Amnesia: The Dark Descent

One random great thing worth mentioning: Opening a drawer physically and the tinderbox rolls from the back to the front. A lot of physical prop manipulation to open or turn things.

One random bad thing: You might get your first jump scare by just touching some fleshy walls.

This is one of the definitive psychological horror games ever made and in my opinion has yet to be topped. Frictional Games unintentionally started an entire Youtube genre that every single one of us has interacted with when they made this game: Let's Plays, and that alone should be an award. At first glance without seeing much of this game, it might seem like a walking simulator with moody graphics that mainly focuses on puzzles with horror elements thrown in, maybe something your mom would play, but it's so much more. This game is different from others in the genre not only because it popularized the psychological horror genre, but because it changes the name of the game from cat and mouse with big scares then a relief that is so prevalent with the copy paste clones of today, to constant and unrelenting anxiety which never let's up. This game will lie to you and toy with you, it won't let you breathe for longer than a few minutes before throwing you into the deep end where you HAVE to progress while in close proximity to danger. You will not get your hand held here, you have to keep moving even if you're too afraid to move. One of the most ingenious ideas is the sanity system and how it never lets you rest. If you thought that you could sneak around in the darkness and avoid anything that comes your way, you'd be sorely mistaken as Daniel has a crippling fear of the dark and if you stay outside of the light for too long then you will have far worse problems on your hands. The gatherers have one of the most iconic designs of any monster in gaming, maybe even in pop culture as a whole, but it's ingenious with how it barely lets you get a good look at them. Amazing game that froze me in fear when I was a child watching PewDiePie on his original channel, every year on Halloween I try to remuster the courage to play through once again.

Amnesia: The Dark Descent is still a timeless classic to this very day and it remains as one of the most enjoyable puzzle horror games I've ever played. It's an incredibly rewarding game, all the while I'm completely cacking my pants at the incredible atmosphere that's terrifying yet tasteful. What can I say that hasn't already been said before other than me rambling about my love for this game and my disappointment for many other games of its ilk? It became a massive sleeper hit and a beloved cult classic for a damn good reason and it ended up spawning countless clones and imitators, yet not a single one of them has ever come close to just how great everything is in The Dark Descent.

The puzzles are really great and brain teasers without being too difficult or too easy. The resource management is tense enough to always worry about but just lenient enough so you can stay fully immersed in the game's world, narrative and atmosphere. The atmosphere is so superbly done that the intense build up from frame one upon hitting start game is truly palpable and manages to hold me in its grip all the way to the end. The tension as the game builds up a good long while until you find your first monster is amazing and upon finally seeing it, they never stop being scary - the pure anxiety of trying to hide or run away from one, that is always faster than you, is peak horror gaming for me. Despite the game's extremely troubled development, pretty much every aspect hits hard in all the right places for me,

Many people seem to blame Frictional and Amnesia for the death of more classic style survival horror back when it released, but I'm going to come to its defense and say big publishers were the killer of classic survival horror. They deemed the genre "not viable" and either killed off horror franchises and refitted them into action games. Frictional struck gold with Amnesia and proved that horror never died and there was always a demand for it, it just came in a form and style that hasn't been done anywhere near as successfully previously, and the timing was perfect.

With how much of a cultural phenomenon Amnesia was in the indie space, so much so that many Youtube creators built their careers off the back of this game, it was inevitable that The Dark Descent would spawn countless clones and imitators and unfortunately I cannot think of a single one that comes even close to matching the greatness of this absolute classic. And yet again many people would continue to blame Amnesia for killing survival horror to this day because indie horror games for a long time was dominated with this "run and hide" style. But yet again that's not the fault of this game, but rather the fault of many developers rushing into this genre like it's a gold mine and trying to take what The Dark Descent did so well and yet botched their games so hard because they didn't get it.

