The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes Reviews

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is ranked in the 56th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
7 / 10.0
Oct 21, 2021

House of Ashes can be, at times, a rewarding experience; however, the developers, in order to achieve a remarkable result in graphics, have neglected too much the pace and the interaction with the player.

Review in Italian | Read full review

80 / 100
Oct 21, 2021

It's the less terrifying game in the series, but it keeps you on your toes constantly. Its focus on camarederie and cooperating to survive works really well. Anyway, if you didn't like the previous entries, this one won't probably appeal you either.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

6 / 10.0
Oct 21, 2021

As much as I feel like this series is stuck in the shadow of Until Dawn for a large part of the audience, collectively, The Dark Pictures Anthology is becoming something memorable in its own right. I’ll keep enjoying these games as long as I can, House of Ashes included.

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Metro GameCentral
GameCentral
Top Critic
7 / 10
Oct 21, 2021

Easily the best of the Dark Pictures Anthology series, which finally manages to serve up some interesting characters and effective horror scenes, with an appealingly gothic atmosphere.

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8 / 10
Oct 21, 2021

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is another fun horror romp from Supermassive games. The game improves upon its predecessors by finally removing the fixed camera, and I found several of its characters to be endearing and worth caring for. Though it still falls into some of the same issues as past games in the franchise, The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is worth playing if you’re a fan of the interactive horror/drama genre.

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TheSixthAxis
Top Critic
8 / 10
Oct 21, 2021

House of Ashes adds little to the Dark Pictures formula, and doesn't seem to progress anthology's overarching plot. That said, it's still a great adventure with some jaw dropping visuals and action-packed set pieces. A solid addition to the franchise.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 21, 2021

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is an impressive addition to the series that not only looks stunning on next gen, but also plays out in multiple player controlled scenarios, than can vary from triumphant, to downright heart breaking. It's a dark journey through horror and blood, with only you (and maybe a friend in co-op) to determine who makes it out the other side.

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M3
Top Critic
Oct 30, 2021

It's limited, but oh so entertaining. It's a bit sad that the focus on action takes some horror, but at the same time we appreciate that the story and the environments are very different from the previous titles of the anthology.

Review in Swedish | Read full review

Drew Leachman
Top Critic
7.5 / 10.0
Nov 10, 2021

At the end of the day, I still enjoyed my time with House of Ashes. It is the best story so far in the series and even with the issues I had with both the glitches and gameplay, this was a decent time overall. If you have played the series this far, you know what you’re getting into. If you want to give this one a shot to see what The Dark Pictures is all about, you can’t be this one’s story and premise. Just keep in mind, there will be some really strange bugs that come along with it.

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Oct 25, 2021

House of Ashes is definitely the best game in The Dark Pictures Anthology, with major nods to Until Dawn. Although gameplay might have primarily stayed the same, the improved writing and addition of the new camera just show that the series still has room to grow and I'm excited to see what Supermassive Games do next.

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7 / 10
Oct 25, 2021

Gameplay-wise, not much has changed since Little Hope. You'll spend much of your time walking about, inspecting objects, talking to people, making decisions, and taking part in quick-time events. The formula works, and the six or seven hour running time means that the rudimentary controls don't outstay their welcome.

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Oct 24, 2021

Overall, House of Ashes is a fun horror romp. There's nothing subtle to be found here and the game is all the better for it, with exciting set pieces and a fast-paced story. It has its issues, both technically and with not really having anything interesting to build into its Iraq War setting, but it's still a hoot to play.

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JVL
L_sK
Top Critic
13 / 20
Oct 21, 2021

With House of Ashes, The Dark Pictures Anthology continues to grow, to improve, but does not allow Supermassive Games to reconnect with the success of Until Dawn. The staging contrasts with the previous episodes and is a success, especially during two passages, but the same defects accompany this new story of the Curator (strange reactions, abrupt transitions, scenes not long enough, lack of naturalness of the characters in terms of modeling and animation, marked choices ...). A nice adventure for an evening, but which will not rise in the essentials of your collection.

Review in French | Read full review

78 / 100
Oct 21, 2021

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is a unique tale from the crypt of Supermassive Games. The intriguing premise and methodical pacing help to build an overwhelming sense of trepidation, making you question what lies in the myriad of breathing shadows. Although the final third lacks the ambition and ingenuity of its early segments, it’s another great example and celebration of the horror genre.

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8.1 / 10.0
Oct 21, 2021

House of Ashes marks a change of pace compared to the previous episodes of the Dark Pictures Anthology, proposing a horror story that also focuses strongly on the action. The plot, which incorporates elements of films such as Aliens, Predator and The Descent – Descent into Darkness, does not shine for originality, but it is still enjoyable and sufficiently articulated.

Review in Italian | Read full review

GameMAG
Top Critic
5 / 10
Oct 21, 2021

House of Ashes is the third and the worst instalment of The Dark Pictures, which makes us think that the whole anthology will end prematurely.

Review in Russian | Read full review

Chris Wray
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Oct 21, 2021

The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is easily the best of the series so far. There are clear improvements in gameplay, such as difficulty options and complete control over the camera, which help push this forward. The writing also takes strides forward, with an excellent cast of characters, more realistic writing, and a satisfying narrative throughout. Add the already exceptional abilities of Supermassive Games at building atmosphere, and you have a recipe for a great game - something that I firmly believe House of Ashes is.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 21, 2021

The Dark Pictures: House of Ashes is the best entry in the series yet, packed with gripping storytelling, compelling characters, and solid performances. Your choices feel impactful, and seeing your relationships grow or fall apart based on your decisions carries a lot of weight. With tons of collectibles, an improved camera, and solid pacing, House of Ashes will keep you glued to the screen until the credits roll.

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7.4 / 10.0
Oct 21, 2021

While House of Ashes takes a minor departure from pure survival horror, it manages to maintain its roots and tells a somewhat compelling narrative with a solid cast of characters. It's ultimately held back by a few technical issues and story loopholes that don't quite make sense.

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7.8 / 10.0
Oct 29, 2021

‎The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes will not be the best story told so far, but thanks to its great cinematographic section, scenarios, characters and soundtrack; they make the whole set very worthwhile. In the playable we find improvements, yes, but the best thing is the feeling of being able before the actions of the characters of the plot; where we decide on their fate, like the weaver valkyries of fate. With each installment Supermassive directs its resources to create good films with a somewhat longer duration than normal. ‎

Review in Spanish | Read full review