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Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs

A cerebral and spooky sequel that expands on the franchises story and themes, while slightly dialing down the terror.
68%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
optimization, replayability
65% User Score Based on 6,056 reviews
Critic Score 72%Based on 5 reviews

Platforms

PCPCXboxXboxPlaystation 4Playstation 4WindowsWindowsPlayStationPlayStationNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchLinuxLinuxMac OSMac OSXbox OneXbox One
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About

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.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs screenshot

65%
Audience ScoreBased on 6,061 reviews
story1.6k positive mentions
optimization45 negative mentions
  • The story is engaging and thought-provoking, exploring dark themes of industrialization and human nature.
  • The atmosphere is immersive, with excellent sound design and a haunting soundtrack that enhances the experience.
  • The game features strong voice acting and well-crafted environments that contribute to its overall aesthetic.
  • The gameplay is overly simplified, lacking inventory management, resource scarcity, and meaningful puzzles.
  • The enemies are not threatening and can be easily avoided, reducing the sense of danger and tension.
  • The game is short, with a playtime of around 3-5 hours, which may not justify the full price for many players.
  • story
    4,611 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs" is a significant departure from its predecessor, focusing more on narrative depth and thematic exploration rather than traditional horror gameplay. While many players appreciate the intricate and dark storyline, which delves into themes of industrialization, morality, and personal tragedy, others find it convoluted and difficult to follow, often relying heavily on notes and audio logs for context. Overall, the game is praised for its atmospheric storytelling and emotional weight, though it is criticized for its lack of interactivity and gameplay mechanics that defined the original "Amnesia: The Dark Descent."

    • “I love how this was very story-oriented to the point where everything you interact with tells you something about it.”
    • “The story hits really hard, especially today.”
    • “The setting is unsettling and the story is a genuine masterpiece.”
    • “Well this one takes any real good that the first had, throws it out the window, and replaces it with goofy pig monsters and a bad story.”
    • “The story is convoluted and fails to live up to the high standards set by its predecessor.”
    • “The story is a horror story alone and it hits hard as you near the climax of the game.”
  • gameplay
    1,816 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs" has been widely criticized for its significant simplification compared to its predecessor, "Amnesia: The Dark Descent." Many players noted the removal of key mechanics such as the sanity meter, inventory management, and resource conservation, which contributed to a less immersive and engaging experience. While the game focuses heavily on storytelling and atmosphere, it often feels more like a walking simulator with minimal interaction and straightforward puzzles, leading to a mixed reception among fans of the original series.

    • “This game employs survival horror gameplay and an atmosphere that preyed on the fear of the unknown, using darkness as the focal point for horror.”
    • “Regardless of the gameplay changes that were made, the game still had me hooked and wanting more.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics are streamlined compared to its predecessor, focusing more on exploration and narrative rather than complex puzzles.”
    • “The gameplay is far more simplified than the other games; no fear mechanics, no inventory, no health management, and no tinderbox/lantern/fuel conservation (due to the availability of electric lighting in the game's setting).”
    • “The gameplay really is worse compared to the dark descent but after playing both i feel like people were exaggerating when they talked about how bad this game was.”
    • “The gameplay is stripped down from the dark descent, but it's still worth a playthrough if you find it on sale.”
  • atmosphere
    1,389 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 many players appreciate the rich sound design and the dark, industrial aesthetic, some feel it lacks the intense horror and gameplay mechanics that characterized its predecessor, "The Dark Descent." Overall, the game is recognized for its strong narrative and atmospheric storytelling, though opinions vary on its ability to deliver genuine scares.

    • “It employed survival horror gameplay and an atmosphere that preyed on the fear of the unknown, using darkness as the focal point for horror.”
    • “From the moment I stepped into this dark, twisted world, I was captivated by its unique blend of narrative depth, atmospheric tension, and emotional resonance.”
    • “The atmosphere and overall immersion are excellent and genuinely terrifying, thanks to the game's sound design, music, and visuals.”
    • “I literally can't finish this game, which has other issues such as: blue fog/tint which ruins the atmosphere, nothing scary happening, locked at 60fps and boring, too simple puzzles.”
    • “The enemies are not scary, the atmosphere is not tense, and the environments are incredibly bland (mostly industrial).”
    • “The atmosphere isn't much different from the first, although in actuality the creatures chasing you are far more horrifying; the locales are even more twisted and the ambient sounds really mess with your mind.”
  • music
    747 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs" has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising Jessica Curry's haunting and atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the game's narrative and emotional depth. While some players found the music to be repetitive or overly grand at times, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's immersive experience, making it a standout feature despite criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and horror elements. The soundtrack is often described as beautiful and memorable, with particular highlights noted in the latter parts of the game.

