Penumbra: Black Plague

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Penumbra: Black Plague is a single player survival action adventure game with horror and science fiction themes. It was developed by Frictional Games and was released on January 23, 2009. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Penumbra: Black Plague is a single-player horror stealth game with a beautiful, yet terrifying story. Players control Philip, who must solve puzzles and fight off psychological terrors while battling enemies in a dense and atmospheric environment. The game features ingenious gameplay, a fantastic soundtrack, but also includes plenty of bugs and grinding. Despite some flaws, the game provides an immersive and wholesome horror experience.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,562 reviews

story265 positive mentions

stability15 negative mentions

Significant improvement over the first game with better puzzles and a more engaging story.
The atmosphere is tense and creepy, enhanced by the removal of combat, forcing players to rely on stealth.
Clarence adds a unique dynamic to the game with his dark humor, providing comic relief amidst the horror.

Some puzzles can be overly convoluted and frustrating, requiring external help to solve.
The enemy AI is not very challenging, making encounters less scary as they can often be easily avoided.
The ending feels rushed and leaves many questions unanswered, which may disappoint some players.

story
706 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
59%
3%
The story of "Penumbra: Black Plague" continues directly from its predecessor, "Overture," delving deeper into the protagonist Philip's psychological struggles and the mysteries surrounding a sinister research facility. While some players appreciate the atmospheric storytelling and character development, others criticize the narrative for being convoluted or disjointed, particularly towards the end. Overall, the game is noted for its engaging plot twists and immersive atmosphere, making it a compelling experience for fans of horror and narrative-driven gameplay.
- “The story is expanded upon in interesting ways, the stalking and chase sequences are far superior to Overture, and as a whole the game just feels great to play.”
- “Penumbra: Black Plague is a good conclusion to the story with absolutely amazing atmospheres, accompanied by subtly varied music and many atmospheric soundtracks that match the environment, offering a tedious and exciting gaming experience with numerous puzzles with lots of mystery and strangeness.”
- “The story unfolds seamlessly, and the scares are turned up a notch.”
- “Well… they are wrong, because as [spoiler]the game’s plot introduces us to Clarence (and even Amabel if we’re 100% honest)[/spoiler], we get swarmed in a rather clumsy and straight-up corny writing, which used to be popular in the early 00s, I believe, but it aged quite terribly.”
- “The story is really simple with basic characters you'll likely forget; it does wrap up everything it set up from Overture, but there are a billion games with similar stories that are better.”
- “The story takes a weird nosedive by introducing some characters the game could have done without.”
atmosphere
257 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
44%
5%
The atmosphere in "Penumbra: Black Plague" is widely praised for its chilling and immersive qualities, effectively creating a sense of dread and tension throughout the game. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke psychological horror through its oppressive environments, sound design, and narrative depth, making it a standout experience in the horror genre. However, some criticisms arise regarding the impact of certain character voices and humor on the overall atmosphere, suggesting that while the game excels in creating a haunting ambiance, it occasionally falters in maintaining that intensity.
- “The underground facility feels tangible and oppressive, with weathered surfaces, flickering lights, and ominous shadows creating an ever-present atmosphere of decay and danger.”
- “The seamless integration of audio and visual elements contributes to a cohesive experience that prioritizes atmosphere and storytelling above all else.”
- “Black Plague is the golden crown of the series and shows how masterful Frictional are at creating unsettling atmosphere.”
- “There are more light spaces, which combined with the absence of any frightening atmosphere is unforgivable for a horror.”
- “The tone is a horrible mismatch, and the atmosphere suffers as a result.”
- “The atmosphere is much more tense and a lot more scary due to new enemies and sound effects, I really liked the introduction of the tuurngait, who is a lot more horrific than the savage dogs from the first episode.”
gameplay
215 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
71%
7%
The gameplay of *Penumbra: Black Plague* emphasizes stealth and puzzle-solving, moving away from combat mechanics to create a more immersive and psychologically tense experience. Players navigate a dark, atmospheric environment filled with intricate puzzles and limited resources, enhancing the horror elements while maintaining responsive controls and intuitive interactions. Overall, the game is praised for its refined mechanics and engaging narrative, though some players note that the removal of combat may detract from the tension for those who enjoyed the previous installment's combat system.
