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The Long Dark

A thoroughly thoughtful re-imagining of The Long Dark which tightens everything up deftly, The Long Dark is making grizzly-sized strides in its evolution and is essential for fans of taut, survival adventures.
The Long Dark Game Cover
84%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, stability
89% User Score Based on 43,788 reviews
Critic Score 79%Based on 22 reviews

Platforms

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The Long Dark Game Cover

About

The Long Dark is a single player open world shooter game. It was developed by Hinterland Studio Inc. and was released on July 31, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"The Long Dark is an exploration-survival game set in a frozen wilderness after a geomagnetic disaster. Players must manage resources and face the challenges of harsh weather and dangerous wildlife to survive. The game features both a stand-alone Survival Mode and a story-driven Wintermute Mode."

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Play Modes
The Long Dark screenshot
The Long Dark screenshot
The Long Dark screenshot
The Long Dark screenshot
The Long Dark screenshot
The Long Dark screenshot
The Long Dark screenshot
The Long Dark screenshot
The Long Dark screenshot
The Long Dark screenshot
The Long Dark screenshot
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89%
Audience ScoreBased on 43,788 reviews
story4.2k positive mentions
grinding603 negative mentions
  • The Long Dark features immersive survival mechanics that require careful management of hunger, thirst, warmth, and fatigue, creating a deep and engaging gameplay experience.
  • The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its haunting beauty, effectively capturing the isolation and harshness of survival in a frozen wilderness, complemented by stunning art style and sound design.
  • The game offers exceptional replayability through its sandbox survival mode, with various difficulty levels and customizable settings that keep each playthrough fresh and engaging.
  • Many players find the gameplay repetitive and tedious, particularly due to the slow pace and extensive walking involved, leading to frustration and boredom.
  • The story mode has received mixed reviews, with criticisms focusing on its pacing, unfinished content, and lack of meaningful character development, leaving many players feeling unsatisfied.
  • The game suffers from significant technical issues, including bugs, glitches, and performance problems, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to lost progress.
  • story
    15,700 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story mode, known as Wintermute, has received mixed reviews from players. While some praise its engaging narrative and character development, many criticize its pacing, repetitive fetch quests, and the fact that it remains unfinished after several years of development. Players express frustration over the developers prioritizing paid DLC and a sequel over completing the main story, leading to disappointment among those who initially bought the game for its promised narrative experience. Overall, while the story has potential, its execution and the ongoing delays have left many players feeling unsatisfied.

    • “I've completed chapter 4 now and the game has changed so much in such a good way, the story just doesn't get old; every minute I spend on this game is incredible.”
    • “The story mode has an interesting premise with likeable characters, with the survival aspects still at the forefront of the gameplay.”
    • “The long dark is a masterclass in the survival genre, perfectly balancing a harsh environment with a deeply emotional narrative.”
    • “The story mode is an insult to story games industry-wide.”
    • “This game has one of the worst story modes I have ever played.”
    • “The story mode does nothing for me; I played the first chapter, which was a neat intro/tutorial into the game, but who cares about the story when survival mode completely blows it out of the water.”
  • gameplay
    6,345 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of *The Long Dark* is characterized by its immersive survival mechanics, requiring players to manage hunger, thirst, warmth, and fatigue in a harsh, open-world environment. While many players appreciate the depth and realism of these mechanics, some find the gameplay repetitive and tedious, particularly due to the slow pace and extensive walking involved. The game offers a variety of difficulty settings and modes, including a story mode that serves as an introduction to the survival mechanics, but critiques often highlight issues with certain mechanics, such as inventory management and combat, which can detract from the overall experience.

    • “A beautifully arranged sandbox survival game, with unique mechanics, game loop, and art style.”
    • “The gameplay is pretty quick to understand: 'eat -- explore -- hunt -- sleep...'”
    • “The survival mechanics are deep and engaging, requiring players to monitor their hunger, thirst, fatigue, and overall condition carefully.”
    • “The gameplay is tedious and repetitive, with the main loop consisting of scavenging for food and supplies during the day and finding shelter at night while managing four 'basic needs' bars: temperature, stamina, hydration, and hunger.”
    • “The gameplay loop is, unfortunately, incredibly tedious. You shoot an animal, skin it, and then throw the guts and furs indoors to let it cure which takes several days, so it's really a rarely used mechanic.”
    • “The gameplay is slow and methodical, but in an appealing way - you'll never be forced to 'grind'.”
  • graphics
    5,208 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "The Long Dark" are widely praised for their unique, painterly art style that evokes a sense of beauty and isolation in the harsh Canadian wilderness. While some players note that the visuals may not be hyper-realistic or cutting-edge, they appreciate the game's atmospheric design, which enhances immersion and complements the survival mechanics. Overall, the graphics are considered charming and effective, contributing significantly to the game's haunting ambiance and emotional depth.