    • “The haunting soundtrack and eerie sound effects work in perfect harmony to create an ambiance that is both chilling and immersive, pulling you deeper into the story with every creak and whisper.”
    • “The atmospheric design, accompanied by the haunting soundtrack, contributes significantly to the game's ability to evoke a sense of impending dread and hopelessness.”
    • “The music, the lighting, and the sound design all worked well together to achieve this.”
    • “The music felt way too grand and at times repetitive to the point of annoyance, not very fond of the repetitive children singing.”
    • “Worst soundtrack I've ever heard in my life.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics
    562 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs" receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the visuals are improved compared to its predecessor, "The Dark Descent," they still fall short of expectations. Some praise the game's dark, atmospheric aesthetic and detailed environments, while others criticize the graphics for being dated, poorly optimized, and lacking interactivity. Overall, the visuals contribute to the game's eerie atmosphere, but many feel they do not fully capture the horror elements that made the original title so impactful.

    • “The graphics are dark, detailed, and dripping with gothic aesthetics, from the foggy streets to the macabre interiors.”
    • “The graphics, map, and ambiance are very well made, knowing which graphic engine was used (HPL-3.5). I really loved all the factory area with the pipes, steam, and that gray-dark atmosphere imbued in the fog formed by the gases.”
    • “Visually, the game is stunning, with its haunting environments and Victorian-era design creating an incredibly appealing and grim aesthetic.”
    • “The visuals in general are extremely dark and it's difficult to see anything in the game world without a lantern.”
    • “The game can't handle its highest graphic settings; it never did.”
    • “The graphics are terrible and muddy.”
  • optimization
    108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including frequent frame drops, stuttering, and inconsistent frame rates, even on high-end systems. While some users managed to improve performance through manual tweaks, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, detracting significantly from the experience. Despite its strong narrative and voice acting, the technical shortcomings have left many feeling frustrated and disappointed.

    • “Despite some issues with performance, I wholly recommend this game to fans of the original.”
    • “From a technical standpoint, the game runs smoothly, with no significant issues to detract from the gameplay.”
    • “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.”
    • “A poorly optimized, nonsensical, retina-burning experience for the rest of us.”
    • “The game, however, has massive performance stability issues on modern hardware.”
    • “The performance was abysmal.”
  • emotional
    96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its deep narrative and atmospheric storytelling, which evoke a range of feelings from sadness to introspection. Players often mention being moved to tears by the poignant story, particularly regarding themes of loss and the human condition, despite some criticism of the gameplay mechanics. The soundtrack further enhances the emotional experience, making it a memorable journey that resonates long after completion.

    • “From the moment I stepped into this dark, twisted world, I was captivated by its unique blend of narrative depth, atmospheric tension, and emotional resonance.”
    • “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.”
    • “It's deep, thought-provoking, and emotional.”
    • “Boring story until the end.”
    • “Boring story, absolutely nothing like Amnesia: The Dark Descent.”
    • “Boring gameplay, not even scary; too short, too easy, and a boring story that you can guess halfway through.”
  • replayability
    76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is largely criticized, with many reviewers noting it has little to no replay value due to its linear narrative and lack of features that enhanced replayability in the original game, such as custom stories and varied gameplay mechanics. While some players found it enjoyable for a single playthrough, the consensus is that the short duration and minimal content do not justify the price, making it more suitable for sale purchases rather than full price. Overall, the game is seen as lacking the depth and replayability that fans of the genre typically seek.

