Until Dawn™

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,686 reviews
  • graphics
  • story
  • music
Until Dawn™ Game Cover
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"Until Dawn™" is a horror game where the player determines the fate of eight friends who return to a secluded lodge a year after two of their group disappeared. Rebuilt in Unreal Engine 5, the game features enhanced graphics, cinematography, and refined gameplay. The player's choices and decisions affect the story's outcome, creating a unique and immersive horror experience.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,686 reviews
graphics344 positive mentions
optimization127 negative mentions
  • The game offers an amazing atmosphere and an engaging storyline, keeping players invested throughout.
  • Beautiful graphics and enhanced visuals significantly improve the overall experience.
  • The mechanics of decisions, discovery, and quick-time events (QTEs) are fun and add depth to the gameplay.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs and performance issues, including crashes and stuttering.
  • The removal of the original soundtrack, particularly the iconic 'O Death' song, detracts from the overall experience.
  • The requirement to sign in to a PlayStation Network account for a single-player game is frustrating for many players.
  • graphics758 mentions

    The graphics in the remake of "Until Dawn" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visual upgrades, showcasing detailed character models and immersive environments that enhance the overall horror experience. While many players praise the breathtaking visuals and improved lighting, some have reported performance issues, including frame rate drops and graphical glitches, particularly on lower-end systems. Overall, the remastered graphics are seen as a significant improvement over the original, though some players feel that the game still retains some of its predecessor's flaws.

    • “The graphics are mesmerizing, with detailed character models and environments that make the snowy, isolated setting come to life.”
    • “The graphics are top-notch, and the facial animations are so good that you feel like you're watching an intense horror movie.”
    • “The graphics are absolutely stunning (rtx 4080 super) which is matched with great music, and excellent actors.”
    • “This game sucks. The graphics make me feel like I'm playing the original 007 GoldenEye. For this game to come out in 2024 looking like this is just sad.”
    • “Game plagued with issues, graphical glitches, frame rate drops, freezing when entering new areas or upon picking up items or going into menus.”
    • “Many players complained about complete game crashes, distorted visuals, objects/characters and scenery having delayed loading times in cutscenes, and overall many other visual bugs that heavily impacted the immersion of gameplay.”
  • story746 mentions

    The story of *Until Dawn* is widely praised for its engaging narrative, rich character development, and the impactful "butterfly effect" mechanic, where player choices significantly alter the outcome. While some reviewers noted that the plot can lean on familiar horror tropes, the overall execution, atmosphere, and twists keep players invested and eager to explore multiple endings. Despite some technical issues in the remake, the core story remains a standout feature, making it a must-play for fans of interactive horror storytelling.

    • “The story is engaging, packed with twists, and doesn't shy away from delivering some heart-pounding jump scares.”
    • “The storyline is, without a doubt, until dawn’s strongest point.”
    • “What I experienced was a gripping and intense narrative that kept me hooked from start to finish, and although the game isn't without its technical flaws, it's clear that the heart of until dawn—its exceptional storytelling—remains the shining jewel in this eerie, cinematic experience.”
    • “The story is kind of a cliche, so if you are adjusted to horror themes in games and films you will not be surprised by the direction that the scenario took.”
    • “Graphics look great, but the main thing that you play this game for, the story, just felt so lacking, so lazy, so boring and so cheap.”
    • “Once the novelty of the game’s decision-based system wears off, you’re left with a fairly generic teen horror plot that doesn’t stand out from countless other B-movie horror games.”
  • music575 mentions

    The music in the remake of "Until Dawn" has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the removal of the iconic "O Death" song and the overall downgrade in the soundtrack quality. While some appreciate the new compositions for their cinematic qualities, others feel they fail to capture the original's atmospheric tension, often describing the new music as generic or ill-fitting for key scenes. Overall, the consensus suggests that the original soundtrack was integral to the game's impact, and its absence significantly affects the experience.