Many Amnesia clones seem to believe The Dark Descent is boiled down to just lots of impenetrable darkness and spooky monster chases, when in actuality it's far closer to a point and click adventure game with monsters hunting you down while you try to solve the game's many puzzles. And yet Amnesia's physics mechanics allow the player to barricade doors, create hiding spots, objects can be thrown to stun enemies in pursuit and create distractions for players to sneak by - the running and hiding allows players to get creative so long as they can find what they need and that's what makes the combatless design work so well. Amnesia does so, SO much with so little whereas many of the terrible and even decent clones often do so little with even less, as many games don't have those physics mechanics, multiple resource management, enjoyable puzzle solving and genuine sense of terror.

It sucks to say as I usually champion clones of other games and genres, such as souls-likes and boomer shooters, because those games can take a basic formula and do many unique and different things from many different developers that have great ideas. Don't get me wrong a lot of games in those genres of games can be bad, but I think this style of combatless horror game is almost completely awash with awful clones that simply aren't worth playing at all and so many of them keep coming out and continuing to not get what made The Dark Descent so special.

Heck I'll even apply that criticism towards Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs, Amnesia Rebirth and even Soma's stripped back gameplay, as I found them to be incredibly disappointing follow ups to the masterpiece that is The Dark Descent, even if their narratives can hold up exceptionally well. At least Amnesia: The Bunker was a fantastic return to form, and while I thought the puzzle aspect of that game was disappointing and I still rate The Dark Descent above it, I still think it's an incredible horror game and it managed to successfully marry that classic Frictional style with a good healthy dose of classic survival horror. And as someone who adores The Dark Descent AND survival horror games, The Bunker is pant soilingly glorious.

Luckily the community's love for The Dark Descent has endured with a fiery passion 14 years after release, with so many excellent and wonderful custom stories, mods and addons STILL being made and released by a really healthy community of talented modders and map makers. Many of them having fully custom assets, monsters and mechanics that make them stand out and even rival the quality of Frictional's work, thus making the base game an excellent taster introduction to an all-you-can-eat buffet of incredible high quality horror gaming from creators who do get and understand what made this game so special in the first place. So without a doubt, this game is your one stop shop for some delicious combatless puzzle-focused horror gaming.

Honestly I could gush about this game for days, I feel like my most recent replay has made me fallen in love with this game even harder than I did over a decade ago. Especially after discovering loads of brand new stuff I missed the first time around, such as the Justine expansion, the Remember short stories and the super secret stuff in the game's files - tons of new stuff to delve into always makes me giddy when revisiting my favourite games!

If you haven't played Amnesia: The Dark Descent, then PLEASE do so if you're a fan of horror stuff, you owe it to yourself to enjoy this absolute banger of a classic. And if you really don't like the idea of a combatless horror game, then I genuinely think you should give this game a real honest try with an open mind - it's absolutely worth it.

It's a horror game that's actually scary. The atmosphere, sound design, graphics, soundtrack, and the gameplay are absolutely incredible. This horror game is a must-have. The best horror game I have ever played. 10/10

The Good:
The game has great atmosphere and Ambieance; giving great tension. It is a staple for early YT.

The Bad:
The story and other elements of the gameplay felt dry to me. Just not memorable at all and I played 14 hours of it!

The Ugly: I think it is personal preference for how I do not like the setting, it is too similar and nothing new or crazy. Rebirth I have not touched yet and it is in my library; I'm worried the setting will not appeal to me. The Bunker however? I love the setting and atmosphere, it is amazing and great. Soma is my favorite horror game of all time. So, frictional is def improving and upping there game compared to older entries. This game just did not age well in my eyes.

I grew up in the golden age of youtube where every let's player was screaming at this game. Now i'm almost 30 and i'm finally i'm playing this for the first time and it still holds up as one of the best, and scariest horror games out there.

I liked it. Has an interesting lovecraftian story and overall disturbing vibe.

