The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes Reviews
The Dark Pictures: House of Ashes as the third work in the Dark Pictures series, along with some narrative and characterization problems, has a lot to say and can be a scary and memorable night for you and your friends. If you are a fan of the horror genre, do not miss this game.
Review in Persian | Read full review
House of Ashes is really enjoyable and that’s even after a second playthrough because the content can differ so drastically. For me, unquestionably, this is the standout Dark Pictures tale so far and if the preview of the Season One finale at the end is anything to go by, I feel very confident in saying the future is very bright … and dark in equal measure.
House of Ashes is the best episode of The Dark Pictures Anthology to date, the story was exciting and unexpected and some of the changes that have been applied have added additional depth to the experience, some of the drawbacks of previous episodes still exist but the overall level of experience has improved significantly.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
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.
Supermassive Games fails to understand that they can’t direct their art with such indignation. Rather than letting consumers enjoy their titles in sometimes unintended ways, they’ve come to limit the gameplay experience as a means of controlling the community. In the process, they have damned the conversations that could have risen, with House of Ashes acting as yet another middling product, free of the soul that leaves a lasting impression.
Another entertaining entry in this prolific series, one that doesn't really move the needle as much as reusing the old mold to tell a different tale.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
House of Ashes presented a wonderful story and civilization that combined action and horror and was of a different nature from the usual parts of the series, followed by beautiful representation and expressions of the characters, but the beauty of the experience was hindered by its voice acting, I personally enjoyed it.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
House of Ashes does just enough to deliver the basic goods for horror fans, marking a modest step forward for the underwhelming franchise.
House of Ashes is a gripping dark monster-filled adventure that you'll want to play over and over again.
House of Ashes tell us a story set in the Sumerians. Similar to other games of the saga, but the least scary of the three in The Dark Pictures Antology. For approximately 4 hours we can enjoy a game playing alone or with someone. The perfect companion to have fun this Halloween.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
I really enjoyed my time with House of Ashes, as I have done with the Dark Pictures titles thus far. Much like horror movies, they won’t be for everyone and there are certainly characters here too that fall into many of the known tropes we come to expect from the genre, but it’s setting, character choice, technical improvements and replayabilty makes it all a fun horror experience. I’m still aboard the Dark Pictures train and I can’t wait for the next entry that will hopefully hit us around the same time next year.
House of Ashes belts out some decent cinematic horror, but at the same time, the whole adventure is rather forgettable. The characters are quite fun to watch and the variety of death animations are certainly amusing. Although since the story itself isn’t very memorable, it’s hard to stay invested.
Supermassive fans deserve better. The horror genre as a whole deserves better. No recommendation can be provided for this dark plunge.
It doesn’t help that House of Ashes tends toward monotony. Much of the game is spent slowly exploring dark caves, sometimes the exact same ones, except with different characters. Too often you may find yourself trying to shake off tedium by trying to interact with something only to inadvertently activate a protagonist’s death. Or a jump scare might shake you out of it, but given how telegraphed they are, the game’s horror ends up being as ineffective as the story, which is given over to Aqua Teen Hunger Force-like levels of deranged non-sequitur plotting. While the prior games in this series never reached the heights of Until Dawn, they didn’t lack for disturbing and memorable imagery. By contrast, this game’s non-human baddies are so over-designed and uninspired that they never jangle the player’s nerves.
There's a lot to like in House of Ashes. It can look great (but also a bit ropey at points), the acting is largely excellent, and your actions (or lack of) can really impact the story. Yet, the game element is lacking, which in turn makes the gameplay sequences where you're in proper control end up lacking in scares. This is a fun time, especially if played in a group or online with a friend, but I was more afraid of button prompts than the monsters.
Despite some aesthetic grievances, House of Ashes is most definitely The Dark Anthology’s strongest showing. An immersive experience that doesn’t market an engaging display, but rather an engrossing narrative that will shock you into disbelief. The bloody, the brutal and the absolutely jarring set pieces that manage to manifest and unfold over your journey will leave you with goosebumps, and some toe-curling scenery.
House of Ashes offers cinematic horror and surprising character moments amidst the conflict of the Iraq War.
In flicking back through my notes on House of Ashes, I find that I have been more negative on it in this review than I remember feeling from my time playing it. It is a highly enjoyable experience and hard to put down. It might not be as spooky as I’d like from a horror game, and it might not play the way I think it should given the type of horror the developers were aiming for, but ultimately, holding the lives of a bunch of delinquent characters in my hands and deliberately letting them fall to their proverbial (or perhaps literal) deaths will never fail to be a (ghoulishly) good time.
The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is far and away the best Dark Pictures game so far. It blends intriguing characters, compelling drama, and a killer twist to offer up what can only be described as the most honed experience Supermassive has put out in this series so far. It's got a few minor issues here and there – namely relating to the diversity of its cast and how much each of them plays into the overall story – but it's a horror experience that no fan should miss even if they weren't fans of Man of Medan or Little Hope.
An intriguing premise backed by refined gameplay and an immersive atmosphere makes House of Ashes the best entry in The Dark Pictures Anthology yet.