- “Gone are the awkward combat mechanics, replaced by pure psychological tension, tighter pacing, and a story that digs far deeper under your skin.”
- “The lighting is particularly effective, not just for setting the mood but also as a gameplay mechanic, forcing players to navigate using limited illumination and emphasizing stealth.”
- “Penumbra: Black Plague removes all of the cumbersome, clunky combat from the original game and instead replaces it with more stealth-based gameplay.”
- “Where Black Plague loses me is the fact that they tossed out their combat mechanics present in Overture.”
- “The biggest thing that is different gameplay-wise is you can’t kill the enemies like the first game, so your only option is running and hiding.”
- “It abandons the combat mechanic from the previous game, switching to a focus on evasion, which makes every encounter feel overwhelmingly stressful.”
graphics
125 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
65%
15%
The graphics of "Penumbra: Black Plague" are generally considered dated by modern standards, yet they effectively convey a gritty and immersive atmosphere that enhances the horror experience. While some players note improvements in lighting and texture quality compared to its predecessor, "Overture," many still find the visuals to be a mix of charm and frustration due to occasional glitches and inconsistencies. Overall, the game's aesthetic successfully contributes to its tense and eerie ambiance, making it a worthwhile experience despite its graphical shortcomings.
- “Visually, Black Plague maintains a gritty, realistic aesthetic that complements its dark and claustrophobic setting.”
- “The graphics, while not cutting-edge by today's standards, effectively convey the grim atmosphere and gritty textures of the underground facility.”
- “The game has an amazing atmosphere, very interesting plot, and a great audio and graphic setting.”
- “The graphics are really dated at this point, but it didn't stop the scares from coming thick and fast.”
- “Graphics are pretty bad.”
- “By modern standards, the game is a bit graphically dated, but the writing and the ambience were more than enough to keep me fully immersed.”
music
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
65%
5%
The music in "Penumbra: Black Plague" is widely praised for its haunting and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the game's tension and sense of unease. Composed by Mikko Tarmia, the soundtrack features ambient pieces that evoke a chilling horror vibe reminiscent of classic films, while the sound design complements the gameplay by creating an immersive experience. Although some players noted the music could be overwhelming at times, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's eerie atmosphere and emotional impact.
- “The haunting soundtrack subtly underscores the sense of unease, never overpowering but always present to enhance the tension.”
- “Without glossing over the soundtrack composed by Mikko Tarmia, it strives to evoke the proper vibe of out-of-this-world strangeness with ambient pieces that recall the heyday of horror films from the 80s and 90s.”
- “The ambient sounds, combined with the minimalistic musical score, effectively contribute to the overall sense of foreboding, ensuring players are always on edge.”
- “The soundtrack is up to standard as well — the chasing theme is terrifying, and the slightly different main theme is sad, ominous, and scary.”
- “Soundscape and music are solidly forgettable and don't make you feel immersed even in a dark room with headphones.”
- “I'd like to have an option to turn the music volume lower though; I get that it's supposed to warn you, but when there are many walls between you and the zombies and you still hear the music as loud as if they'd be next to you, it can be both confusing and annoying.”
humor
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
7%
The humor in the game is a mix of dark and absurd, primarily delivered through the character Clarence, whose witty and often creepy comments provide comic relief amidst the horror. While some players appreciate the humor as a refreshing contrast to the tense atmosphere, others find it intrusive or overly cheesy, which can detract from the immersive experience. Overall, the humor is seen as a notable improvement over the previous installment, adding both levity and depth to the narrative.
- “There are some dialogues which are at the same time funny and creepy, with some brilliant twists; I really loved them!”
- “The companion really added some amusing moments in the game; his dialogue was great and made for some funny scenes.”
- “Clarence is absolutely adorable and a key figure in one of my favorite aspects of Black Plague: the dark humor.”
- “I guess his comments are supposed to be funny.”
- “The jokes fell flat and felt forced.”
- “I didn't find any of the humor relatable or clever.”
emotional
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is deeply impactful, with players highlighting the weight of Philip's journey through isolation and mental turmoil, enhanced by a compelling narrative and improved writing. While some puzzles may frustrate, the game elicits a range of emotions, from fear to sadness, culminating in a heart-wrenching final act that resonates with players, despite some feeling it lacks the emotional punch of its predecessor. Overall, the game successfully immerses players in a haunting experience that evokes genuine emotional responses.
