The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes Reviews
It also gave me a glimpsation of the future games of The Dark Pictures Anthology. Stories that make the action horror element a little more prominent suit Supermassive.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Supermassive Games is back again for yet another horror-filled adventure. When I reviewed Little Hope, their last game in The Dark Pictures Anthology, while I thought it was a good game and an improvement over Man of Medan, I still acknowledged that it would be a divisive entry for players, particularly the story. You can read my full review for that game here. But how does the newest entry, House of Ashes, fare compared to the rest?
This is a solid, well-written entry in the Dark Pictures Anthology, typified by excellent characterization for Jason and Salim. It may not be the best game of the year, but like an old acquaintance who drops by around the holidays, this is a welcome distraction and a fun way to pass some time.
Actually, there's not much left to say. You don't play House of Ashes because it looks good or because of its innovative game mechanics - you play it if you like well-paced stories with minimal self-involvement and a bit of horror (in the broadest sense). If you're looking for something between cinematic and classic gameplay principles and consider yourself a fan of the genre, the third chapter of Dark Pictures Anthology is worth checking out. Undecided fans of cultivated horror will probably not be completely convinced by the title, though, as there are still too many problems at once.
Review in German | Read full review
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.
House of Ashes offers an engaging story and does a wonderful job in creating a ghastly setting, leaving you in a world full of dark and frightening secrets. If you are a fan of survival horror genre, House of Ashes won't disappoint you.
Review in Persian | Read full review
The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is the franchise's best entry yet, acting as a playable horror film. But it still shows room for improvement.
Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is the best version of this series ever. Supermassive Games has stepped in the right direction with this game and makes us hopeful for the future of this series.
Review in Persian | Read full review
House of Ashes is one of the most fun games I’ve played this year and a dreadful delight for horror enthusiasts.
The best part of the game is the abandonment of “war roles”; with Salim, the reluctant Iraqi soldier, and Jason Kolchek (Paul Zinno) – an almost stereotypical, Iraqi hating U.S. soldier armed with a gun, a southern drawl and a “hooah” to complete the look – able to forge quite the admirable bromance, should you make the right choices and keep them alive. Together, they come to understand that there is more that unites them than divides them. Yes, one is a white American Christian and yes, the other is a devout Islamic Iraqi, but in the face of adversity – in the form of vampiric space aliens – they live the same and they die the same. This is a message for life: we are all human. In spite of being the third in an anthology of horror games, the underlying message is one of positive, unifying forces, despite all of the dangers present in this world we inhabit. This message, combined with the design, structure, acting and story of the game, makes it the best in the series so far. If you are looking for a fun way to spend a few hours with friends – complete with teamwork, panic and a tremendous amount of scares, then you should give House of Ashes a go. Though it will be a lesser experience, you can still enjoy this game on its own.
For fans of the Anthology, or for fans of horror in general, House of Ashes is definitely a must-play considering its relatively short playtime. Here’s to hoping that the next instalment in the series, The Devil In Me, brings along some characters that are a little more developed and likeable. The Until Dawn shaped hole inside me hasn’t been filled yet, but I have faith it will be soon.
With the third spin-off, you are guaranteed a fun gaming evening among friends, which could have been more than it ended up being.
Review in German | Read full review
House of Ashes is more of an action game than a thriller.
Review in Greek | Read full review
House of Ashes is the best game of The Dark Pictures Anthology thanks to its interesting story and its excellent artistic and design section, all despite some problems that are already a constant in the saga.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is a fun enough way to pass a few hours, and is a lot more enjoyable when you get a few friends involved. But as a cinematic story, it's far too forgettable, with writing that's never better than 'fine' with performances to match.
A decent entry in the Dark Pictures series that tries to iterate on the formula, with mixed results.
House Of Ashes is the grandest yet of the Dark Pictures Anthology. It's technically audacious, with big storytelling and compelling character design. And while it's a relatively short game, there's plenty of fun to be had by trying to engineer different outcomes.
House of Ashes is an enjoyable interactive movie full of action and exciting twists. If you're looking for a short, yet well paced adventure, you won't go wrong here.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
While House of Ashes may fall just short of eclipsing Until Dawn's brilliance, it's easily the best entry in The Dark Pictures Anthology, representing that significant bump needed to move the genre forward in a meaningful way.
House of Ashes is the best entry in the Dark Pictures Anthology. It has taken its predecessor's weaknesses and offered an overall balanced experience this time around.