    • “The music is moody and foreboding, the graphics are solid, the choices you make are impactful and feel like you are changing the story.”
    • “The original version of Until Dawn is one of my all-time favorites, for its storytelling, visuals, atmosphere, and music.”
    • “The updated soundtrack and cinematics are interesting and breathe new life into this game.”
    • “The original soundtrack is non-existent (yep, no iconic o'death song).”
    • “The soundtrack is new but not better, and removing 'oh death' is a sin by itself.”
    • “The music is a massive downgrade from the original release, great songs that matched the theme and setting have been replaced with generic pap.”
  • optimization375 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and audio glitches, particularly on PC. While some users report smoother gameplay after recent patches, others still encounter severe lag and crashes, leading to frustration. Overall, the game appears to be poorly optimized for certain hardware configurations, prompting recommendations to wait for further updates or price drops before purchasing.

    • “While there were some minor stutters initially due to the Unreal Engine 5 (and still required a powerful PC), the recent update (1.05+) has significantly improved performance, making the experience much smoother.”
    • “The game runs smoothly on both consoles and PC.”
    • “I had no crashes the entire playthrough or anything that made me think this game has serious performance issues.”
    • “Extreme lag and stuttering make this game unplayable.”
    • “The original licensed music hit way different than this one, the poor optimization, game-breaking bugs, and ultimately the lack of value doesn't justify the retail price tag.”
    • “This game is a nightmare when it comes to optimization, ray tracing does not even work and the new music is terrible.”
  • gameplay241 mentions

    The gameplay of the remastered version of "Until Dawn" has received mixed reviews, with players appreciating the enhanced visuals and refined mechanics, particularly the engaging decision-making and quick-time events (QTEs). However, some feel that certain gameplay elements, like the QTEs and the "don't move" mechanic, feel dated and could benefit from modernization. Technical issues, such as bugs and performance drops, have also been noted, which can detract from the overall experience, though the game's strong narrative and atmosphere continue to captivate players.

    • “With updated visuals, refined gameplay mechanics, and some new features, it brings a chillingly immersive experience to both new players and returning fans.”
    • “The remaster retains the original’s branching narrative and decision-based gameplay, where every choice significantly affects the story.”
    • “Until Dawn offers a thrilling blend of horror and choice-based gameplay that immerses players in an intense, cinematic experience.”
    • “While the technical improvements are undeniable, the remaster doesn’t introduce significant new content, such as additional storylines, characters, or expanded gameplay elements.”
    • “Despite some tweaks, certain gameplay mechanics (like the quick time events) feel a bit dated and could have used a more modern refresh.”
    • “The game’s reliance on quick-time events can occasionally break immersion, as some sections feel more like a series of timed button presses than fluid, interactive gameplay.”
  • stability233 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting frequent bugs, graphical glitches, and performance issues such as frame rate drops and crashes. While some users noted improvements after initial patches, the overall experience remains marred by these technical problems, leading to a consensus that the game is currently not worth its price until further fixes are implemented. Despite these issues, a few players still found enjoyment in the game, suggesting that it may appeal to those willing to overlook its instability.

    • “But all things considered, I had a very smooth and bug-free experience.”
    • “Performance-wise, the game runs great.”
    • “Wasn't that buggy, maybe 3/10 on a bugginess scale.”
    • “Game plagued with issues, graphical glitches, frame rate drops, freezing when entering new areas or upon picking up items or going into menus.”
    • “Buggy unplayable mess, which is such a shame as the story and adventure holds up so well and as someone who preordered and was excited to finally play on pc, it just isn't worth it.”
    • “The game is buggy as hell, there were cut scenes with no audio, and sometimes the character models would load so late.”
  • atmosphere153 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its chilling and immersive qualities, enhanced by stunning visuals, dynamic lighting, and detailed sound design that effectively build tension and dread. However, some players express disappointment with the changes in color palette and camera angles in the remake, which they feel detract from the original's eerie ambiance. Overall, while the game excels in creating a gripping atmosphere, opinions vary on how well it captures the essence of the original.

    • “The atmosphere is chilling, the visuals are stunning, and the wendigos add an unforgettable layer of terror.”
    • “From the moment you step into its world, you're gripped by the chilling atmosphere, jaw-dropping visuals, and a plot that will have you at the edge of your seat.”
    • “Until dawn doesn’t rely on cheap jump scares; instead, it builds a thick atmosphere of dread, keeping you on high alert throughout.”
    • “It's not a creepy atmosphere now, rather some lighter tone and more 'simple' is how I'd put it.”
    • “Some scenes have been remapped to the detriment of the atmosphere even more, and the game just overall feels way more lifeless, soulless and unimpressive.”
    • “Compared to the original, this is absolutely nothing like the original in terms of atmosphere, gameplay or story at all.”
  • replayability60 mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, with a branching narrative that allows for numerous outcomes and player choices, making each playthrough unique. While some players may only experience it once, many appreciate the ability to revisit chapters and explore different scenarios, enhancing the overall experience. Despite minor technical issues, the engaging story and diverse endings contribute to its high replay value.

