Amnesia: The Bunker

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Amnesia: The Bunker is a single player action adventure game with a horror theme. It was developed by Frictional Games and was released on June 6, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

In "Amnesia: The Bunker," players assume the role of a French soldier who wakes up in a dark, eerie bunker with no memory of how he got there. As the soldier, you must overcome fear, solve puzzles, and navigate through the terrifying labyrinth of the bunker, all while avoiding monstrous creatures lurking in the shadows. With limited resources and a constantly ticking clock, players must persevere and make their way out alive. This first-person survival horror game emphasizes exploration and resource management, providing a thrilling and immersive experience.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,683 reviews

gameplay522 positive mentions

grinding83 negative mentions

The game delivers a tense and immersive horror experience, with a well-designed atmosphere that keeps players on edge.
The mechanics of resource management and the presence of a persistent enemy create a unique gameplay loop that encourages exploration and strategic thinking.
The randomization of items and codes adds replayability, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.

The monster's AI can sometimes feel unfair, leading to frustrating encounters that disrupt the flow of gameplay.
The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more content and depth in the story.
The flashlight mechanic can be cumbersome, requiring frequent winding and making noise, which can detract from the overall experience.

gameplay
1,801 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
68%
3%
The gameplay of "Amnesia: The Bunker" has been widely praised for its innovative mechanics and immersive experience, combining elements of survival horror with resource management and strategic decision-making. Players appreciate the tension created by the generator mechanic, which requires careful fuel management to keep the lights on and fend off the relentless monster, while the game's open-ended structure allows for varied approaches to problem-solving. However, some critiques highlight that the gameplay can become repetitive and that the story takes a backseat to mechanics, leading to a less engaging narrative experience compared to previous titles in the series. Overall, it is considered a significant improvement in gameplay over its predecessors, offering a fresh take on the franchise.
- “Combining past themes and mechanics from previous Amnesia games while taking inspiration from games like Resident Evil with a constant stalker threatening you, it really makes you feel tense no matter what you do.”
- “The bunker is an important entry in the Amnesia franchise for its priority of the gameplay experience over a pretentious narrative - and I am hopeful that many more horror games to come will realize the strength and importance which intuitive gameplay design and survival horror means for a solid horror experience.”
- “I only wish the story was conveyed more directly through gameplay rather than through scattered notes, which has always felt like one of the laziest storytelling methods in games.”
- “The gameplay loop is definitively what makes this game: the concept of preparing supplies, planning out a route and mentally pushing yourself to go through with it to barely escape the clutches of the monster and come back before your generator's light dies out is thrilling, and the way the location of certain items and lock codes is randomly generated adds to the replayability of it.”
- “The gameplay is relatively short, but it seems like people will be able to make custom maps.”
story
1,426 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
64%
5%
The story in "Amnesia: The Bunker" is generally described as minimal and primarily conveyed through scattered notes and environmental storytelling, which some players found engaging while others considered it a weak point compared to previous entries in the series. Set against the backdrop of World War I, the narrative revolves around a French soldier navigating a haunted bunker, with themes of survival and horror interwoven throughout. While the gameplay mechanics and atmosphere received high praise, many reviewers expressed a desire for a more substantial and cohesive story, feeling that the game prioritizes gameplay over narrative depth.
- “The story unfolds slowly but very effectively through small narrative elements such as notes, hidden files, and photographs that piece together the story of the bunker’s inhabitants.”
- “The mood, atmosphere, music/sfx, story-driven sense of urgency--the whole package was just so frightening, beautiful, and well made.”
- “The story is gripping, notes left are interesting to read, the atmosphere is amazing but when it comes to actually facing the monster, it just isn't scary.”
- “I only wish the story was conveyed more directly through gameplay rather than through scattered notes, which has always felt like one of the laziest storytelling methods in games.”
- “The story is non-existent and there's only the bare minimum of notes implying what's going on with no real closure on it or further elaboration on the weird occult shenanigans going on in the tunnels and how the monster is connected.”
- “The story is rather simple and almost feels like a side story to the franchise, but strongly connected to it.”
atmosphere
874 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
42%
1%
The atmosphere in "Amnesia: The Bunker" is widely praised for its oppressive and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the dread of a World War I bunker setting. Players highlight the game's exceptional sound design, which enhances the tension and fear as they navigate dark, claustrophobic environments while being stalked by a menacing creature. Overall, the combination of atmospheric storytelling, resource management, and intelligent enemy AI creates a uniquely terrifying experience that keeps players on edge throughout their journey.
- “The atmosphere is excellent, and the WW1 bunker setting is an incredibly cool backdrop for a horror experience.”
- “The atmosphere makes you feel like you're in the trenches of WW1.”
- “The atmosphere is thick with dread, and everything feels so tactile and real.”
- “From the moment you descend into the bunker’s dark, narrow corridors, the game envelops you in a suffocating atmosphere filled with dread and uncertainty.”
- “The atmosphere is so thick you could cut it with a knife.”
