches, which significantly impact stability and gameplay experience. Players report frequent crashes, performance drops, and inconsistent mechanics, leading to frustrating moments such as soft locks and unresponsive enemies. While some find the glitches amusing or manageable, the overall consensus is that the game's stability issues detract from its potential enjoyment.

    • “The game is inherently buggy.”
    • “Not only that, but I encountered a plethora of glitches including but not limited to broken levels, falling through the floor, locked doors that should not be locked, and monsters who can't see you.”
    • “At the moment, the game is a buggy mess.”
  • monetization8 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers feeling misled by its marketing that promised an action-packed experience akin to the Amnesia series. Instead, players encountered a lack of genuine horror and action, leading to disappointment and frustration over the perceived exploitation of the franchise for profit. Overall, the game is seen as a manipulative attempt to capitalize on the Amnesia brand rather than delivering a quality experience.

    • “This was nothing but a joyless cash grab.”
    • “What a flipping cash grab!”
    • “Attaching itself to the Amnesia brand feels like a manipulative cash grab, a cynical attempt at tricking gamers into buying a game that would otherwise probably sell far less.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is mixed; while some players find that collectables do not enhance the narrative and become tedious, others appreciate the focus on story and character growth, particularly in titles that prioritize these elements over puzzles and scares.

    • “Collectables fail to add to world-building or character development and become useless and tedious to read after a while.”
    • “To a degree, you'd be correct; however, 'A Machine for Pigs' is lighter on puzzles and scares, and has more emphasis on story and character development.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

72% average critic score

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Play time

4hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
4hMain story
6hCompletionist
4-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 39 analyzed playthroughs

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