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As Dusk Falls

As Dusk Falls exceeds all expectations and is a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining experience for single and multiplayer alike.
As Dusk Falls Game Cover
84%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
grinding, stability
88% User Score Based on 1,251 reviews
Critic Score 86%Based on 41 reviews

Platforms

Xbox Series X|SPCXbox Game PassPlaystation 5CloudPlaystation 4Xbox OneXbox Cloud GamingXboxWindowsPlayStation
As Dusk Falls Game Cover

About

As Dusk Falls is a single player and multiplayer casual role playing game with drama, mystery and thriller themes. It was developed by INTERIOR/NIGHT and was released on July 19, 2022. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

"As Dusk Falls" is a narrative-driven game that follows the lives of two families over the course of thirty years, beginning in 1998. The game features a unique art style and challenging moral choices that can significantly impact the story. Players will explore themes of survival, family, and morality in this emotional journey.

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88%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,251 reviews
story529 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions

  • Engaging and emotionally charged story that explores themes of family, trauma, and moral dilemmas.
  • Unique art style that combines hand-painted visuals with still images, creating a distinctive aesthetic.
  • Choices genuinely matter, leading to different outcomes and encouraging multiple playthroughs.
  • The game ends on a cliffhanger, leaving many plot threads unresolved and feeling incomplete.
  • Some characters and their motivations feel underdeveloped or clichéd, impacting overall immersion.
  • Lack of gameplay mechanics beyond dialogue choices and quick-time events may disappoint players seeking more interactivity.
  • story
    1,195 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "As Dusk Falls" is widely praised for its emotional depth and engaging narrative, exploring themes of family, guilt, and the consequences of choices. Players appreciate the branching paths that allow for significant decision-making, although some express frustration over unresolved plot threads and a cliffhanger ending that leaves the story feeling incomplete. Overall, the game is recommended for fans of narrative-driven experiences, despite its limitations in gameplay mechanics and pacing.

    • “The story is grounded, full of choices, and carries some real emotional weight.”
    • “As dusk falls tells its story through the lens of ordinary people making impossible decisions, grounding its drama not in spectacle, but in the raw psychology of its characters.”
    • “The story is amazing, the fact that your choices make a huge impact helps immerse you into their world.”
    • “The last section fell apart and the story isn't finished and may never be.”
    • “Avoid, the game is incomplete; the devs are shady. They advertised a 30-year-old story but provided about 15 instead.”
    • “The story in book one is really bad and book two is quite weak... and there's no ending... the game ends in a cliffhanger making it all pointless...”
  • graphics
    278 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of *As Dusk Falls* feature a unique art style that blends hand-painted visuals with a comic book-like presentation, which some players find immersive and engaging, while others consider it jarring and reminiscent of a slideshow. Although the still-frame approach can obscure character interactions and disrupt immersion during action sequences, many players appreciate the distinctiveness and emotional depth it brings to the storytelling. Overall, the visuals may take some getting used to, but they ultimately contribute to a memorable narrative experience.

    • “The unique art style and strong voice acting bring every character to life.”
    • “The art style, reminiscent of motion comics, adds to its unique identity and is surprisingly effective in conveying tension and intimacy.”
    • “The game’s unique art style, which combines hand-painted visuals with motion capture, creates a striking and memorable experience.”
    • “The visuals aren't impressive either since it's basically just PNGs passing by, so I wonder why this game was so huge?”
    • “The art style is fine, but the animations (or lack of, there's just jumps between stills) is really bad.”
    • “I see that the art style is a design choice, but frankly it just comes across as lazy, and both my partner and I quickly decided it was unplayable.”
  • gameplay
    124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "As Dusk Falls" is primarily focused on narrative and character-driven choices, resembling an interactive movie rather than a traditional game, with minimal mechanics such as quick-time events (QTEs) and dialogue selections. While this design enhances accessibility and allows for emotional engagement, some players may find the gameplay too simplistic and lacking in depth, leading to a more passive experience. Overall, the game is best suited for those who prioritize storytelling over complex gameplay mechanics.