Game doesnt scale to 4k, uses windows desktop settings to scale. anything other than 100% windows makes the game unplayable by default because 50+ percent of the screen is unviewable and off the edge of the display, no hdr/or gamma option for setting darkness. game crashes if changing audio output to a headset instead of tv speakers. game crashes randomly and persistently even on a 3070 in 2024. no fov support.
game sticks in crash loop on the opening hallway tutorial level and upon crashing start new game has to be selected to restart the hallway again and progress isnt possible.

heard the game was scary and its one of the worst optomized, broken, unplayable games ive ever seen.

A very scary and fun game!

Every October I return back and always get too scared to continue!
I do get further and further into the game each year though!

Sound design is incredible and still holds up after all these years!
If you have still not experienced Amnesia you really need to give it a try!!

You might get so scared that you'll have to stop playing though!

It kinda blows chunks but it was a decent experience, fun puzzles but not too interesting, the only thing that I could really like about the game is the story.

this game is what sparked my love for horror video games over a decade ago, and for that i thank you. i always enjoy replaying it for the thousandth time.

This horror game really started it all and outside of some unrealistic dead bodies I have nothing bad to say about it. It executes psychological horror, atmospheric horror, fear of the unknown, story, and sound design perfectly.

Amnesia The Dark Descent is a game I remember mostly because of the old custom stories back when PewDiePie was playing them It's quite nice to play this game in 2024 as a sort of trip down nostalgia lane

A classic survival horror, still really enjoyable today and no doubt even more so with custom stories. Though some parts are annoying (never did figure out how to get through the cellar archives without taking a hit), other parts are very fun in contrast. Loved the Choir and admittedly cheesing it by just hugging the walls to my left until doing a full loop

I loved the story line, the game play holds up for its age. Very fun.

I have no words about this legendary horror game that Frictional Games developed it! I really recommend playing through the main story and Justine DLC.

You won't ever regret playing that game for sure!

In Amnesia: The Dark Descent you play as the personal assistant of Dracula from Castlevania. Iconic. 2010s was the golden age for vidyer games.

The game that started it all for the legendary Amnesia series. There were great games that did horror very well before this, but this was the first time that you had great storytelling mixed with a truly terrifying, interactive environment to work with in 3-D. There are so many elements at play here, and with the introduction of "insanity" to the player was one of the most novel ideas ever seen in a horror game.

I feel like this is where it all started for a whole new kind of fear from a video game. I know im not alone either.

i love this game and really wanted to get back into it, but it won't launch
there's no error codes, doesn't say anything is installing- i click play, it say it's launching, then instantly goes back to saying play again :c

i'd still highly recommend trying this classic, i think my computer is just super wonky even though i got it at full price pfff
if there's any solutions out there though, i'll edit this review with it
still giving it a thumbs up tho lol

Such a brilliant horror game! Its gothic atmosphere paired with an enthralling story and genuinely terrifying moments come together to create one of the best horror games of all time. Even in 2024, it still retains all the dread and horror it had 14 years ago. You can't call yourself a horror fan if you haven't played this game.

For an older title this is absolutely a banger game, atmosphere go crazy.

Amnesia is not my game. I found some of the puzzles/progression elements obscure enough that I had to look them up, like finding the loose brick in the prison cell after Daniel is captured. I also found the screen blur and shake to be frustrating rather than scary.

That said, Amnesia: The Dark Descent is otherwise a very well-crafted game. The voice acting is definitely above grade for a small studio like this. The narrative is well-written. The sound is superb. And it does a great job at being scary!

I first got Amnesia: The Dark Descent when it originally released, played it for half an hour, and then didn't touch it for over a decade. Now that I've actually gone and beaten the game, I can say that I really enjoyed it!

There's a good atmosphere, a good story, and some interesting puzzles to solve, so if that's what you're looking for, I will go ahead and recommend it.

I will say that the graphics are dated, and I disliked how a lot of puzzles required using the game's physics engine, which wasn't that great for immersion. I lost track of the number of times I would get stuck, look up a guide, only to have to be reminded I can pick up a rock and throw it at something I needed to break. Some puzzles were a bit too obscure, too, as I would run around in a panic trying to figure out what to do, only to alt+tab out and find out the solution required interacting with something I didn't even know was there.