    • “Its stunning art style creates a world that is as beautiful as it is dangerous, offering moments of surprising coziness amidst the freezing wilderness.”
    • “The graphics are unique in that it looks like an artist's painting.”
    • “The art style is stunningly unique—a painterly, muted palette that makes the snow-dusted forests, desolate cabins, and eerie, abandoned towns feel both vast and incredibly intimate.”
    • “The graphics aren't always dull and grey - there are soft pastel highlights and beautiful vistas.”
    • “The graphics are somewhat outdated; yes, they brought a visual enhancement update which does make the game look a bit better, but graphics aren't everything.”
    • “The graphics are very poor; I didn't realize how bad they were, I have games ten years older with better graphics.”
  • atmosphere
    3,271 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in *The Long Dark* is widely praised for its immersive and haunting qualities, effectively capturing the isolation and harshness of survival in a frozen wilderness. Players commend the game's stunning art style, atmospheric sound design, and the emotional weight of its environment, which together create a chilling yet beautiful experience. The combination of minimalistic graphics and realistic weather effects enhances the sense of solitude and tension, making it a standout title in the survival genre.

    • “The atmosphere in many of the interior locations is top-notch design, with every sound and shadow suggesting that there could be something lurking around the next corner.”
    • “The long dark is one of the most atmospheric and emotional survival games ever made—not because of jump scares or nonstop action, but because the world itself quietly tries to kill you.”
    • “The art style combines painterly environments with minimalist textures, creating an atmosphere that feels both harsh and beautiful.”
    • “The atmosphere of this game is unmatched.”
    • “The atmosphere is so thick that you could cut through it with a knife and then spread it on your toast, the frightening moments will have you sh*tting your pants (surrounded by a wolf pack and your last flare just ran out) and the rewarding moments will have you jumping out of your seat (finally found that elusive prepper cache chock full of supplies).”
    • “The atmosphere is bleak and oppressive.”
  • music
    1,706 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "The Long Dark" is widely praised for its haunting beauty and atmospheric quality, effectively enhancing the game's sense of isolation and survival. Players appreciate the minimalist approach, where music is used sparingly but strategically to evoke emotions during key moments, creating a deeply immersive experience. The combination of stunning visuals and a well-composed soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's overall ambiance, making it a standout in the survival genre.

    • “Beautiful art and an amazing soundtrack that combines to make you really feel alone out in the cold wintery apocalypse.”
    • “The soundtrack captures the vibes perfectly, but also allows moments of silence, nothing but the wilderness creaking and cawing.”
    • “The music is sparse and moody, which fits the targeted atmosphere of the game.”
    • “Totally lost me on the very long intro and stupidly loud credits music.”
    • “The music was so depressing I had to turn it off.”
  • grinding
    678 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive due to the constant need for resource management, long treks, and slow-paced gameplay. While some appreciate the realism and challenge it brings, others feel that the excessive focus on survival mechanics detracts from enjoyment, leading to frustration and boredom. Overall, the game is described as a grindy experience that may appeal to dedicated survival enthusiasts but can be overwhelming for those seeking a more engaging and dynamic gameplay loop.