    • “But for most fans of the first game, it's the custom stories you can download for Amnesia that give it, in theory, infinite replay value.”
    • “I have played hours upon hours of the original Amnesia game (playtime totaling at the very least 100 hours) and still revisit it on a semi-regular basis. Even without the custom stories included, the game has so much replay value to it.”
    • “This was simply one of the best things about the previous Amnesia and gave such a high level of replayability to it.”
    • “It also has very little replayability due to the linear form of the narrative.”
    • “The game is about 4 hours long and has zero replay value.”
    • “The overall scare factor is too weak for this game to be called a 'horror survival' and it has no replay value.”
  • grinding
    63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews consistently highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is excessively tedious, with many players feeling that the gameplay devolves into monotonous walking and repetitive tasks that detract from the overall experience. Critics note that while the game has some intriguing story elements, the slow pacing and lack of engaging challenges lead to a frustrating and uninspired gameplay experience. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant flaw that hampers immersion and enjoyment.

    • “It can be a bit grindy sometimes, but the rewards make it worth it.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding, but the journey is incredibly rewarding.”
    • “The grinding aspect can be intense, but it adds depth to the gameplay.”
    • “The game only got more tedious as it went on.”
    • “Maybe the worst offense is that the game is very repetitive and outright tedious, for the last hour or so I was just hoping for the game to end while trying to forge myself towards the end through forced slow walking and gameplay consisting of going through the same kind of special door and pulling the same lever and valves for the 666th time.”
    • “It's not even really a game, it's just a tedious slog through empty environments with stupid puzzles and some Victorian-sounding narration thrown in.”
  • humor
    56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is predominantly described as unintentional and often outweighs its intended horror elements, with many players finding the enemies, particularly the pig-headed characters, to be more amusing than frightening. Reviews highlight the poor design and animation of monsters, which leads to laughter rather than fear, and the overall experience is characterized by a mix of absurdity and comedic moments, such as hilariously worded notes and ridiculous enemy behavior. While some players appreciate the humor, it ultimately detracts from the game's intended atmosphere, making it feel more like a comedic experience than a horror one.

    • “The jumpscares are tiring and the enemies are just freaky at most, hilarious at best.”
    • “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.”
    • “Truly unepic and unfunny.”
    • “Without grounding, you can never be sure what's supposed to be funny or scary, because you don't know what's normal.”
    • “The game is boring and not funny, and what is the worst - it's not scary!”
  • stability
    33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely criticized for its instability, with numerous reports of bugs and glitches that can lead to crashes and corrupted save files. Players have experienced a range of issues, from minor graphical glitches to major gameplay-breaking problems, significantly impacting the overall experience. While some found enjoyment despite these flaws, the consensus is that the game's stability is a major drawback.

    • “Really fun game, not buggy like the first.”
    • “Buggy mess, can't interact with the world or pick up things, game crashes constantly causing your save to become corrupt.”
    • “Poorly optimized, buggy, mechanically stripped-down, and lacking the interesting puzzles and tense scenarios that made the original game so great.”
    • “Not only that, but it's a very short game, and sometimes the game would have major game-crashing glitches.”
  • monetization
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized as a "joyless cash grab," with reviewers noting that it fails to deliver on its advertised horror and action elements. While the absence of microtransactions is seen as a positive, the game's short length and limited content result in a poor cost-to-play ratio, leading many to feel that it exploits the Amnesia brand to attract buyers. Overall, players express disappointment in the perceived manipulation and lack of value for their investment.

    • “There are no microtransactions, which is a big plus.”
    • “The game offers a fair price for the content provided, making it accessible to a wider audience.”
    • “I appreciate that the game doesn't pressure players into spending more money after the initial purchase.”
    • “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 development
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the emphasis on story and character growth, others criticize the lack of motivation and coherence in the narrative. Collectibles intended to enhance world-building often feel tedious and fail to contribute meaningfully to character development. Overall, opinions vary, with some finding the character arcs engaging despite the game's shortcomings in other areas.

    • “Despite the game being shorter than The Dark Descent, and not having puzzles or enemies as 'smart' as the previous game, it is still, in my opinion, a better game, with a story that sucks you in, and fantastic level design, as well as character development.”
    • “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.”
    • “Lack of motivation, lack of character development; nothing really makes sense, and by the end of the game, I had just given up reading notes because they were all just absolute nonsense written with really fancy words.”
    • “Collectables fail to add 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.”

72%Critics’ scoreBased on 5 critic reviews

Buy Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs

5h Median play time
6h Average play time
4h Main story
6h Completionist
4-6h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 56 analyzed playthroughs

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