The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,105 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope Game Cover
Little Hope has some of the best branching narrative that Supermassive Games has ever done, it looks lovely and packs a horror punch throughout.
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"Little Hope" is a cinematic horror game in The Dark Pictures Anthology. Trapped in a abandoned town, a group of college students must uncover the tragic history of Little Hope and escape the vengeful spirits haunting them. Every decision impacts the survivors' fate, leading to multiple endings in this thrilling narrative.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,105 reviews
story1,264 positive mentions
stability203 negative mentions
  • Engaging and immersive storyline with unexpected twists.
  • Atmospheric graphics and sound design enhance the horror experience.
  • Improved gameplay mechanics and character development compared to previous entries.
  • Game-breaking bugs and infinite loading screens make co-op play frustrating.
  • Ending undermines player choices, leaving a sense of disappointment.
  • Controls can be clunky and unintuitive, especially with mouse and keyboard.
  • story3,123 mentions

    The story of "Little Hope" is a complex and engaging narrative that intertwines themes of guilt, redemption, and witch trials, offering players a gripping horror experience with multiple endings based on their choices. However, many reviewers noted that while the story starts strong, it often falters due to a disappointing and controversial ending that undermines the choices made throughout the game, leading to feelings of frustration and confusion. Overall, the game is praised for its atmosphere and character development, but the execution of the story, particularly its conclusion, has left a mixed reception among players.

    • “Little Hope offers an intriguing horror experience that combines a gripping storyline with supernatural elements.”
    • “The narrative is engaging, driven by a compelling story that branches based on your choices.”
    • “With its compelling story, strong character development, and immersive atmosphere, Little Hope is a must-play for horror enthusiasts.”
    • “The story stands out with its chilling premise and themes of guilt and redemption, but it falters with repetitive scares and slow pacing.”
    • “The ending is completely out of left field, makes the vast majority of the plot make no sense, and essentially negates almost all of your choices in the end save for a few.”
    • “The story felt cheap and wasn't worth playing the game, the build up was not worth it and it wasn't consistent felt pretty short and was very disappointed and would not play again knowing how the story would go and it doesn't follow up much.”
  • gameplay532 mentions

    The gameplay of "Little Hope" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting improvements over its predecessor, "Man of Medan," particularly in mechanics and controls. However, criticisms highlight persistent bugs, a reliance on quick-time events (QTEs), and a lack of engaging gameplay, often feeling more like a cinematic experience than an interactive game. While some appreciate the branching narrative and replay value, others find the overall gameplay dull and frustrating, detracting from the otherwise intriguing story.

    • “The excellent branching narrative increases the gameplay value exponentially, encouraging players to seek different outcomes by making different decisions on new runs.”
    • “The gameplay consists of a good balance between exploration and intense chase sequences.”
    • “Little Hope presents a captivating story and great gameplay.”
    • “However, Little Hope was a buggy nightmare with bad mechanics, worse characters, and a horribly concluded story.”
    • “The gameplay is really held back, even in the way the movement feels.”
    • “This makes time in Little Hope drag since the actual gameplay is boring and inconsequential.”
  • graphics481 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting their stunning realism, impressive lighting, and immersive atmosphere that significantly enhance the horror experience. Players noted that the visuals are particularly striking on high-quality screens, often blurring the line between gameplay and cinematic experience. While some minor graphical issues were mentioned, the overall consensus is that the graphics are a standout feature, elevating the game's appeal for fans of the genre.

    • “The game’s visuals and ambiance are impressive, particularly when played on a high-quality screen and with a good sound system.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous and the story line is hooking.”
    • “The graphics are absolutely insane and I'm completely immersed.”
    • “The whole story feels rushed and they relied on 'scary' visuals to make up for the holes, but they failed at that too.”
    • “Subpar visuals compared to the others, repetitive scares, and bottom-of-the-barrel writing with unclear stakes and uncompelling characters.”
    • “Graphics and story mean nothing when the game can't be played.”
  • atmosphere242 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Little Hope" is widely praised for its immersive and chilling qualities, effectively blending psychological horror with supernatural elements. Players appreciate the detailed environments, haunting sound design, and the game's ability to create tension and dread, reminiscent of classic horror films. While some critiques mention an over-reliance on jump scares, the overall consensus is that the game's atmospheric depth and engaging narrative make it a compelling experience for horror enthusiasts.