replayability
425 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
58%
1%
Amnesia: The Bunker offers significant replayability through its randomized item placements, codes, and customizable difficulty settings, allowing players to experience varied gameplay with each run. While the game is relatively short, averaging around 5-7 hours for a first playthrough, its non-linear structure and emergent gameplay mechanics encourage multiple playthroughs. Many players appreciate the game's focus on replay value, making it one of the most replayable entries in the Amnesia series, despite some critiques regarding the depth of its narrative.
- “It's even replayable with a customizable difficulty mode and randomized item spawns!”
- “The non-linear design of the bunker encourages exploration and experimentation, with multiple pathways and solutions to challenges enhancing replayability.”
- “The game is short but focused, with a lot of replayability due to how the game randomizes loot on every playthrough.”
- “While the narrative isn’t the deepest in the series, the bunker compensates with replayability, strong randomization, and far more player-driven problem solving than previous Amnesia entries.”
- “The bunker abandons linear storytelling and most of its narrative for the sake of randomness, openness, and replayability, with the last one being a particularly baffling concept for a horror game where, once you've dealt with the monster once, the horror is significantly reduced.”
- “That said, despite the game's efforts to increase replay value with randomizing various elements every playthrough, the lack of a deeper mystery to be solved and no multiple endings kills the drive to do multiple playthroughs.”
graphics
248 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
54%
6%
The graphics of "Amnesia: The Bunker" receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the atmospheric art style and lighting that enhance the horror experience, while others criticize the visuals as outdated and lacking polish. Many note performance issues, including lag and optimization problems, even on capable hardware, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the game's ability to create a tense and immersive environment through its visuals is frequently acknowledged, making it a compelling title for fans of the horror genre.
- “Visually, Amnesia: The Bunker employs a gritty, realistic art style that enhances the bleakness of its setting.”
- “The graphics are amazing, the mechanics are even better, and the stalker is a great monster to stalk you through the bunker.”
- “The attention to detail is remarkable, with realistic and immersive graphics that make players feel like they are truly trapped in a nightmare.”
- “Even with a good PC, this game is lagging and going slow too much even when all the graphics are low. Don't buy.”
- “The graphics and the engine feel very outdated for 2023 standards, and I think it's time for Frictional to give up their custom engine and move to something like Unreal 5 for their next title.”
- “I'm sorry, but the quality of graphics looks like this game is 20 years old, so although other aspects are fine, I just can't recommend this game at this price.”
grinding
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
7%
92%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being tedious and frustrating, with many players expressing that it detracts from the overall experience. Common complaints include excessive backtracking, limited inventory space, and repetitive mechanics that transform what could be a thrilling survival horror experience into a monotonous chore. While some players appreciate the game's atmosphere and unique concepts, the overwhelming sentiment is that the grinding elements are poorly designed and lead to a lack of engagement.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It was frustrating, tedious, and boring 60% of the time.”
- “But then you die to the beast for the 10,000th time and it stops being scary and just becomes extremely tedious.”
- “The gameplay does have a somewhat repetitive gameplay loop that does get a little tedious at the end of this game's fairly short runtime, but it's overall not a huge knock on the experience.”
music
89 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
74%
4%
The music in "Amnesia: The Bunker" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its subtle and organic soundtrack that enhances the game's atmosphere of isolation and tension. Unlike previous entries, this soundtrack features more restrained, somber pieces using traditional instruments, which some players found to be a refreshing change, while others felt it lacked the memorable and impactful themes of earlier games. Overall, the sound design is considered top-notch, effectively complementing the immersive horror experience, though some players wished for more frequent musical cues to amplify the fear factor.
- “The music feels more organic, featuring instruments such as piano, cello, and violins, unlike the soundtracks of its predecessors, which relied more on synthesizers and artificial melodies.”
- “The atmosphere, music, and tension, combined with tight level design create a perfect storm.”
- “The dark ambient background music helps you sink deep into a suffocating mood of paranoia and darkness.”
- “The game has a distinct lack of music in most areas, which is a bit of a letdown, as great music can contribute to a better atmosphere, but the clever sound design, level design, and monster design more than make up for it.”
- “It has no impactful story, no thought-provoking questions, no twists; there is no poignance in the soundtrack - was there even a soundtrack?”
- “The soundtrack wasn't as great as some of the other Amnesia games.”
optimization
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
55%
20%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and stability, even on lower-end hardware, while others report significant issues such as stuttering during area transitions and frame drops. While many appreciate the overall graphics and immersive atmosphere, several users highlight critical performance errors that detract from the experience, suggesting that further optimization could enhance gameplay. Overall, the game's optimization appears to be a point of contention, with a divide between those who find it well-optimized and those who encounter frustrating performance problems.
- “It was well optimized, and I had no issues streaming and recording it with my 4060.”
- “The game looks stellar yet at the same time runs smoothly (even on my semi-powerful laptop from 2020 which does not support RTX games) at all times and is a consistent experience through and through.”