    • “Rather than relying on traditional mechanics, it delivers an emotionally charged experience driven entirely by choice, consequence, and character.”
    • “It’s a clever innovation that broadens the appeal of narrative-driven games, making them accessible even to those unfamiliar with traditional gameplay mechanics.”
    • “While 'As Dusk Falls' prioritizes storytelling over traditional gameplay mechanics, the interactive elements serve to enhance the narrative experience.”
    • “The product's gameplay feels more like an interactive movie than a game.”
    • “The only gameplay elements, apart from the choices, are some quick-time events (QTEs) that, in my opinion, are quite useless and do not really add anything to the scenes.”
    • “While the story is undeniably compelling and the characters evoke genuine emotion, the gameplay often feels minimalistic to a fault.”
  • music
    68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the exceptional soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere and storytelling. Standout tracks, such as the main menu theme "Hole in the Middle" by Emily Jane White, are highlighted for their emotional impact and fitting tone. Overall, the combination of great music, impressive voice acting, and compelling narratives contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience.

    • “Combined with the cinematic soundtrack and exceptional voice acting, the presentation creates an atmosphere that feels both stylized and authentic.”
    • “The soundtrack is excellent, the main menu theme, 'Hole in the Middle' by Emily Jane White, is a particular standout.”
    • “The soundtrack complements the story perfectly, enhancing the mood and atmosphere throughout the game.”
    • “Cons: theme song sucks”
    • “The music in this game is a pop (do kids still say that nowadays) either way.”
    • “While the art can be distracting, the story and soundtrack more than make up for it.”
  • emotional
    66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "As Dusk Falls" is widely praised for its depth and impact, with players noting the game's ability to evoke strong feelings through its narrative choices and character development. While some found the emotional scenes powerful and engaging, others felt that certain elements, such as pacing and character treatment, detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the game is recognized as a compelling interactive drama that successfully merges storytelling with emotional resonance, making it a memorable experience for those who appreciate narrative-driven gameplay.

    • “An emotionally moving game where every choice matters.”
    • “The emotional impact of these moments lingers long after the credits roll, and the game encourages players to consider the ripple effects of every judgment call they make.”
    • “As dusk falls is a masterclass in interactive storytelling, offering a deeply human and emotionally resonant experience that transcends the boundaries of traditional gaming.”
  • replayability
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability due to its branching narratives and multiple decision paths, allowing players to explore various outcomes and character fates. While many players appreciate the engaging story and character development, some express frustration over the inability to skip cutscenes and the game's relatively short length, which can detract from the replay experience. Overall, it is considered widely replayable, especially for those who enjoy narrative-driven gameplay.

    • “There are plenty of decisions to make and several different paths you can take, which adds to the replayability and keeps the experience fresh.”
    • “The branching storylines provide exceptional replay value, allowing players to experience multiple engaging pathways.”
    • “Length-wise, you can complete your first round in 6-7 hours, and it has great replayability if you want to discover different routes or fates from the characters, that are recorded in a timeline chart that you can check any time and replay at different points in each chapter to change decisions.”
    • “It undermines the appeal of replayability in a game explicitly built around branching narratives.”
    • “For me personally, there's no replayability because I already got my desired outcome for the two likable characters, and I really can't be bothered to see what else might happen to all those other dreadful people.”
    • “When the actual outcome of the plot wouldn't change, I don't see the replay value.”
  • optimization
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance and lack of bugs, while others report significant issues such as stuttering sound and crashes, particularly when using high texture packs. Despite its 2D design suggesting it should run smoothly, several users experienced poor performance and advanced hardware requirements that hindered gameplay. Overall, while the voice acting and emotional storytelling are highlighted as strengths, the optimization concerns detract from the overall experience for many players.

