Amnesia: The Bunker

94%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,088 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • atmosphere
Amnesia: The Bunker Game Cover
Amnesia: The Bunker is an essential horror game and an inspired next step for the series.
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Amnesia: The Bunker is a first-person horror game set in a desolate WW1 Bunker. Face the oppressing terrors stalking the dark corridors. Search for and use the tools and weapons at your disposal, while keeping the lights on at all costs. Overcome fear, persevere, and make your way out alive.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

94%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,088 reviews
gameplay390 positive mentions
grinding71 negative mentions
  • The atmosphere is brilliant, creating a constant sense of dread and tension.
  • The game offers a unique blend of survival horror mechanics with immersive sim elements, allowing for multiple ways to tackle challenges.
  • Replayability is high due to randomized item placements and customizable difficulty settings.
  • The game is relatively short, taking around 4-6 hours to complete.
  • The monster can become predictable and less scary after a few encounters.
  • The saving system is punishing, with only one save point that can lead to frustration if you die.
  • gameplay1,379 mentions

    The gameplay of "Amnesia: The Bunker" has been widely praised for its innovative mechanics and immersive experience, marking a significant departure from previous entries in the series. Players appreciate the introduction of resource management, a generator mechanic that adds tension, and the ability to defend themselves against the monster, creating a more dynamic and engaging survival horror experience. While some critiques mention the game's shorter length and occasional repetitiveness, the overall consensus is that the gameplay is the strongest aspect, offering a blend of tension, strategy, and exploration that keeps players on edge.

    • “The gameplay is where this game really shines.”
    • “Easily one of my favorite horror games, not to mention one that departs from traditional Amnesia series gameplay by letting you defend yourself.”
    • “The sound design is on point, the gameplay involves more than just waiting the monster out in a closet, and the procedural generation and many gameplay options allow for quite a lot of replayability!”
    • “Every single mechanic of this game is extremely tedious.”
    • “Gameplay loop is badly designed and straight up annoying.”
    • “The gameplay is tense, the primarily note-driven story is great for what it is, and the WW1 setting carries the game.”
  • story1,159 mentions

    The story in "Amnesia: The Bunker" is generally considered less prominent than in previous entries of the series, focusing more on gameplay mechanics and survival horror elements. While it features a simple narrative primarily conveyed through notes and environmental storytelling, many players found it engaging enough to piece together the backstory of the bunker and its inhabitants. However, some reviewers expressed disappointment with the story's predictability and brevity, feeling it lacked the depth and emotional impact of earlier titles like "Soma" and "Amnesia: Rebirth."

    • “The story is simple but compelling and well told, and the WW1 setting sets a good atmosphere of dread even without the monster.”
    • “The story is incredibly in-depth, and has many different perspectives given, along with an intense plot-twist.”
    • “The story is mostly told through notes and clues hidden throughout the game, and allows the player to piece together the story over time.”
    • “Compared to previous Amnesia games, the story felt almost nonexistent and the ending was really lackluster.”
    • “The story is rather simple and almost feels like a side story to the franchise, but strongly connected to it.”
    • “The story is extremely bare-bones, and the ending wasn't very satisfying; this is a game that seems to maximize its content with as minimal of a budget as possible.”
  • atmosphere649 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Amnesia: The Bunker" is widely praised for its intense, oppressive quality, effectively immersing players in a claustrophobic WWI bunker filled with tension and dread. Reviewers highlight the game's exceptional sound design and environmental storytelling, which contribute to a constant sense of unease as players navigate the dark corridors while being stalked by a terrifying monster. While some note that the gameplay mechanics can occasionally disrupt the atmosphere, the overall consensus is that the game successfully delivers a chilling and memorable horror experience.

    • “The atmosphere is incredible and the sound design is superb, creating a constant sense of unease as you unravel the secrets concealed within.”
    • “The atmosphere is so well done that I can only describe it as oppressive, claustrophobic, and a constant war against hopelessness at your situation.”
    • “The atmosphere, sound design, and mechanics are all incredible and work really well together to create an intense horror experience like no other.”
    • “But the story and atmosphere leave a lot to be desired.”
    • “They didn't quite nail the atmosphere like Alien Isolation did since there were so few areas and nothing much happening around to really make us immerse with the atmosphere.”
    • “Once the atmosphere wore off, the shallow FPS 'stealth' hide-and-seek mechanic was all that was left.”
  • replayability294 mentions

    The game offers high replayability due to its randomized elements, including item placements, codes, and various difficulty settings, which encourage players to experiment with different strategies. While the main campaign is relatively short, the inclusion of New Game Plus modes and custom difficulty options enhances the replay value significantly, making each playthrough feel unique. Overall, players appreciate the game's design that prioritizes replayability, allowing for a fresh experience with each run.

    • “The game does have a ton of replayability, so there's much more to do.”
    • “Theoretically, this game is infinitely replayable with its support for custom stories (player-made campaigns) and other mods.”
    • “The random occurrences of chaos that happened in this game while I was playing, I also really love how there is a fully engaged modern community as well as the replay value that is built into this game.”
    • “The game isn't very long, but as mentioned, it's geared for replayability.”
    • “While the randomization does help it somewhat in the replayability department, there is little reason to play more than once or twice outside of achievement hunting.”
    • “The claims of replayability seem suspect, but I'll ignore that for this review.”
  • graphics188 mentions

    The graphics in "Amnesia: The Bunker" have received mixed reviews, with many praising the atmospheric visuals and effective use of lighting to enhance the horror experience. While some players noted that the graphics feel somewhat dated compared to modern standards, others appreciated the art direction and immersive environments that align well with the game's dark themes. Overall, the visuals are considered solid for a mid-budget title, contributing significantly to the game's eerie ambiance despite occasional performance issues.