    • “The branching storylines mean every playthrough can bring new twists and consequences, making the game highly replayable.”
    • “It's only about 9 hours long, but it has a crazy amount of replayability due to all of the different outcomes.”
    • “The replayability is huge and the ease of being able to choose chapters to go back to without having to replay the game start to finish to redo some choices is great.”
    • “It might be worth playing once, but for a game that relies so much on replayability, it doesn't hold up after the first run-through.”
    • “The game does have replayability, but I tend to only play these games once and then go online and watch the rest of the deaths/possibilities/endings.”
    • “I guess this is intentional for replayability purposes, but I'm definitely not a fan of that.”
  • humor34 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its early 2010s charm and a mix of intentional and unintentional comedic moments, such as character model glitches and amusing dialogue mismatches. Players find the bugs, like headless characters and funny rendering issues, to be more entertaining than frustrating, contributing to a lighthearted experience. Overall, the game's absurdity and quirky characters, particularly the humorous portrayal of stereotypes, enhance its comedic appeal despite its technical shortcomings.

    • “I honestly burst out laughing when I saw the USB-C ports on the laptop in the first chunk of the game.”
    • “The game is fantastic, great characters, amazing story, good acting, well-made jumpscares, and some pretty funny scenes.”
    • “They didn’t even post that the game released on socials, which is hilarious.”
  • emotional16 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Until Dawn" is highlighted by its lifelike character models and effective motion capture, which enhance the realism of tense moments. While the game aims to blend psychological horror with emotional depth, some players feel that certain cutscenes and music choices detract from the overall impact, leading to mixed feelings about character attachment and narrative coherence. Ultimately, the emotional experience can vary significantly, with some players finding it distressing rather than engaging.

    • “The character models are impressively lifelike, thanks to advanced motion capture technology, and the facial animations add to the realism of the characters’ expressions during tense or emotional moments.”
    • “Until Dawn is a perfect mix of psychological horror and emotional depth, making every decision feel personal and impactful.”
    • “The motion capture performances are as captivating as ever, bringing the characters to life in a way that's both believable and emotionally resonant.”
  • grinding12 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively time-consuming and tedious, often requiring significant dedication to achieve completion. While some fans appreciate the challenge and are willing to invest the time for achievements, the slow pace of exploration adds to the frustration. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a major commitment that may deter casual players.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Most of the time you are also not even running, so the exploration is a very slow and tedious process.”
    • “Not to mention my graphic preferences are reset every time I launch the game, which gets tedious.”
  • monetization6 mentions

    The monetization strategy for the remake has been criticized as a cash grab, with reviewers feeling that it simply rehashes the original game without sufficient improvements, leading to disappointment among fans. Many express frustration over the high price point for a product they perceive as buggy and unoptimized, undermining the legacy of the original title.

    • “The original game is by far the best from the developer and it's a 10/10 for the genre, but the 'remake' feels more like a cash grab, selling us the same game again.”
    • “Please don't ruin this outstanding game with a half-baked sequel cash grab.”
    • “I really wanted to enjoy this as a fan of the genre and having seen very good things about the original game, but this is nothing less than a $60 buggy, unoptimized cash grab.”
  • character development5 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players praise its depth and the engaging interplay between choices and character growth, others criticize it for being poor and predictable, leading to frustration with the storyline. Overall, the game's character development is seen as a significant strength by some, while others find it lacking.

    • “Absolutely loved this game, great graphics, great characters and character development, amazing story, and fantastic world building.”
    • “Its complexities between choice and character development are both engaging and fun, and I recommend this game to everyone.”
    • “Poor character development and a predictable story make this a frustrating game to play, leaving me cheering for the wendigo to finish them all at the end, except for Sam and Jessica.”
    • “The characters feel one-dimensional and lack any real growth throughout the game, making it hard to care about their fates.”
    • “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that could influence character development, resulting in a story that felt flat and uninspired.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

9hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
8-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 11 analyzed playthroughs

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