Amnesia: The Dark Descent
- September 8, 2010
- Frictional Games
- 8h median play time
Rich in atmosphere and big on scares, Amnesia: The Dark Descent goes where survival-horror fears to tread.
Get on Steam
Get on Epic Games Store"Amnesia: The Dark Descent" is a first-person survival horror game that follows a character suffering from memory loss in a dark and foreboding castle. Players must navigate through dank corridors, avoiding monsters while managing their sanity and fear levels, and uncovering the mystery behind their past. The game is known for its atmospheric setting and immersive gameplay.
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Reviews
- story2,996 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Amnesia: The Dark Descent" is widely praised for its immersive and engaging narrative, which unfolds through notes, flashbacks, and environmental storytelling, allowing players to piece together the protagonist Daniel's dark past. While some players find the pacing slow and the ending underwhelming, the overall atmosphere and psychological horror elements effectively enhance the storytelling experience. The game also features a custom story mode, providing additional replayability and opportunities for players to explore new narratives crafted by the community.
“I've always been intrigued by the story of the Amnesia games, and this game perfectly tells it to you. Instead of having you read hundreds of notes around the castle to find out the lore, most of the main lore is well told during puzzles and just exploring the castle.”
“The story is beautifully written, and it is followed by amazing voice acting. The atmosphere is top-notch, and the story and environment are fantastic!”
“The story kept me hooked as the main character progressively recovered his memory and the mysteries unraveled. It's a great horror game with a lot of replayability value due to its exposure in early YouTube.”
“Way overhyped, lackluster story with lackluster monsters; everything felt like a chore.”
“The story is convoluted and requires piecing together various elements, which can be frustrating.”
“The story is okay, but it doesn't really pull you in, and the ending feels rushed and underwhelming.”
- atmosphere1,789 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of *Amnesia: The Dark Descent* is widely praised for its intense creepiness and immersive qualities, effectively creating a sense of dread and psychological horror. Players highlight the game's exceptional sound design, haunting music, and the oppressive environment of the castle, which together enhance the feeling of vulnerability and fear. Many reviews emphasize that the game relies on atmosphere rather than cheap jump scares, making it a standout title in the horror genre.
“The atmosphere, world building, and sound design are amazing, and the sense of dread I felt before turning each corner hasn't been matched.”
“The atmosphere is amazing and beautifully well crafted to make you feel helpless in a dark isolated castle in the early 1800s.”
“The atmosphere is incredibly creepy, with every little noise, creaks, whispers, everything... I love how the game messes with my mind.”
“The atmosphere in this game is so expertly crafted, it's so thick I swear you can cut through it like butter.”
“The relentless atmosphere of dread may become overwhelming for some players, leading to genuine feelings of anxiety.”
- gameplay1,127 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Amnesia: The Dark Descent* is characterized by its innovative mechanics, particularly the sanity system that punishes players for staying in the dark or looking at monsters, enhancing the psychological horror experience. Players engage in exploration, puzzle-solving, and stealth, as combat is non-existent, forcing them to rely on evasion and resource management. While the game has been praised for its atmosphere and immersive storytelling, some players find the mechanics repetitive or frustrating, particularly regarding the sanity and resource management aspects. Overall, it remains a landmark title in the survival horror genre, influencing many games that followed.
“The game revolves around you exploring and solving puzzles using the impressive physics mechanics that let you pick up and throw various things in the various environments, looking for tinderboxes and oil for your lantern that help you not go insane, all the while being confronted with the possibility that some horrifying monsters are lurking in the dark.”
“The gameplay consists of always being on the edge of your seat while dealing with your insanity levels, which increases mainly when you are in dark places.”
“The gameplay emphasizes exploration, stealth, and hiding, creating a unique sense of helplessness that is rarely found in gaming.”
“Damn near every mechanic this game has to offer is tedious and counterintuitive.”
“The gameplay really boils down to doing a simple puzzle, reading notes, motion sickness, and waiting for a goofy guy to leave the area so you can progress.”
“The gameplay can be broken into three puzzle areas: area 1, where they're kind enough not to have the monster interrupt you as you're solving the puzzle; area 2, where they're once again kind enough not to have the monster interrupt you as you're trying to figure out what the hell logic the developers were going for to solve the puzzle; and area 3, where the monster is the puzzle and will probably annoyingly kill you on the first attempt.”
- graphics692 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Amnesia: The Dark Descent" are often described as dated but still effective in creating a haunting atmosphere that enhances the horror experience. While some players note that the visuals show their age compared to modern titles, many appreciate the game's art style, lighting, and overall aesthetic, which contribute significantly to its immersive storytelling. Overall, the graphics are considered good for an indie game from 2010, with many players finding them sufficient to maintain the game's eerie and unsettling mood.
