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Among Ashes

Among Ashes Game Cover
94%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay
Most mentioned negative aspects:music, stability
97% User Score Based on 260 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Xbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5XboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
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Among Ashes Game Cover

About

Among Ashes is a single player survival shooter game with horror, mystery and violence themes. It was developed by Rat Cliff Games and was released on December 9, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

It's the year 2001 and your friend has sent you a link to a game that someone posted online, but as you play you quickly realise that something is terribly wrong. There's a dark presence in this game, and it wants to get out. As you fight nightmarish monsters and solve mind-bending puzzles, the lines between the game and the real world will fade away. Will you survive the night? Whatever you do……

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Among Ashes screenshot
Among Ashes screenshot
Among Ashes screenshot
Among Ashes screenshot
Among Ashes screenshot
Among Ashes screenshot
Among Ashes screenshot
Among Ashes screenshot
Among Ashes screenshot
Among Ashes screenshot
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97%Audience ScoreBased on 260 reviews
story52 positive mentions
stability3 negative mentions
  • Innovative game within a game concept blending retro and modern horror elements with immersive storytelling and atmosphere.
  • Well-executed survival horror mechanics reminiscent of classic games, with engaging puzzles and balanced difficulty.
  • Strong narrative depth with believable character interactions, effective voice acting, and meaningful scares beyond cheap jump scares.
  • Some technical issues including bugs and glitches, such as enemy behavior problems and game-breaking bugs that impact progression.
  • Combat mechanics can feel clunky and frustrating, especially melee attacks and resource scarcity leading to difficulty spikes.
  • Ending and certain story elements felt abrupt, confusing, or underdeveloped, with some sections dragging or becoming repetitive.

  • story

    112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game is praised for its depth, originality, and effective use of the "game within a game" trope, delivering a disturbing yet thought-provoking horror experience that blends mystery, immersion, and emotional resonance. While some found the narrative occasionally confusing or uneven towards the end, most agree it is engaging and well-executed, with realistic dialogue and meaningful thematic exploration, making it a standout aspect that captivates and haunts players throughout.

    • “The story had great depth and was extremely well thought out, tying together the different themes of the areas and levels.”
    • “The storytelling is top-notch in both worlds, with plenty of twists, heartfelt moments, and thought-provoking themes that explore identity, resilience, and the consequences of our choices.”
    • “Every detail is carefully thought out, and the plot unfolds in a way that keeps you in constant suspense.”
    • “The story is honestly... I hesitate to call it bad, because in the setting of the game itself it does its job fine enough, but as the player, witnessing the night call game distort around the 'irl' story of Among Ashes as the haunted game starts to deviate from its programmed script can feel dizzying if you are not paying proper attention.”
    • “The story is the weakest part with tiny bits given and then dumps the rest on you right before ending the game.”
    • “The final plot twists, in particular, feel strange and out of place.”

  • gameplay

    56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Among Ashes offers a nostalgic yet fresh survival horror gameplay experience that combines classic mechanics from Resident Evil and Silent Hill with innovative meta elements like a game-within-a-game and code-rewriting mechanics. While generally engaging, well-balanced, and immersive with clever puzzles and scary moments, some players find certain sections repetitive, janky, or frustrating due to bugs, save system quirks, and clunky combat. Overall, its mix of retro style and modern twists delivers an enjoyable, if occasionally uneven, gameplay journey.

    • “Among Ashes has a good mix of nostalgia and modern horror game mechanics – think Resident Evil and Silent Hill combined with a twist.”
    • “The retro horror game that's played within this game is a full experience all on its own, which is only enhanced by the ways that the gameplay ties into the built-in web browser and messaging apps, which are used to solve puzzles and piece together the cryptic mystery surrounding the haunted game.”
    • “ Dual-world gameplay: the transition between the computer game and the real world is brilliantly executed, creating an immersive experience that keeps you guessing.”
    • “It kind of starts to drag in the second half; there are a few too many gameplay switches after the point where things really break bad.”
    • “By far the worst mechanic was the melee weapon, as attacking felt clunky due to the startup animation of getting your weapon, making it very hard to time attacks and punish whiffs from enemies without getting hit.”
    • “The pacing can be a total slog and some of the mechanics are frustrating to navigate around.”

  • atmosphere

    33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is widely praised for its deeply immersive and genuinely spooky atmosphere that builds tension without relying on cheap jump scares, effectively combining psychological horror, creepy visuals, and well-crafted sound design. Many players highlight its unique blend of retro aesthetics and modern horror elements, creating a haunting, oppressive environment that lingers well beyond gameplay. While a few critique certain out-of-game sections or pacing elements, the overwhelming consensus is that the atmosphere is a standout, core strength of the experience.