    • “The survival elements are not too grindy while still challenging at points.”
    • “Activities required for survival are fun, balanced, and not too tedious.”
    • “It's intense yet slow, not overwhelming like Subnautica, not the tedious grinding of other similar survival games.”
    • “I spent hours, fucking hours getting food and fuel for this stupid blind bitch. Bunnies don't feed you enough, brittle bone Nicky over here falls off a 6-inch hill and breaks his ankles. Hours, meanwhile, everything is tedious as hell.”
    • “The gameplay revolves heavily around repetitive, time-consuming treks across large maps, which quickly become tedious.”
    • “The long dark is built on monotony and grinding, and that's why I don't see the point in it. I can grind in real life.”
  • replayability
    548 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers exceptional replayability, primarily through its sandbox survival mode, which features various difficulty levels and customizable settings that keep each playthrough fresh and engaging. Players appreciate the handcrafted maps, resource variability, and the challenge of mastering survival mechanics, which contribute to a rewarding experience that encourages repeated play. While some users note that familiarity with the maps can diminish replay value over time, the game's continuous updates and additional content help maintain its appeal for both new and veteran players.

    • “Hinterland did an amazing job making a simple idea with simple concepts into a highly rewarding and replayable challenge.”
    • “The long dark feels very rewarding and satisfying when you begin to master it, along with having great replayability in its sandbox nature.”
    • “With its realistic setting, mind-blowing sceneries, and quaint gameplay loop, you have probably the most replayable survival game to date.”
    • “Good on basically every front but lacks replayability; you tend to find yourself in a very similar gameplay loop that doesn't feel all that new.”
    • “Not much replay value because there are no choices really to be made that will change the outcome of the game.”
    • “While providing a decent experience for casual players, this game is in development for years now and the developers fail to provide any sense of replayability or challenging gameplay for experienced players, which makes it boring very fast.”
  • stability
    457 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has been a significant concern among players, with many reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that can disrupt gameplay and lead to lost progress. While some users have experienced relatively smooth gameplay, the overall consensus indicates that the game remains riddled with technical issues, particularly in its story mode and after updates. Many reviewers express frustration over the persistence of these problems, suggesting that the game feels unfinished despite its long development history.

    • “The game is mostly bug free; however, a few bugs still persist, and this can be a frustration in an otherwise well-rounded experience.”
    • “For an early access game, this has been a very much bug-free experience for me so far.”
    • “It looks beautiful, sounds terrific, and runs great.”
    • “Played a lot, and it's extremely frustrating when long runs on higher difficulties end because of glitches and flawed game design; couldn't possibly recommend a faulty product.”
    • “The game is also extremely buggy and full of technical woes.”
    • “This game is so buggy it's unplayable.”
  • emotional
    308 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    "The Long Dark" is widely praised for its emotional depth and immersive atmosphere, creating a unique survival experience that resonates with players on a personal level. The game's narrative, particularly in story mode, is noted for its strong character development and poignant moments that evoke a range of emotions, from anxiety to heartwarming joy. While some players find the pacing and dialogue lacking, many agree that the emotional weight of the game, combined with its stunning visuals and sound design, makes it a memorable and impactful journey through a harsh, unforgiving wilderness.

    • “The long dark is one of the most atmospheric and emotional survival games ever made — not because of jump scares or nonstop action, but because the world itself quietly tries to kill you.”
    • “The storyline, especially in the episodic Wintermute campaign, adds emotional depth to the survival experience.”
    • “The game allows players to interpret the story for themselves, creating a personal connection and emotional involvement with the protagonist and their desolate surroundings.”
    • “Unnatural and boring story mode dialogue that sets up an absurd premise that the character is not wearing proper clothes from our own inventory while being led around blindly; their stuff is worthless even when they get it, and so is the ex that has basically got us both killed for no damn reason.”
    • “All the eager waiting for Wintermute and others really did not pan out: this is a boring story filled with terrible writing, mopey boring characters, and rigid quest design that, while clearly designed to guide a player through what the game has to offer, actually winds up underselling the whole thing.”
    • “Extremely boring story (after the plane crash, I nearly chewed off my wrists), way too much drama to be fun.”
  • optimization
    248 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance on various systems, while others report significant issues such as stuttering, high CPU usage, and poor performance on specific platforms like Mac. Many users note that despite ongoing improvements and updates, optimization remains a concern, particularly for lower-end hardware and certain graphical settings. Overall, while some players experience smooth gameplay, others face frustrating performance dips and bugs that detract from the experience.