- “Also, the game runs phenomenally with not a single issue with glitches or performance.”
- “The main complaint that I have is the performance.”
- “Also, the main issue of the game is its horrendous optimization.”
- “Even putting graphics to the side, the performance is awful to the point of taking the player out of an otherwise incredibly immersive experience.”
emotional
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
6%
Players have praised the game for its ability to evoke genuine fear and emotional responses, often describing moments of terror that left them on edge or even brought them to tears. The natural performances and immersive storytelling enhance the emotional weight of the experience, while the game's mechanics encourage vulnerability and tension, making each decision feel impactful. Despite some critiques regarding the depth of the narrative, many found the emotional journey to be memorable and cathartic, solidifying the game as a standout in the horror genre.
- “The performances feel very natural and emotionally convincing, showing the fear, tension, and desperation that define the game’s atmosphere.”
- “Layered beneath the survival is a surprisingly rich vein of story and lore, unearthed through found notes, recordings, and honest, grounded voice acting that adds emotional weight to the experience.”
- “The storytelling adds an emotional layer to the horror, making it more than just a series of scares.”
- “The story felt incredibly dull and uninspired.”
- “I couldn't connect with any of the characters emotionally.”
- “The emotional moments fell flat and lacked impact.”
stability
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
90%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various bugs, glitches, and crashes that can disrupt gameplay and immersion. While some users experienced minimal issues and praised the overall performance, others highlighted significant problems, such as animation bugs, achievement tracking failures, and freezing during area transitions. Overall, the game appears to have a solid foundation but requires further polishing to address its stability issues.
- “First, the game runs great.”
- “Scales well, runs great.”
- “From a technical perspective, it's excellent; no frame drops, no glitches, no bugs (at least I haven't found any yet).”
- “The achievements are buggy as all get out, with some like the flint & steel trophy saying I never acquired the lighter even though I lit tons of things on fire.”
- “The steam executable is buggy and constantly crashes.”
- “Frustratingly buggy, with less than great game design.”
humor
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often described as a blend of absurdity and dark comedy, with players finding amusement in unexpected moments, such as brutal death animations and quirky character interactions. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to balance tension with humor, creating a unique experience where players can laugh at the ridiculousness of certain situations, like the ineffectiveness of weapons against comically menacing creatures. Overall, the humor adds a layer of enjoyment that complements the game's horror elements, making it both scary and entertaining.
- “I'm crapping my pants and laughing over its occasional idiocy.”
- “The decision to [spoiler] have a hole appear in the safe room [/spoiler] was hilariously devious.”
- “The much higher freedom and random generation both makes for funny situations that ease the tension a bit like a group of rats becoming the most dangerous thing in the game just to absolutely crush you in the next moment as you realize you've got to make an incredibly reckless thing if you hope to survive.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
80%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users appreciating the absence of microtransactions, while others feel that the game serves as a cash grab, lacking substantial content and promotion. Critics express disappointment over the perceived reliance on the "Amnesia" brand for marketing rather than delivering a standalone experience.
- “There are no microtransactions, which makes the experience much more enjoyable.”
- “I appreciate that the game doesn't include any microtransactions.”
- “The absence of microtransactions really enhances the overall gameplay.”
- “But this felt like a simple cash grab, like a bank account top-up, and left feeling pretty unsatisfied after.”
- “Maybe if the developers stop throwing the word 'Amnesia' for easier advertisements and just roll with a simple one-off game, people would not have these high expectations.”
- “I don't personally care about the show, as I believe it's just 2+ hours of glorified advertising, but it still would've been a giant publicity boost for Frictional and their non-stop commitment to quality games.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Character development in the game is criticized for being shallow, with players feeling that the protagonist's journey lacks depth and emotional engagement. The narrative, while initially intriguing, ultimately fails to provide a robust framework for character growth, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction among players.
- “Character development: although the protagonist is thrust into a terrifying situation, the lack of deep character development might leave some players wanting more.”
- “Additionally, the narrative, although promising at the outset, is so bare bones it's practically non-existent and what is there suffers from pacing issues and a lack of depth in character development.”

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77%Critics’ scoreBased on 44 critic reviews

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5h Median play time

7h Average play time

3-9h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 26 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Amnesia: The Bunker is a action adventure game with horror theme.

Amnesia: The Bunker is available on PC, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 7 hours playing Amnesia: The Bunker.

Amnesia: The Bunker was released on June 6, 2023.

Amnesia: The Bunker was developed by Frictional Games.

Amnesia: The Bunker has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Amnesia: The Bunker is a single player game.

Similar games include Amnesia: The Dark Descent, Amnesia: Rebirth, Resident Evil 7 Biohazard, Darkwood, ROUTINE and others.

Amnesia: The Bunker

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