    • “The game is well-optimized, with no bugs encountered during my playthrough.”
    • “The combination of excellent writing, engaging voice performances, and impactful choices makes for a truly immersive experience.”
    • “Voice acting is top-notch, with performances that breathe life into the characters.”
    • “Game is running at 1 fps, not because of poor optimization but choice of visual style: you see a slideshow of moving character sprites across 2.5D/3D backgrounds.”
    • “The only beef I have for a game like this is the advanced hardware requirements and bad performance; even just moving the mouse cursor is slow.”
    • “Terrible PC optimization, repeatedly kept crashing once I installed the high texture pack. This issue should have been addressed after release as I can see plenty of similar complaints from the community.”
  • atmosphere
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its unique graphics, immersive storytelling, and exceptional soundtrack, which together create a stylized yet authentic experience. Players appreciate the cinematic feel enhanced by strong voice acting and subdued tunes, contributing to an engaging and emotional environment. Overall, the game is noted for its professional presentation and the ability to draw players into its world seamlessly.

    • “Combined with the cinematic soundtrack and exceptional voice acting, the presentation creates an atmosphere that feels both stylized and authentic.”
    • “The soundtrack complements the story perfectly, enhancing the mood and atmosphere throughout the game.”
    • “I found the story stood strong, but the visuals threatened to unravel the atmosphere.”
    • “A dive into the USA atmosphere is guaranteed.”
    • “The static, comic-book-like visuals give the story a cinematic feel, adding emotion and atmosphere to every scene.”
  • character development
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, character development in the game is highly praised, with many reviewers noting strong emotional connections to the characters and well-crafted designs that enhance their struggles and motivations. While some highlight excellent narrative depth and voice acting, a few critiques mention inconsistencies in the script and character development that detract from the experience.

    • “The character development is great; you really feel strongly for each character.”
    • “The character designs are well thought out, making it easy to connect with their struggles and motivations.”
    • “The character development is excellent, with each character revealing different sides as the story unfolds.”
    • “I dig the art style & the voice acting was top-notch... but the underwhelming script and the poor character development killed the whole experience for me.”
  • grinding
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players frequently note that grinding in the game can be excessively tedious, particularly due to the inability to skip cutscenes during replays, which prolongs the experience unnecessarily. This repetitive nature detracts from the overall enjoyment, making some sections feel laborious and drawn out.

    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It's both sad and ironic that all the previous games that I played: Fahrenheit, Heavy Rain (those two games from the same developer, I believe) had the same problems - decent/good start but then you get to the end it becomes very tedious and horrible.”
    • “This makes replays very tedious since you're going to sit through hours of content you've already seen before.”
  • stability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of "As Dusk Falls" has been criticized for frequent visual glitches, overlapping audio, and significant freezing issues, particularly when starting the game. While the graphics and aesthetic are praised, these technical problems detract from the overall experience, making it frustrating for players.

    • “As Dusk Falls is a PowerPoint presentation that has had visual glitches, overlapping audio, and a co-op mode that should've been called 'lottery'.”
    • “Got into the main menu once, now it freezes every single time upon displaying the Xbox logo.”
    • “Despite some occasional visual glitches, and the use of rather heavy and sensitive themes, the game's captivating story and immersive experience will keep you rooting for the characters and engaged until the very end.”
  • humor
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its ability to create funny moments, particularly through allowing players to choose "the worst/risky" options, which often leads to unexpected and amusing outcomes.

    • “Definitely had a few funny moments because of letting people choose the worst or riskiest options.”
    • “Funny”
    • “The humor in this game is spot on and keeps you laughing throughout.”
  • monetization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Forza Horizon 4 features unskippable video advertisements for its DLC, which remain in the game despite it no longer being available for purchase. This aspect has drawn criticism from users for its intrusive nature.

    • “Forza Horizon 4 had in-game unskippable video advertisements for their DLC, which I'm sure haven't been removed from the game even though you can't even purchase the game, let alone the DLC, anymore.”
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6h Median play time
8h Average play time
6-12h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs
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As Dusk Falls is a casual role playing game with drama, mystery and thriller themes.

As Dusk Falls is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 8 hours playing As Dusk Falls.

As Dusk Falls was released on July 19, 2022.

As Dusk Falls was developed by INTERIOR/NIGHT.

As Dusk Falls has received positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

As Dusk Falls is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include The Wolf Among Us, Beyond: Two Souls, Detroit: Become Human, Life is Strange, Lacuna and others.