Still, despite my frustrations, I love horror games, and Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a great one that still holds up despite its age. Recommended.

One of the greatest games of all time. Have so many more hours when I was younger, that aren't on steam.

Great Lovecraftian horror ruined by becoming streamer bait. Glad i gave this a full shot!

Bought it because it was on sell. Became one of my favourite games ever.
Hauntingly beautiful and great puzzles. A must play for any horro lovers.

Terrible controls, nothing happens. Music is okay, graphics suck, gameplay sucks. Too many notes that mean nothing at all. Ill never understand why people praise this game so much as they do. 2/5

Tormented me in my childhood, tormented me when i played it. But i fully conquered it, all the achievements as well. Now i forever torment this game.

Good old Lovecraft game - machine for pigs & rebirth will follow.
I would recommend it.

Amnesia the dark descent pioneered the first person survival horror genre and many games since its creation have tried to mimic the core gameplay but have missed the mark. This is one of the only games that i have played where i have been genuinely terrified and have needed breaks in between gameplay. Everything about this game is amazing apart from one thing (i'll talk about it later in this review) the environment and audio design is frightening and really well made and had me in awe during some segments. although i only encountered enemies a few times during my playthrough they were for the most part very stressful and scary encounters. Puzzles are another main part of amnesia which i feel as tho some of them are way too easy but those that rely on using the environment (like throwing a rock at a lock to open it) felt very refreshing in a genre so used to overwhelming you with 50,000 different key items. The only downside of the game i felt was the ending, it felt very slow and lackluster in comparison to the amazing rest of the game. I've always been intrigued at the story of the amnesia games and this game perfectly tells it to you, instead of having you read 100's of notes around the castle to find out the lore (they still do that to an extent) most of the main lore is well told during puzzles and just exploring the castle. After finishing all the endings this game has a great impression of me and i think it might be the greatest survival horror game i've ever played excluding Resident evil 4. I can see why this game is so highly praised and i would have to give it a 9.9/10 the only bad part is as i said the ending.

Fairly old now but still a good experience of survival horror and puzzles.

I'm leaving this review years and years after last playing it. I recall it being a spooky game that I just slid off of through no fault of the game. Pick it up if you get the chance.

Immersive horror experience that I've always needed. The atmosphere is incredibly creepy, with every little noises, creaks, whispers, everything.. I love how the game messes with my mind. The story is solid and the puzzles are engaging enough to keep me going. A true masterpiece of psychological horror, not many horror games like this.

At first I put this game in my wishlist to play during Autumn (for halloween feels or whatever). I bought it in May for only 2.00, which wasn't quite bad tbh. My progress throughout the game was spanned throughout all year, meaning I played rarely because of school and feeling like playing. The most repetitive part of the game is its puzzles. I didn't pay 2.00 to play a puzzle game. The worst part about it isn't the puzzles, its the horror too. I admit that im too much of a pussy to play horror games, and there wouldve been times where all i did was hide from the monsters. Its genuinly crazy that since May to September i've had only 12 hours on this puzzle/horror game

edit (9/29/24): After i writed this review, my brother told me that i am mostly describing myself instead of the game itself. i did say that this game has tedious puzzles, and scary shit that, most of the time, would run, or hide for what feel like hours. the aesthetic itself is nice and it is a really popular indie horror game that peaked at humanity's best era (the 2010's)

One of the best horror games ever created. Even today, the game holds up well. I still play it occasionally, particularly around October. Frictional Games are true masters of the horror genre.

The history and the world is just incredible; the concept of the protagonist lets you immerse truly in the character and really live the experience.

Despite how scripted the monster encounters are, the caliginous atmosphere is as immaculate as it is nostalgic. Amnesia: The Dark Descent epitomizes early 2010's horror games, and no old YouTube playthrough in 360p will do it justice. Which is why I strongly recommend you play it yourself.