    • “The game immerses you in a fog-covered town haunted by eerie visions from the 17th-century witch trials, creating a chilling atmosphere filled with suspense.”
    • “The narrative weaves psychological horror with supernatural elements, creating an unsettling atmosphere where reality blurs with nightmarish hallucinations.”
    • “The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its detailed environments and haunting sound design, which together create an immersive experience that keeps players on edge.”
    • “However, the game has no atmosphere or likeable characters or even that cheesy B-movie feel that Until Dawn had.”
    • “Every single time I started to get into the atmosphere, some ghost would go 'boogidyboogidyboo' or some normal sound would be made absurdly loud to get a cheap jump.”
    • “It is this worry about losing the player's attention, this lack of trust in its own atmosphere that makes it fall flat.”
  • stability211 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that significantly hinder gameplay, especially in cooperative modes. Many users experienced game-breaking issues such as infinite loading screens, connection errors, and unresponsive controls, leading to frustration and an inability to progress. While a few players noted minor glitches or had smoother experiences, the overwhelming consensus is that the game is plagued by stability problems that detract from its potential enjoyment.

    • “Not that buggy”
    • “Good storyboard, no glitches to our coop.”
    • “(also runs great on Steam Deck!)”
    • “I just cannot recommend this game to anyone because it is full of bugs and glitches.”
    • “This game has multiple game-breaking glitches and bugs I experienced 3-4 in co-op play, one outside the church as Taylor, and an infinite loop on the broken house; every time we get to the house, the camera either glitches on Daniel or the game freezes.”
    • “There are game-breaking infinite loading screen bugs/glitches that prevent us from continuing to play the game, and it happened twice by now; I do not recommend buying this until this has been fixed.”
  • replayability103 mentions

    Replayability in this game is a mixed bag; while many players appreciate the branching paths and multiple endings that encourage exploration of different choices, others feel that the ending undermines the overall experience, significantly reducing the incentive to replay. Some reviews highlight that the game can be completed in a short time, making it easier to revisit, but the impact of the narrative twist leaves many feeling that their choices ultimately lack significance. Overall, while there is potential for replayability, particularly for achievement hunters or those interested in uncovering all endings, the effectiveness of the story's conclusion plays a crucial role in determining players' willingness to replay.

    • “This mechanic adds significant replay value, as players will want to explore different paths and endings.”
    • “We could easily play it again and come out with a completely different experience, so it's very replayable.”
    • “The experience is different for everyone depending upon the choices you make, giving the game a lot of replay value.”
    • “The twist is one of the stupidest twists I've ever seen and ruins all replayability this game may have had.”
    • “I truly dislike how they handle the ending; it kills any chance of replayability because it just doesn't matter in the end.”
    • “It totally ruins the interests and intrigue that had been building up during the whole story, and destroys any replayability that these games should be known for because ultimately very few of your choices actually matter.”
  • music96 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its high quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers praising the soundtrack's variety and emotional impact. While some noted that certain tracks, like the end credits song, fell short, the overall composition—ranging from intense orchestral pieces to haunting chants—effectively complements the game's narrative and visuals. However, a few critiques mentioned that the music sometimes detracted from immersion, as characters could audibly react to the soundtrack during gameplay.

    • “The soundtrack, a cacophony of dissonance and harmony, worked in tandem with the absurdity unfolding onscreen.”
    • “The music is incredibly good, ranging from Gregorian chant, funeral music, to surreal/supernatural ritual music and tribal percussion.”
    • “The music is so intense and hair-raising, and the opening rendition of 'O Death'... flashbacks to Until Dawn came rushing back.”
    • “The awkward tension between the characters from the very beginning is by far the weirdest part of this mediocre smorgasbord of horror tropes that primarily rely yet again on loud soundtrack stings and jump scares to classify as a horror game.”
    • “Another thing that disappointed me about the game is the fact that these characters can hear the soundtrack; for example, sometimes characters will say 'did you hear that' when the game played a randomly timed soundtrack that was meant to shock the player.”
    • “Unfortunately, the music, voice acting, and, most importantly, the plotting are hit or miss, at best.”
  • optimization91 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as crashes, stuttering, and lag, even on high-end hardware. Conversely, others report a smooth experience with improved graphics and performance compared to previous titles in the series, indicating that optimization may vary widely among users. Overall, while some praise the game's technical improvements, many highlight persistent optimization problems that detract from the gameplay experience.

