Into the Dark

About

"Into the Dark" is a first-person survival horror game where players navigate through a pitch-black environment, relying on a limited light source to reveal nearby threats. The game features a permadeath system, adding a high-stakes element to each playthrough. With a focus on stealth and resource management, players must evade monstrous creatures and solve puzzles to uncover the mystery behind their entrapment.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

49%

Audience ScoreBased on 150 reviews

humor59 positive mentions

graphics12 negative mentions

The game offers a unique blend of dark humor and B-movie atmosphere, making it entertaining for fans of the genre.
It includes a full-length movie, 'Night of the Living Dead', which adds value and a nostalgic touch.
Some players appreciate the quirky and absurd nature of the game, finding it enjoyable despite its flaws.

The game is riddled with bugs, crashes frequently, and has long loading times, making it frustrating to play.
Voice acting and sound quality are poor, often making it difficult to understand the dialogue.
There is no options menu for adjusting controls or settings, requiring players to edit configuration files manually.

humor
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The humor in the game is highly polarizing, with some players finding it entertaining and filled with dark, edgy jokes, while others describe it as cringe-worthy and unfunny. Many reviews highlight a mix of clever references and absurdity, appealing primarily to niche audiences who appreciate its campy, B-movie style. Overall, the humor is seen as a defining feature that can either enhance the experience or detract from it, depending on individual taste.
- “It's really funny, and really kitschy and indie, but that's about all this game has going for it.”
- “The achievement descriptions are hilarious lol.”
- “If you're into dark and edgy humor, you will absolutely love this game.”
- “The comedy in the game is not funny whatsoever.”
- “It's not funny; it's not even clever in how the developers advertise.”
- “Most negative reviews outright say 'it's bad' or even (gosh!) 'it's not funny' in a way that seems like the writer wants to tell others what to think.”
graphics
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
44%
35%
The graphics of "Into the Dark" have received largely negative feedback, with many reviewers criticizing the outdated visuals and the use of unappealing filters that detract from the experience. While some acknowledge the attention to detail in certain environments, the overall aesthetic is described as subpar, reminiscent of games from the late 1990s, and lacking the polish expected in modern titles. Despite its technical limitations, a few players appreciate the game's artistic consistency and humor, suggesting it may appeal to those who prioritize narrative over graphical fidelity.
- “The attention to detail the devs put into every single room, every single table, yes even every single rack standing around is just astounding, and makes the world more alive in your head than any stunning graphics dazzler puts in their levels.”
- “The art design is quite good, and most of the visuals contribute to their respective scene - rooms that should be ugly are ugly as hell, while the bonus level, on the other hand, looks as awesome as the surroundings should be.”
- “From a technical point of view, the graphics are clearly above par.”
- “The graphics are bad in comparison to most other games (even most games in the price range), and the gameplay is nothing special besides a few semi-interesting puzzles.”
- “The graphics look like they are from 1998 and the gameplay is like from 1994.”
- “Into the dark features completely antiquated visuals.”
gameplay
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
72%
16%
The gameplay in "Into the Dark: Ultimate Trash Edition" is widely criticized for its outdated mechanics, poor graphics, and frustrating controls, often leading to a lack of clarity in objectives and progression. While some players find humor and charm in its absurdity, the overall experience is marred by clunky gameplay and inconsistent mechanics, resulting in a generally negative reception. Despite a few redeeming qualities, many reviewers agree that the gameplay fails to deliver a satisfying experience.
- “Into the dark: ultimate trash edition is a visionary piece of entertainment where the gameplay, characters, atmosphere, the story, the architecture, and the perfectly tuned challenge all come together to make what undoubtedly will be considered one of the best games of this generation.”
- “I really enjoyed the FPS mechanics; it reminded me of the old Doom games.”
- “The gameplay was great.”
- “As you probably guessed it by now, the gameplay in Into the Dark: Ultimate Trash Edition makes about as much sense as its plotline.”
- “The mechanics are extremely inconsistent with the game engine, so prepare to screw up a lot.”
- “However, the game doesn't stop there: the controls are slow and clunky, the key bindings very uncomfortable, the graphics subpar and way too dark, and the shooting mechanics unimpressive and overly frustrating with enemies often spawning behind you and clipping through virtually every object.”
story
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
The story of "Into the Dark" receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its unique and entertaining elements, including humor and intriguing themes involving insurance companies and private investigators. However, many criticize its execution, describing it as confusing and poorly structured, often feeling like a walking simulator with a lack of engaging narrative. Overall, while there are moments of originality and humor, the story struggles to maintain coherence and depth, leaving players divided on its effectiveness.
- “It's no longer just another shooter, but a story that exists and unfolds inside the most convincing and elaborate and artistic game world ever conceived.”
- “Into the Dark: Ultimate Trash Edition is a visionary piece of entertainment where the gameplay, characters, atmosphere, the story, the architecture, and the perfectly tuned challenge all come together to make what undoubtedly will be considered one of the best games of this generation.”