“For its time, this game has amazing and atmospheric graphics that really make the mood (not to mention the great and sometimes horrifying music, sound effects, and voice acting).”
“The graphics are still beautiful for this game being released in 2010, and I didn't run into any hardware issues whatsoever. This game runs great on modern systems, no loopholes are required, so don't be scared of that being an issue because this game is optimized greatly and runs beautifully on modern hardware.”
“The graphics hold up incredibly well, and the game performs amazingly.”
“The graphics are so bad it's cringy.”
“The graphics did not age well.”
“The graphics are a bit dated but that didn't really take away from the experience.”
- music507 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in "Amnesia: The Dark Descent" is widely praised for its ability to create an immersive and terrifying atmosphere, with haunting soundtracks that enhance the game's sense of dread and tension. Many players highlight how the music effectively signals danger, particularly during monster encounters, while also providing moments of eerie calm that deepen the overall experience. However, some critiques mention that certain tracks can become repetitive, potentially detracting from the immersion over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a crucial element that significantly contributes to the game's horror and emotional impact.
“The ambiance is isolating, the music is haunting especially when you first enter the game and hear that music.”
“The soundtrack gives the game an emotional connection to the horror and suspense of the scenes.”
“The music and sound effects in this game are wonderfully spooky and really contribute a lot to the feel of the game.”
“The game's atmosphere is... okay, it's not particularly scary given the lack of proper unsettling ambience or map design, relying on excessive darkness and overbearing soundtracks to make you feel fear.”
“Genuinely nothing in this game is scary besides for like one part of the game which is borderline ruined by the most loud and over-the-top soundtrack I've ever heard in a horror game.”
“Hiding from monsters felt more irritating than scary, as their appearance was fairly predictable and involved hiding in one spot and waiting for the music to change.”
- replayability139 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The replayability of the game is a mixed bag; while the main story offers limited replay value due to its scripted events and predictable scares, the inclusion of a robust custom story feature significantly enhances replayability, allowing players to experience an almost infinite variety of user-generated content. Many players appreciate the game's atmosphere and narrative, but agree that once the main story is completed, the excitement diminishes unless engaging with custom mods or expansions. Overall, the game's replayability largely hinges on the active modding community and the availability of custom stories, which can provide fresh experiences long after the initial playthrough.
“While Amnesia: The Dark Descent's main story may take around 8-10 hours to complete, its replayability comes from the different choices players can make throughout the game and its numerous hidden secrets and easter eggs.”
“The custom story feature extends the replayability considerably.”
“A brilliantly crafted horror game with a fantastic atmosphere and almost unlimited replay value due to the addition of custom stories.”
“There is absolutely no replay value here; this is a one-and-done kind of game.”
“The main story has very little replayability; I never get as scared as my first playthrough because the scares are in the same place as before.”
“However, I find that the replay value is fairly low, but I could see how it would be a fun game to return to in several years.”
- humor82 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as a mix of dark comedy and absurdity, with players finding the monsters and certain game mechanics more amusing than frightening. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to elicit laughter through its quirky character designs and unexpected moments, especially when played with friends or during custom story modes. Overall, while the game is intended to be a horror experience, it frequently veers into the realm of comedy, making it enjoyable for those who appreciate a blend of both genres.
“The story is good too; the monsters are scary at the early part of the game where you just hear their growl and see them from a distance, but once you see their goofy faces and their goofy walks, they're kind of funny looking.”
“I played for 2 hours shitting myself, then my friends joined the Discord call and we started laughing our asses off at the bean man.”
“The custom stories are hilarious!”
“The chasing scene gave me a heart attack; being chased is not funny!”
“Very not funny :(”
“Funny bugs.”
- grinding80 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 81 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite tedious, with many citing repetitive gameplay, overcomplicated puzzles, and resource management as significant contributors to this feeling. While some mechanics and puzzles are appreciated for their challenge, they often become frustratingly tedious, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the game's atmosphere and horror elements are generally well-received, though they can be overshadowed by the grindy nature of certain gameplay aspects.
“Challenging, but not tedious puzzles.”
“The environments are creepy, monsters are not tedious like so many horror games, and there is a sense of dread everywhere you go.”
“Pros: game physics are pretty nice, puzzles are amazing except for two of them at the end. The blood and the cog machine graphics are great for 2010. Monsters do their job at scaring but are not tedious enough to become annoying.”
“Damn near every mechanic this game has to offer is tedious and counterintuitive.”
“The gameplay feels a little tedious after a while but for the most part, it's great.”
“The game is not scary; it’s tedious.”
