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

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49%

Audience ScoreBased on 300 reviews

humor118 positive mentions

graphics24 negative mentions

The game offers a unique B-movie atmosphere with dark humor and entertaining references.
Some players found the game to be a fun and enjoyable experience, especially for fans of trashy horror.
The inclusion of the full movie 'Night of the Living Dead' in-game adds value for fans of classic horror films.

The game is plagued by numerous bugs, crashes, and poor performance, making it frustrating to play.
There is a lack of basic options, requiring players to edit configuration files to change controls.
Many players found the voice acting and overall production quality to be subpar, detracting from the experience.

humor
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
95%
5%
The humor in the game is highly divisive, with some players finding it dark, edgy, and entertaining, while others describe it as cringe-worthy, annoying, and lacking in cleverness. Many reviews highlight a mix of bad jokes, pop culture references, and a self-aware "B-movie" style that appeals to niche audiences, particularly those who appreciate absurdity and dark humor. However, the overall reception suggests that the humor may not resonate with everyone, especially those unfamiliar with its specific cultural references or who prefer more sophisticated comedy.
- “It's really funny, and really kitschy and indie, but that's about all this game has going for it.”
- “The reward is a mixture of excellent jokes, insane easter eggs, funny references, a trashy b-movie storyline, shameless backtracking, dozens of 'wtf' moments, and even more trashy cutscenes.”
- “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
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
44%
35%
The graphics of "Into the Dark" are widely criticized for being outdated and subpar, often likened to visuals from the late 1990s. While some reviewers acknowledge the attention to detail in the art design and the functional aspects of the graphics engine, the overall aesthetic is deemed unattractive, with complaints about dark filters and poor texture quality. Despite a few redeeming qualities, such as a consistent art style, the consensus is that the graphics do not meet modern gaming standards and detract from the overall experience.
- “But 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, also most of the visuals contribute to their respective scene - rooms that should be ugly are ugly as hell, 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 it's from 1994.”
- “Into the dark features completely antiquated visuals.”
gameplay
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
71%
16%
The gameplay of "Into the Dark: Ultimate Trash Edition" has been widely criticized for its outdated mechanics, poor controls, and frustrating enemy interactions, leading to a lack of enjoyment and clarity in progression. While some players found humor and nostalgia in its design, the overall experience is marred by vague objectives and subpar graphics, resulting in a gameplay score averaging around 3/10. Despite a few interesting puzzles, the game struggles to deliver a cohesive and engaging experience, often feeling more like a chore than entertainment.
- “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.”
- “When I switch to my gaming laptop, I get super lethal soldiers chasing me around using elevators and hideouts, beautiful ragdolling, smooth gameplay...”
- “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 graphics look like they are from 1998 and the gameplay is like it's from 1994.”
- “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
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
59%
8%
The story of "Into the Dark" has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it poorly executed and difficult to follow, despite a promising start involving insurance companies and private investigators. While some appreciate its unique and entertaining elements, including humor and bizarre references, others criticize it for being more of a walking simulator with weak combat and a lack of engaging narrative. Overall, the game attempts to blend a grim storyline with comedic undertones, but its execution leaves many players unsatisfied.
- “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.”
- “It's no longer just another shooter, but a story that exists and unfolds inside the most convincing, elaborate, and artistic game world ever conceived.”
- “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.”
- “Tldr: mostly a walking simulator, with key fetching, weak combat and dubious storyline.”
- “Even if I’d make a sustained effort to explain the story and its characters to you (something I rarely do, since I despise spoilers), I have to confess that I had a hard time understanding this game as well.”
stability
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is severely criticized, with numerous reports of crashes, glitches, and poor hit detection, making it an overwhelmingly frustrating experience for players. While some acknowledge that certain visual issues may be intentional, the overall consensus is that the game is excessively buggy and unpolished, detracting significantly from enjoyment. Many reviewers recommend avoiding the game due to its instability and lack of quality.
- “Game crashed more times than I could count, plenty of glitches and very bad hit detection (some things just instant kill you).”
- “Into the dark hands you a buggy, ugly, frustrating mess, then slyly winks and says 'hey, what a piece of shit, huh?' It's not ingratiating, it's insulting.”
- “An absolutely miserable, brainless buggy slog from beginning to end.”
music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
55%
27%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it consists of repetitive loops that can become annoying after a short time. While some appreciate the atmospheric qualities and specific tracks, like "Katusha," others criticize the overall audio quality, including loud sound effects and quiet dialogue. Overall, the soundtrack's limited variety detracts from the experience for many players.
- “Dark places, lit spots + spooky music = great atmosphere.”
- “The music grabbed me by the throat and has not let go as soon as I heard the first notes at the intro scene.”
- “The music was great.”
- “Music seemed to be a 20 second loop, and the pig squeal for the enemies was obnoxious as hell.”
- “The audio is terrible; 'music' and background sound effects are loud, but dialogue is really quiet and there are no adjustments for that.”
- “The soundtrack consists of one Midnight Syndicate track on a loop and a never-ending shuffle of footsteps, regardless of whether or not you're moving.”
atmosphere
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
59%
14%
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 many players appreciate, despite some feeling it falls short of its potential. The combination of spooky music, well-crafted environments, and a mix of seriousness and cheesiness creates an engaging experience, though technical issues and a lack of polish are noted. Overall, the game's atmosphere is highlighted as a strong point, contributing significantly to its entertainment value.
- “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.”
- “The game has great atmosphere which is greatly emphasized; it really feels great.”
- “They went at least half-way in creating the B-movie atmosphere; they were going far but somewhat fell short.”
- “Atmosphere 3/10”
- “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.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is criticized for being poorly optimized, resulting in a stuttering and disjointed experience that detracts from its overall quality. Despite the apparent effort put into its development, many users find it fundamentally flawed in terms of performance.
- “Not part of the 'so bad it's good' family, the game is plain bad and poorly optimized.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers a unique form of replayability, as players may find enjoyment in replaying it even after setbacks like crashes, which some view as a feature rather than a flaw. Despite its self-deprecating humor and perceived low quality, it remains more engaging than many other titles available on Steam.
- “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
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game increasingly tedious, with no redeeming qualities that make it enjoyable or entertaining over time.
- “The game never becomes 'so bad, it's good'; it just gets more and more tedious as you play.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by players who note its ability to evoke strong feelings, with many expressing a deep connection to the characters and narrative. The storytelling effectively engages players, making them feel invested in the outcomes and experiences of the characters. Overall, the game successfully delivers an impactful emotional experience without revealing key plot details.
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for relying on misleading advertising and insufficient information, leading players to feel misled about the game's true nature. Users emphasize the importance of thorough research before engaging with unknown titles to avoid disappointment.