The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes Reviews
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.
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.
House of Ashes has its flaws, especially on a technical level, but it is clear that things happened since Man of Medan. More intriguing, richer and better staged than its predecessors, the third installment of the Dark Pictures Anthology easily manages to rise to the top. And we can say Supermassive Games is on the right track. We are already looking forward to discovering how they will manage to surprise us on the next episode.
Review in French | Read full review
Great monsters, stunning locations and a quality mystery makes this one of Supermassive's best.
Overall, I consider it another fine addition in the series that I’ve enjoyed ever since Until Dawn. Some of it is getting old in terms of being too familiar, but the writing and the storytelling is always superb — for horror game purposes.
House of Ashes gives the impression of playing the same Supermassive game with a new story. The passage to next-gen systems looks irrelevant to a series that doesn't know how to evolve its formula. It has a better story than Little Hope, but presents the same issues already seen in the other two chapters.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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
House of Ashes is by far the best entry into The Dark Pictures Anthology yet. Supermassive Games has outdone itself in terms of visual design, storytelling and pacing, and the result is a game that’s absolutely dripping with foreboding atmosphere. The story, playing out over six thrilling hours, keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish – and with so many possible outcomes, chances are you’re going to want to jump straight back in. For horror fans, this is an absolute must-play.
A lackluster military versus monsters soap opera that just about redeems itself with an extravagant final third and unmatched co-op mechanics.
The new installment in the series got its horror stripped down to a level that probably won’t make you hesitate to play it alone at night, it will get you through a story that escalated fast to uncover a big lore that was weirdly shortened to end the story. Even though it was fun sometimes, House of Ashes is a broken mirror of what it could have been.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
A tense, action-packed tale that feels completely different from what you've come to expect from The Dark Pictures Anthology so far.
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
The formula works and is fun, even if it begs for a little more interaction. One of the best installments of the anthology so far.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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
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
Knife-edge thrills delivered by a compelling cast for a truly impressive horror.
House of Ashes brings a refreshing change in the horror genre, introducing trained soldiers instead of teenagers in an interesting setting with deeper relatiotinship problems and challenges.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
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.
If only House of Ashes were possessed with something malevolent enough to actually scare us; sadly, it commits a litany of sins, none of them original.
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.