- emotional64 mentions
- 95 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Amnesia: The Dark Descent" is widely praised for its ability to evoke intense feelings of fear, dread, and empathy, often leading players to tears. Many reviewers highlight the game's atmospheric storytelling and psychological horror elements, which create a deeply immersive experience that resonates on an emotional level. However, some critiques mention that the narrative can feel secondary or underdeveloped, impacting overall emotional investment for certain players.
“On top of that, the story to be told about the characters themselves and the situations in which they find themselves is extremely emotional and unforgettable.”
“This game made me feel like I was dying of dread for the first ten to twelve hours I played it.”
“This is what video games should be, a direct and interactive emotional experience, and Amnesia executes this flawlessly.”
“Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a very overrated horror game that is extremely outdated compared to the horror games released today. I found the game to be immensely tedious, combined with the most dry and boring story I have ever come across. I bought this game on sale for around £2 and still think it wasn't worth it.”
“Boring storyline, even more boring/simple puzzles, tedious, awful controls.”
- stability41 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 88 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and compatibility with modern systems, there are frequent mentions of bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay. Some users experienced crashes, freezes, and issues with the save system, but these problems are often described as minor and not significantly detrimental to the overall experience. Despite the occasional technical hiccup, the game's atmosphere and mechanics are generally praised, making it still enjoyable for most players.
“The graphics are still beautiful for this game being released in 2010, and I didn't run into any hardware issues whatsoever. This game runs great on modern systems; no loopholes are required, so don't be scared of that being an issue because this game is optimized greatly and runs beautifully on modern hardware.”
“First time ever playing, and the game still holds up years later and runs great even on modern hardware.”
“Overall, mechanics are great, you can interact with most objects, the game runs great, has very short loading times, and you can save anywhere!”
“Crashes, takes an eternity to load, stutters, freezes, drops frames, etc. In the 12 or so minutes I was barely able to light a candle.”
“Which brings me to something else I have to mention: this game is buggy as hell, and alongside that, janky as hell.”
“Glitches in monster AI absolutely killed my immersion.”
- optimization29 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and good graphics on modern systems, some experience issues like framerate drops and memory leaks, particularly on high-end PCs. The game is generally well-optimized for lower-end hardware, allowing it to run effectively even on less powerful machines, but certain performance hiccups can detract from the experience. Customizable graphics options help mitigate some of these issues, enabling players to find a setup that works for them.
“The graphics are still beautiful for this game being released in 2010, and I didn't run into any hardware issues whatsoever. This game runs great on modern systems; no loopholes are required, so don't be scared of that being an issue because this game is optimized greatly and runs beautifully on modern hardware.”
“As far as the game's performance, I can happily say I played through all the way to the ending without a single problem, and this was on a 64-bit Windows 10 machine.”
“First off, the performance is terrific - even a low-end laptop graphics card can run it smoothly while still looking pretty.”
“Cant suggest the game if it has memory leaks and poor optimizations that affect low end to high end PCs.”
“Didn't bother much with it and just played it at 60 frames because it's immersion breaking when performance issues start to happen.”
“Performance-wise, I've always had framerate problems; at least the graphics options are very customizable, so chances are you will find a setup that will get you a constant 60fps.”
- character development13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while the protagonist Daniel experiences significant growth that enhances the narrative, some players feel he lacks depth, making it difficult to empathize with him. The game maintains a strong focus on character development throughout the story, complemented by impressive character design and world-building. However, critiques arise regarding the design of certain characters and enemies, suggesting a need for improvement in this area.
“Character development: you might not realize it at first, but the game's protagonist, Daniel, undergoes some fascinating character development as you progress through the story.”
“The game really never loses track of its character development and doesn't get sidetracked from the main story, which is great.”
“Limited character development: the game's protagonist is not well-developed, and some players may find it hard to empathize with Daniel.”
“While there were some I didn’t necessarily care for, there’s a lot of information that not only helps you progress but also learn some character development to help regain Daniel’s memory to know how he got in this situation.”
“The game really never loses track of its character development and doesn't get sidetracked from the main story which is great, though I don't want to spoil anything else I will end it there for characters and NPCs.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a stark contrast in monetization approaches, with some games criticized for aggressive in-game purchases that can be financially burdensome, while others, like Amnesia, are praised for their lack of microtransactions and predatory monetization tactics, allowing players to fully immerse themselves in the experience without financial distractions.
“Amnesia always sounded right up my alley when it had come out-- a pure horror experience free from malformed combat systems, or microtransactions, or the odd tedium of inventory management and so on.”
“In-game purchases will drain your wallet.”
“Amnesia always sounded right up my alley when it came out-- a pure horror experience free from malformed combat systems, or microtransactions, or the odd tedium of inventory management and so on.”
“No microtransactions, no battle pass, no predatory monetization period.”