- “The emotional weight of Philip’s journey — trapped, isolated, and grappling with both external threats and his own mental state — is felt through the subtle yet impactful narrative design.”
- “This is peak Penumbra; the writing is heart-wrenching, puzzles are consistent (they have the formula down), and the vibe is more sinister than before.”
- “The plot really advances the story of Penumbra: Overture and is also emotionally captivating.”
stability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
88%
Overall, the game's stability has shown improvement compared to its predecessor, with many players reporting fewer glitches and crashes. However, some users still encountered minor bugs and graphical issues, which can occasionally disrupt gameplay. While the experience is generally stable, a few players noted that certain glitches can enhance the horror atmosphere, making them a mixed bag.
- “Almost no glitches that I've found.”
- “Runs great on Windows 10 (64-bit), in ultrawide resolution (2560 x 1080).”
- “Like all of the puzzles just feel really forced and rely a little too much on their buggy physics engine.”
- “Glitches are numerous requiring restart from last save.”
- “Although, there are still a lot of issues with this game when it comes to graphical glitches and illogical gameplay.”
grinding
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews of "grinding" in Penumbra: Black Plague highlight a mix of engaging and tedious gameplay elements. While the game improves upon its predecessor with better puzzle design and reduced backtracking, some puzzles remain frustratingly tedious, particularly those involving object manipulation and certain environmental challenges. Overall, the experience is described as a blend of excitement and monotony, with a few sections detracting from the overall enjoyment.
- “Some of the puzzles here are just tedious and unintuitive.”
- “It's not even difficult, it's just extremely tedious.”
- “A couple of the puzzles felt tedious to me, particularly towards the end.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game exhibits limited replayability, with some users noting a shorter playthrough compared to the first installment. However, the presence of collectibles offers a potential incentive for players to revisit the game.
- “Infinite replayability.”
- “The length of a single playthrough is somewhat shorter than the first one, and there are collectibles that may potentially promote some replayability value.”
- “No replay value.”
- “The length of a single playthrough is somewhat shorter than the first one, and there are collectibles that may potentially promote some replayability value for Black Plague.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Users have reported performance issues, particularly a significant drop to 10fps when looking in certain directions, especially for those with NVIDIA GPUs. A suggested workaround is to disable "threaded optimization" to improve frame rates. Overall, while the game excels in voice acting, its optimization requires attention to enhance gameplay experience.
- “If you have the 10 FPS issue while looking in a certain direction and own an NVIDIA GPU, disable 'Threaded Optimization' for your performance.”
- “If you have the 10 FPS while looking in a certain direction bug and own an NVIDIA GPU, disable 'threaded optimization' for your penumbra.”
- “The voice acting is top-notch, with convincing performances that enhance the immersion and give life to the characters.”
- “The voice acting also continues its high-quality performances.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development is highlighted as a key element that maintains player engagement, with plot twists enhancing the overall experience and culminating in a satisfying conclusion.
- “The plot twists and character development keep players engaged throughout, leading to a satisfying conclusion.”
- “The depth of each character's backstory adds layers to the narrative, making their growth feel authentic and impactful.”
- “Witnessing the characters evolve based on player choices creates a unique and personal experience that enhances the overall gameplay.”

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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

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5h Median play time

5h Average play time

5h Main story

6h Completionist

3-8h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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Penumbra: Black Plague is a survival action adventure game with horror and science fiction themes.

Penumbra: Black Plague is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

The main story can be completed in around 5 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 6 hours to finish. On average players spend around 5 hours playing Penumbra: Black Plague.

Penumbra: Black Plague was released on January 23, 2009.

Penumbra: Black Plague was developed by Frictional Games.

Penumbra: Black Plague has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Penumbra: Black Plague is a single player game.

Similar games include Penumbra Overture, Amnesia: Rebirth, Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs, SOMA, Amnesia: The Dark Descent and others.

Penumbra: Black Plague

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