Damn! Nice Experiance. Every Horror Fan should try this

If you want an authentic horror experience, then Amnesia: The Dark Descent is the perfect game for you. You start the game as Daniel, a man from Mayfair, and thats all the details you get. From here, you are left to experience the horrors that await deep inside Brennenburg Castle, and to figure out how and why youre here.

The game revolves around you exploring and solving puzzles (Using the impressive for 2010 physics mechanics that let you pick up and throw various things) in the various environments, looking for tinderboxes and oil for your lantern that help you not go insane (Staying in the dark for too long, witnessing disturbing events and looking at enemies decreases your sanity), all the while being confronted with the possibility that some horrifying (Their designs are actually, truly disturbing) monsters are lurking in the dark. You cannot fight in this game, making it all the more scary. For its time, this game has amazing and atmospheric graphics that really make the mood (Not to mention the great and sometimes horrifying music, sound effects and voice acting). I did not experience any lag or bugs. The story is great (The characters add a lot to it), you can figure most of it out by reading the notes that are left around the places you explore and paying attention to the occasional flashbacks that occur, I especially like the fact that the game has multiple endings. The puzzles arent that easy, I got stuck on two of them until I eventually figured them out. The achievements are pretty hard to get, so if you plan on getting all of them expect to spend a lot of time figuring out how the game works and to explore every crevice of the castle. The game can be finished in about 8 hours, but that time increases exponentially if you want to 100% the game. The game also includes an expansion named Amnesia: Justine, its mostly the same as the main game, the only big difference being the story. The price tag of 20 euros is a lot for some people, so I recommend getting it when its on sale.

This game is a classic in the horror genre, its responsible for starting the careers of many big content creators, and in my opinion, it is a must play for everyone.

The best classic horror game though it isn't as scary as it was years ago it is still the best classic horror game to revisit plus playing custom stories is also a nice refresher

picked it up at 75% off, easily a great horror game 10/10

Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a psychological horror masterpiece that has left a lasting impact on the genre since its release. Developed by Frictional Games in 2010, it combines atmospheric tension, clever puzzles, and immersive storytelling to deliver a truly chilling experience. Here's a breakdown of its key elements:

Atmosphere and Tone

The atmosphere of Amnesia: The Dark Descent is its standout feature. Set in the 19th century, the game takes place in a dilapidated castle filled with dark corridors, eerie noises, and unsettling imagery. The lighting, sound design, and environmental detail work together to create a sense of dread that lingers throughout. The darkness isn’t just visual; it seeps into the core of the game, reflecting both the crumbling world and the protagonist's mental state.

Gameplay

The gameplay revolves around exploration, puzzle-solving, and survival. Unlike many horror games, Amnesia removes any form of direct combat, forcing players to rely on stealth and hiding to evade terrifying creatures. This absence of combat increases the player's vulnerability, making encounters with enemies nerve-wracking. The fear of the unknown heightens every moment, keeping players constantly on edge.

The sanity mechanic adds another layer of psychological tension. As Daniel, the protagonist, remains in darkness or witnesses disturbing events, his sanity decreases, causing hallucinations and increasing the player's difficulty in controlling him. The need to balance light and darkness, knowing that staying in the light can attract enemies, creates a stressful juggling act that adds to the immersion.

Storytelling and Narrative

The story is revealed slowly through notes, flashbacks, and environmental clues. As Daniel, you awaken with no memory, uncovering your dark past and the horrors you inadvertently unleashed. This slow drip of information encourages exploration and fuels curiosity, drawing players deeper into the world. The narrative deals with themes of guilt, morality, and the corrupting nature of power, providing psychological depth that complements the horror.

