House of Ashes is the third installment in The Dark Pictures Anthology, a series of standalone cinematic horror games where your decisions determine the story and outcome. During the final days of the Iraq War, a Special Forces unit hunting for weapons of mass destruction discovers a buried Sumerian temple and the ancient horrors dwelling within it. Trapped underground, soldiers and their enemies must work together against creatures that threaten them all. Your choices throughout the game influence character relationships, available actions, and whether the group lives to see daylight.
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.
House of Ashes doesn’t make any great leaps in gameplay or structure, but in terms of narrative, it relentlessly swings for the fences. There are times when the writing doesn’t quite land, but the awkward moments rarely stick around for long thanks to the game’s expert pacing. It’s a fantastic horror social experience, just in time for Halloween, and...
All told, “House of Ashes” is a notable step in the right direction for The Dark Anthology series. Technical issues aside, it crafts a compelling story that’s fun, campy and terrifying in equal measures. Every installment is inevitably compared to the benchmark set by “Until Dawn,” and it’s clear Supermassive Games has learned from the lukewarm reception...
House of Ashes offers cinematic horror and surprising character moments amidst the conflict of the Iraq War.
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...