    • “Very well optimized and offers great performance.”
    • “The long dark is a great survival game, one of the few video games that I keep coming back to; it has come a long way especially in terms of story and performance.”
    • “Overall, a very pretty, atmospheric, well-optimized, slick and, most importantly, enjoyable game that is well worth the purchase.”
    • “Developers need to invest huge manpower costs to deal with a massive number of API errors and compatibility issues, which will inevitably lead to a significant delay in the game development cycle; players, on the other hand, need to endure long waits, which may ultimately result in only 'insignificant performance improvements' and 'potential more unknown bugs'.”
    • “Game needs optimization more than it needs new maps.”
    • “I initially wrote this review complaining about the game being very poorly optimized; I had constantly dropping frames, even with lowest settings on a 2017 GPU (RX 570) with a 2021 CPU (5600X).”
  • humor
    148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of dark, absurd, and situational comedy, often stemming from the game's bleak survival scenarios and quirky mechanics. Players find amusement in the game's glitches, bizarre character interactions, and the ironic challenges of survival, such as being attacked by wildlife or struggling with inventory management. While some critiques point to a lack of intentional humor in the narrative, many players appreciate the unintentional hilarity that arises from the game's design and their own misadventures.

    • “It's a bleak, hilarious lottery of the deceased.”
    • “But you'll also laugh, a dark, gallows humor kind of laugh, at the sheer, unyielding bleakness and the bizarre logic of its frozen world.”
    • “The game mechanics are straightforward yet challenging, there's subtle humor and there's the greatest factor: immersion.”
    • “It's like a game that's not funny.”
    • “Nothing is more grating, more disgusting, more annoying, less cute, and almost criminally not funny as listening to my character chew loudly into my ear as part of a core gameplay mechanic.”
    • “And it's not funny to die due to cold, hunger, and thirst just because your matchbox degraded to the point of making it useless.”
  • monetization
    67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a cash grab, with many users expressing disappointment over the developers prioritizing paid DLCs and expansions over completing the core story. While some players appreciate the absence of microtransactions and ongoing monetization schemes, the overall sentiment leans towards frustration with the perceived exploitation of players through unfinished content and frequent DLC releases.

    • “I find it amazing that the devs are still supporting a game such as this with no form of microtransactions, with frequent updates that are of good quality that improve the game in many aspects.”
    • “The game's store bio brags that there are no zombies, but there also is no paid DLC, no microtransactions, and no wild balance shifts, just constant, incremental improvements.”
    • “A game that did not sell out to microtransactions or DLC spam, and (even though it deserves its praise) we praise it for not doing that like it's the norm... God, I miss the N64/PS1/Sega MD/DC days when you bought the game and got the full game.”
    • “At this point, it is just feeling more like a cash grab than anything.”
    • “The story mode is unfinished, yet they expect you to pay extra for the rest—pure cash grab.”
    • “Instead of completing what people already paid for, they have decided to move on to the next cash grab.”
  • character development
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the emotional depth and progression of main characters like Mackenzie and Astrid, while others criticize the lack of meaningful growth and relatable traits. Although the survival mechanics and world-building are praised, many feel that the character arcs are underdeveloped, leading to a disconnect from the story. Overall, while there are elements of character development, significant improvements are needed to enhance player investment and emotional engagement.

    • “The world building and character development again works amazingly well with the game's atmosphere.”
    • “The game also has some character development aspects which I find quite rewarding, as you develop your skills, find and craft new items.”
    • “Amazingly written game with beautiful animations and scenery along with thoughtful storyline and character developments.”
    • “Characters such as the main two, Mackenzie and Astrid, see little character development other than 'character adapt to wilderness.' The entire story feels like a long list of fetch quests.”
    • “In summary, while I wanted to enjoy this game, the slow story, excessive cutscenes, lack of character development, and improper pacing made it difficult to become fully immersed or invested.”
    • “The attempt at character development falls short as the NPCs and the main character are not relatable or endearing to any real degree.”
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79%Critics’ scoreBased on 22 critic reviews
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35h Median play time
165h Average play time
21h Main story
236h Completionist
10-200h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 412 analyzed playthroughs
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

The Long Dark is a open world shooter game.

The Long Dark is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck and others.

The main story can be completed in around 21 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 236 hours to finish. On average players spend around 165 hours playing The Long Dark.

The Long Dark was released on July 31, 2017.

The Long Dark was developed by Hinterland Studio Inc..

The Long Dark has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

The Long Dark is a single player game.

Similar games include Green Hell, The Wild Eight, Subsistence, Arid, Among Trees and others.