    • “It is one of the scariest games I have ever played, and does so in an atmospheric way that doesn't rely on cheap tricks to horrify you.”
    • “I have been a huge horror nerd since forever, and while a well-made jumpscare will get anyone and be appreciated, this game manages to deliver much stronger scares both through pure atmosphere and through the specific way the horror is delivered when monsters are shown.”
    • “The atmosphere, both in the main game and in-game game, are tremendous, and it all comes together to really immerse you in the feeling of playing a spooky game alone, at night, constantly looking over your shoulder uneasily.”

  • graphics

    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of Among Ashes are praised for their nostalgic, low-poly PS1-style art direction that effectively captures the essence of early 2000s survival horror, enhancing the game's atmosphere and story. While not impressive by modern standards, the stylized visuals, cozy polygonal design, and well-mixed aesthetic are consistently appreciated for complementing the game's old-school horror vibe and level design. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the immersive and eerie experience, resonating well with fans of classic horror games like Silent Hill and Resident Evil.

    • “Scary but interesting horror game with a lovely retro art style that will bring you back to the early 2000s.”
    • “Amazing game, I love Resident Evil style and PS1 graphics, so this game did everything perfectly.”
    • “Level design and graphics are not amazing by modern standards, but in the chosen setting they perform excellently.”
    • “And it's all wrapped up in a cozy polygonal blanket of PS1 graphics.”
    • “The graphics were very well stylized, the sound was well mixed for the aesthetic, the combat worked as you'd expect a game from 2001 to work.”

  • music

    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music effectively adapts to the different game worlds, enhancing atmosphere and emotional impact; however, some users noted issues with a music box mechanic and a sudden shift to a style reminiscent of Akira Yamaoka's work towards the end.

    • “The soundtrack adapts to each world, enhancing the atmosphere and emotional impact.”
    • “After finishing the minigame in Derek's bedroom, you get a combination to open a music box.”
    • “When you interact with it, a music box in the 'real world' should start playing.”
    • “When you interact with the music box in the 'real world,' it should start playing, but in my case, the lighter never appeared, and the music box despawned when I got close.”
    • “Why does the music shift to something in the style of Akira Yamaoka at the end of the game when all of the music up to that point was different?”
    • “After finishing the minigame in Derek's bedroom, you get a combination to open a music box, but the expected music box interaction fails to trigger properly.”

  • emotional

    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highly immersive and intense, successfully delivering genuine scares and deep emotional resonance. Players appreciate the well-crafted characters, rich narratives, and thought-provoking themes that evoke strong feelings and keep them engaged throughout. The adaptive soundtrack further enhances the emotional depth and atmosphere.

    • “Genuinely super terrifying and I loved the scares, really made me feel immersed in the story and want to play more, even though I was freaked out.”
    • “Both narratives are equally rich, with well-crafted characters and emotional depth that keep you hooked from start to finish.”
    • “Narrative excellence: the storytelling is top-notch in both worlds, with plenty of twists, heartfelt moments, and thought-provoking themes that explore identity, resilience, and the consequences of our choices.”

  • stability

    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game exhibits occasional bugs and glitches, particularly with the camera during certain sequences, which may also cause motion sickness for some players. Overall, stability issues somewhat detract from the experience.

    • “The game kinda lost me and got a bit buggy in the end.”
    • “Also, motion sickness warning, the game has you get up from your computer a few times and the camera tends to be a bit buggy when it does.”
    • “During my playthrough, I encountered a few glitches.”

  • optimization

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is well-optimized, with clear attention from the developer to ensure smooth performance for all players.

  • humor

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor includes subtle references to various franchises that are easily recognized by general audiences, but fans will find them even more amusing, enhancing the comedic experience.

  • replayability

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    While some users note a seemingly low replay value, the game is still highly recommended for fans of the Silent Hill 2 remake seeking a similar experience.

  • grinding

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect is well-balanced and engaging, with smooth transitions between the player bedroom, in-game games, and chat, ensuring the experience never feels tedious.

  • monetization

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization is well-executed, showing a genuine understanding of the genre's fans rather than feeling like a soulless cash grab.

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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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3h Median play time
3h Average play time
3-3h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Among Ashes is a survival shooter game with horror, mystery and violence themes.

Among Ashes is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, Steam Deck and others.

On average players spend around 3 hours playing Among Ashes.

Among Ashes was released on December 9, 2024.

Among Ashes was developed by Rat Cliff Games.

Among Ashes has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked Among Ashes for its story but disliked it for its music.

Among Ashes is a single player game.

Similar games include Tormented Souls, Lost in Vivo, Hollowbody, Heartworm, Fear the Spotlight and others.