    • “Visually stunning: the graphics in Amnesia: Bunker are impressive, delivering detailed and realistic environments that enhance the overall horror experience.”
    • “The graphics are top notch, offering an immersive experience that draws you deeply into the action.”
    • “The attention to detail is remarkable, with realistic and immersive graphics that make players feel like they are truly trapped in a nightmare.”
    • “The graphics are by no means eye-popping.”
    • “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.”
    • “The graphics and the aesthetics are just painful and there are no interesting narratives.”
  • grinding76 mentions

    The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium associated with grinding in the game, with many players expressing frustration over repetitive mechanics, excessive backtracking, and limited inventory management. While some appreciate the game's exploration and resource management elements, the overall consensus is that the gameplay loop becomes monotonous and frustrating, detracting from the intended horror experience. Many players feel that the game lacks sufficient engagement and often feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable challenge.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Every single mechanic of this game is extremely tedious.”
    • “It punishes continuous exploration for this run-back style that gets old after 1 hour, it kills the immersion and becomes a tedious chore.”
    • “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.”
  • music70 mentions

    The music in "Amnesia: The Bunker" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its sound design and ambient tracks for enhancing the game's tense atmosphere. While some players feel the soundtrack lacks memorability and emotional impact compared to previous titles in the series, others appreciate its ability to complement gameplay and immerse players in a haunting environment. Overall, the sound design is highlighted as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the horror experience.

    • “From the sounds of artillery fire above you, the beast's horrifying howls, and then to the subtle but dread-inducing ambient music; Amnesia has never been better.”
    • “The dark ambient background music helps you sink deep into a suffocating mood of paranoia and darkness.”
    • “The amazing sound design also added to the immersion and, once again, Mikko Tarmia's soundtracks were phenomenal.”
    • “The game might be a little scary in your first fifteen minutes, but all of that dwindles down with the help of the fuel generator, weapons, the character's seemingly unlimited stamina, and the underwhelming soundtrack.”
    • “It has no impactful story, no thought-provoking questions, no twists; there is no poignance in the soundtrack - was there even a soundtrack?”
    • “There is no compelling music at key points in the game, nothing.”
  • optimization40 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players noting smooth performance and stable frame rates, particularly at 60 fps. However, some users reported occasional performance issues, such as stuttering during cutscenes and loading transitions, as well as specific areas where frame drops occur. While the visuals are praised, there are suggestions that further optimization could enhance the experience, especially for players with lower-end hardware.

    • “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.”
    • “A few frame drops here and there but otherwise well optimized.”
    • “However, I'd like to note two things it does really well: the graphics are great, and it's optimized really well.”
    • “It seems the 120 fps option causes severe stuttering, so you're capped at 60; other than that, it's not bad.”
    • “However, there is a critical performance error where the game just starts slowing down until it is barely controllable, even at lower settings on decent graphics cards and memory.”
    • “Cons: there are hiccups here and there regarding performance and loading an area stutters.”
  • stability36 mentions

    The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many players reporting various glitches and bugs, particularly during area transitions and interactions with objects. While some users experienced minimal issues that did not detract from their enjoyment, others found the game frustratingly buggy, with problems ranging from minor visual glitches to more significant gameplay interruptions. Overall, the game runs well on platforms like Steam Deck, but players should be prepared for occasional technical hiccups.

    • “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 game is too buggy to play; I had one item stuck to the ground and one broken door stuck to a dead NPC in the tunnel. Either the Halloween update fixed it all, because that's when I bought it, or these people make things up.”
    • “Every time you switch between different areas of the bunker, like when you enter or leave the arsenal/prison, the game freezes for up to a second. The transitions between different areas of the game are poorly made, and the map is not big at all. This has even been mentioned in the IGN game review; the loading is just poorly made, but it only happens when you enter or leave a new game area. Otherwise, the game runs smooth.”
    • “Frustratingly buggy, with less than great game design.”
  • emotional35 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke genuine fear and excitement, reminiscent of childhood experiences with horror. Players appreciate the heartfelt storytelling and immersive sound design, which enhance the emotional weight of the narrative, though some feel that deeper character backstories could further enrich engagement. Overall, the game successfully combines tension and emotional moments, making it a standout experience in the horror genre.

    • “The storytelling adds an emotional layer to the horror, making it more than just a series of scares.”
    • “The sounds are phenomenal and on point the entire time, and the story is heartbreaking and immersive.”
    • “I found the story fitting and engaging enough, with a subtle emotional punch that actually got to me.”
  • humor30 mentions

    The humor in the game is often described as a blend of dark comedy and absurdity, with players finding amusement in the juxtaposition of terrifying elements and comedic moments, such as quirky character interactions and unexpected game mechanics. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to elicit laughter even amidst fear, with references to humorous death animations and the absurdity of certain gameplay situations. Overall, the humor serves to lighten the tension, making the experience 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.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with some users feeling it relies heavily on brand recognition rather than quality content. The lack of promotional material and perceived emphasis on advertising over gameplay has left players unsatisfied and questioning the developers' commitment to delivering a meaningful experience.

    • “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 development3 mentions

    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 promising, is described as underdeveloped and suffers from pacing issues, further detracting from character growth.

    • “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.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

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Play time

5hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
3-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 21 analyzed playthroughs

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