Games | Bought October 24, 2021 | $40 CAD via PSN
Why I Bought It
I’d been calling this one “Ashes to Ashes” in my head for months based on some early buzz, but the actual game that released is House of Ashes, the third entry in the Dark Pictures Anthology. I grabbed it on PSN the week it launched — I’d enjoyed the earlier entries in the series enough that a Gulf War-era horror story set in a buried Sumerian temple was an easy sell.
Living With It
The claustrophobic underground setting is a genuine step up in atmosphere from the earlier games, and the branching choice system still does a great job of making every decision feel like it matters, even when some of it is smoke and mirrors. The cast is stronger than I expected, and the creature reveal midway through is one of the better horror beats the series has pulled off. It’s a shorter game than a full-priced release, but that fits the anthology’s bite-sized format.
The Good
- Oppressive, claustrophobic underground setting works great for horror
- Branching choices genuinely feel consequential
- Stronger voice cast than the previous two entries
The Bad
- Short runtime for the asking price if played solo, single-sitting
- Some QTE sequences still feel dated compared to other narrative horror games
Final Call
Rating: 4/5. The strongest Dark Pictures entry yet, and worth it especially with a co-op partner.