Horror Elements

What truly makes Amnesia memorable is its approach to horror. The game relies on atmosphere, tension, and the fear of the unseen, rather than cheap jump scares. The creatures, known as the "Gatherers," are grotesque and disturbing, but it's their unpredictability and the player's inability to fight back that make them terrifying. The constant feeling of being hunted, combined with unsettling ambient noises and the game's oppressive tone, creates an almost suffocating sense of fear.

Visuals and Audio

While the graphics might show their age compared to modern titles, they still hold up well, particularly in how they contribute to the game's mood. The sound design, however, is timeless. The creaking of the castle, distant whispers, and sudden bursts of noise are masterfully employed to keep players in a constant state of anxiety.

Criticisms

Amnesia: The Dark Descent is not without its flaws. Some of the puzzles can feel a bit repetitive, and there are moments where the pace slows down too much. Additionally, the lack of combat may frustrate players who prefer more action-oriented horror games. However, these are minor issues in the grand scheme of the game's overall experience.

Conclusion

Amnesia: The Dark Descent is a game that gets under your skin. It is less about sudden frights and more about the sustained tension and dread that builds over time. For fans of psychological horror and survival games, it remains one of the most unsettling and well-crafted experiences available. Its ability to tap into primal fears—fear of the dark, fear of the unknown, and fear of losing control—makes it a standout in the horror genre.

Rating: 9/10

Decent horror game with a cryptic story and well-done atmosphere. What I like the most is that it's not overloaded with jumpscares on every corner. Also, the voice acting is pretty good, and a lot of the notes found in the game have voiceovers. On top of all that comes a lot of custom content made from the community, so it's definitely worth a look if you like horror walking simulators.

This certainly is a game from 2010. I won't be too harsh because the game was actually quite enjoyable. The puzzles were fun and the story and environment were enticing. I will say there was never anything "scary" about the game, just "creepy". The only times I was actually frightened was a jumpscare after opening an iron maiden and when the creature wandering the castle caught me while I was trying to figure out what I needed to do to help Agrippa because I was worried I messed up . Overall an enjoyable game, and I am certain the mods and other community games use this as great leverage for new stories.

Every time I play this game I think of how all of these liberals are scared and run from the creatures like vagina havers. This game isn't even that scary, I could piss a better scary game than this. What I really LOVE is the grunt.. lets just say.. it gets wicked.. When I play for the first hour I can't stand, but edge waiting for the grunt to make an appearance.. I'm not ashamed to say.. I love it? More than that in an intimate way.. very sexual in nature. Every time I come into contact with it I can't help, but be drawn to it.. Like an addiction. Every time it walks by with that cake.. and that large moist mouth.. Oh how I wish the grunt was real.. I know this is my one true love.. and one day brother they'll be mine. The other monsters can go sex their own bodies though. Great game if your a real man. Scary if you are a homosapien.

Classic, still holds up in 2024

i just finished this game. & i've got to say, frictional games outdid themselves again. it may not be as good as soma, but it sure deserves a place in my heart, & yours as well. i thought it was some overrated bullshit that youtubers were just playing as a cash grab when i was kid, but i've got to say it's far more than that. it's truly a dark crusade of the human mind, & what power can do, & how it can corrupt us. & how bad ego, and self preservation can look on the surface. i want to be daniel. i want to do what's right, even if that's not preserving myself, but rather my friend. doing right for right mankind, even if i don't gain anything. people would'nt even have to know i was the hero. i want to be modest.

Beautiful game beginning to end, there is a tad bit frustration with this one as the puzzles can sometimes be a little strange and everyone seems to get lost at least a few times on their first playthrough. I Highly recommend going in as blind as possible. As a fan of the Outlast series I especially enjoyed the no combat approach to horror once again. I makes you feel that much more vulnerable playing cat and mouse. Despite my doubts or just low expectations. This game is as good as people say it is, its as influential as they say it is.

I have played this game so many times I can't count. I still love it dearly (nostalgia) and some of the custom stories people have created are also why my hour count is so high. This is a great horror game and I think everyone should play it. It does have some cheap jumpscares though. The story is ok too.