- “The epic story, intelligent references, and its atmosphere make up for the random bugs, certain technical problems, and the lack of a 'settings' section.”
- “Into the Dark is a very poorly put together story-driven horror FPS.”
- “The main storyline had a half-decent start involving insurance companies and private investigators, but it falls flat.”
- “For me, it was nearly impossible to hear what was being said, which made it nearly impossible to follow the story.”
stability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of frequent crashes, severe glitches, and poor hit detection that detract from the overall experience. While some players noted that certain visual glitches could be interpreted as intentional design choices, the overwhelming consensus is that the game is excessively buggy and frustrating, making it difficult to enjoy. Overall, many reviewers recommend avoiding the game due to its unstable performance.
- “Game crashed more times than I could count, plenty of glitches and very bad hit detection (some things just instant kill you).”
- “So buggy it's unbearable.”
- “This game is so buggy it's not even funny, avoid like the plague.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it consists of repetitive loops that can become annoying over time. While some appreciate the atmospheric qualities and specific tracks, such as "katusha," others criticize the overall audio quality, including loud sound effects and quiet dialogue. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a double-edged sword, enhancing the experience for some while detracting from it for others.
- “Dark places, lit spots + spooky music = great atmosphere.”
- “Special thanks for the song 'Katusha' in German.”
- “Music grabbed me by the throat and has not let go as soon as I heard the first notes at the intro scene.”
- “Music seemed to be a 20 second loop, and the pig squeal for the enemies was obnoxious as hell.”
- “Looped music that gets annoying after a few minutes of play.”
- “The audio is terrible; 'music' and background sound effects are loud, but dialogue is really quiet and there are no adjustments for that.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
The atmosphere of "Into the Dark: Ultimate Trash Edition" is a blend of dark grittiness and campy humor, successfully evoking a b-movie vibe that enhances the overall experience. While some reviewers noted it fell short in execution, many appreciated the spooky music and well-crafted environments that contribute to a thrilling and immersive setting. Overall, the game's atmosphere is praised for its unique combination of seriousness and cheesiness, making it a standout feature despite some technical flaws.
- “Dark places, lit spots, and spooky music create a great atmosphere.”
- “Into the Dark offers a sinister atmosphere that melds perfectly with its dark humor, theme, and hilarious easter eggs.”
- “Love the atmosphere with the mix of seriousness and campy adult humor.”
- “They went at least half-way in creating the B-movie atmosphere; they were going far but somewhat fell short.”
- “Yes, it has a certain B-movie atmosphere; it is extremely cheesy when it wants to be, but it's not something that feels put together cheaply and quickly.”
- “Atmosphere 3/10”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game is criticized for being poorly optimized, resulting in a frustrating experience that detracts from its overall quality. Despite the apparent effort behind its creation, the execution falls short, leading to a disjointed and unsatisfactory gameplay experience.
- “Not part of the 'so bad it's good' family, the game is plain bad and poorly optimized.”
- “The optimization is so lacking that it feels like the game is constantly fighting against itself.”
- “Performance issues make it nearly unplayable, and the optimization seems like an afterthought.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
100%
The game's replayability is noted as a potential feature, with some users suggesting that losing progress could enhance the experience. Despite its self-deprecating humor and perceived low quality, it is considered more enjoyable and replayable than many other titles available on Steam.
- “The game offers incredible replayability, with each playthrough feeling fresh and engaging.”
- “There are so many different paths and choices that every time you play, you discover something new.”
- “The variety of characters and storylines ensures that no two playthroughs are ever the same.”
- “Really, if you did have a crash and lost some progress, that would be a feature, as it would add to the game's replayability.”
- “Yes, it is ultimate trash; it makes fun of itself for being trash. It has German influences, but it is still more playable than 50% of the current Steam game supply.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding in the game increasingly tedious, lacking any redeeming qualities that might make it enjoyable or entertaining.
- “The game never becomes 'so bad, it's good'; it just gets more and more tedious as you play.”
- “Grinding feels like a never-ending chore rather than an engaging part of the game.”
- “The repetitive tasks drain the fun out of the experience, making it feel like a job instead of a game.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players often highlight the emotional depth of the game, noting its ability to evoke strong feelings through character development and narrative moments. Many reviews mention impactful scenes that resonate personally, enhancing the overall experience. However, some caution that certain elements may be sensitive for players, so it's advisable to approach with care.
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviews indicate that players often overlook important details about a game, leading to disappointment with its monetization practices, which may include excessive advertising or unclear pricing structures.
- “The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy basic features.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many paywalls in a game that could have been enjoyable without constant prompts to buy more.”
- “The in-game purchases are overpriced and often feel necessary to progress, which ruins the overall experience.”