    • “And I have to say that the game boldly stuck to 60fps and did not release, but except for two moments that lasted three seconds, when I dropped the frames at 17, it was only a moment. Overall, this game is perfectly optimized for PC, so you do not have to deal with any reconfiguration and optimization via the NVIDIA panel.”
    • “Additionally, the graphics and performance of the game were outstanding with no problems encountered.”
    • “Also, the game looks amazing, and the optimization is really impressive.”
    • “Poorly optimized (was getting lag with my 4090)”
    • “Tons of crashes, glitches, and poor performance optimizations abound.”
    • “Constant stuttering and hard locks despite being well above recommended specs.”
  • emotional42 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mixed response from players, with many expressing a deep connection to the characters and a strong investment in their fates, particularly during suspenseful moments and impactful twists. However, some players feel that the lack of meaningful choices and character development undermines their emotional engagement, leading to frustration and a sense of emotional bankruptcy by the end. Despite these criticisms, many still find the story touching and the endings, while divisive, can evoke strong emotional reactions.

    • “This makes players genuinely care about the characters and invest emotionally in their fates, amplifying the game's suspenseful moments and heightening the impact of the twist.”
    • “A lot of people were upset to learn that most of the choices don't really matter, but the ending was so beautiful and heartwarming (at least mine was) that it more than made up for that.”
    • “The twist at the end was mind-blowing and heart-wrenching!”
    • “Cheap jumpscares and a boring story.”
    • “Cheap jumpscares and a boring story.”
  • humor38 mentions

    The humor in the game is largely derived from its absurd character behaviors, unexpected bugs, and a hilariously bad twist ending, which many players found entertaining rather than frustrating. Jump scares often elicited laughter, especially in multiplayer settings, where the game's quirky decisions and character interactions led to memorable and comical moments. Overall, players enjoyed the blend of humor and horror, making it a fun experience to share with friends.

    • “It does have some minor bugs if you play it on PC, like a random black screen that might appear or your character clipping out of place randomly, but that's definitely not a huge deal breaker and I actually found these more funny than annoying.”
    • “This game blew my mind, made me laugh so hard that I pissed my pants.”
    • “The teacher sounded exactly like one of my teachers in high school, and that was hilarious the entire way through.”
  • character development26 mentions

    Character development in "Little Hope" receives mixed reviews; while many praise its strong character arcs, compelling story, and impressive voice acting, others feel that player choices have minimal impact on character growth, leading to a somewhat repetitive narrative experience. The game features notable character design and allows players to track development in the pause menu, but some reviewers express disappointment over missed opportunities for deeper emotional engagement. Overall, it is seen as a strong aspect of the game, albeit with room for improvement.

    • “With its compelling story, strong character development, and immersive atmosphere, 'Little Hope' is a must-play for horror enthusiasts.”
    • “The character development in 'Little Hope' is also praiseworthy.”
    • “Character development was good.”
    • “Your choices do not matter that heavily, there is little character development between everyone based on your emotional responses, and the story feels very samey regardless of what you do or don't do.”
    • “You also don't get any character development like you did in Man of Medan.”
    • “I was left with the impression that character development was not complete and there was a missed opportunity for a true climactic moment.”
  • grinding25 mentions

    Players consistently highlight that grinding in the game is excessive, often requiring significant time investment and making the experience feel tedious. Many reviews suggest that achieving a satisfying ending demands a level of commitment that feels overwhelming, with some likening it to needing a "second life" to complete the grind. Overall, while the game has its merits, the grinding aspect is frequently criticized for detracting from the enjoyment.

    • “Time for grinding will be required.”
    • “You'll be grinding a lot.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Good game overall, but a good ending is tedious to obtain.”
    • “The script is bad, the story is bad, and holding forward and just moving through the game was tedious at best.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game includes advertisements for upcoming titles, which some users find intrusive and poorly integrated, particularly in the context of multiplayer features. Overall, there is a sentiment that the advertising could have been better tested and implemented.

    • “Considering the advertisement of playing this with friends, you would assume it would work... or would have been tested more.”
    • “Putting an advertisement for your next game into this game is just too much.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

Buy The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope

Play time

5hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
4-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 50 analyzed playthroughs

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