Life is Strange: Episode 4 - Dark Room
Rating Summary
Based on 47 critic reviews
OpenCritic Rating
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Dark Room finally sets off the mystery but it's the least consistent episode of Life Is Strange so far.
A hugely disappointing penultimate episode, but if you enjoyed the first three it's still nowhere near enough to put you off from following things through to the end.
Episode 4 wraps up some mysteries, but leaves you with even more questions, enticing you to stay on the turbulent ride
Life is Strange's penultimate episode abuses its own mechanics and drags the pace down, but bookends its slog with two powerful, well-worth-it gut punches.
'Dark Room' exhibits the best and worst of what Life is Strange has to offer
After a brief emotional detour, Life is Strange gets back to its main plot. The beginning and end of this episode are strong, with a lot of tension and emotional payoff, but the middle feels like it's padding out the gameplay time instead of serving the story. Still, this is the best episode yet.
So, after another cliffhanger ending, we're left awaiting the conclusion and with no real idea where the narrative might go. Dark Room has been the most masterful installment in Life is Strange thus far, and it sets us hurtling toward the finish line. If the first 80 percent is any indication, it probably won't be a "happily ever after" ending. Only one thing's certain, though: that ever-present throat lump will be along for the ride.
This is the fourth time in as many chapters that Life Is Strange has shocked me big time. So bring on the conclusion stat. I am ready for one more trip to Arcadia Bay.
As the credits rolled at the end of the episode, I was left trying to digest not just the final few moments, but the episode as a whole. There were several very powerful moments, with Dontnod's mature approach to the subject matter and ambiguous decision making key, as they tackled the theme of life and death that ran throughout. Alongside some great puzzles and use of Max's time warping power, this is the best episode yet.
Life is Strange has been getting better with each episode and with the best story by far found in Episode 4 – The Dark Room, the upcoming finale is setting up to be mindblowing.



















