The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes

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Total Reviews: 89

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House of Ashes is another step forward for The Dark Pictures Anthology, but the series still feels like it has unmet potential. This latest entry remains plagued by the same technical and design issues facing other entries, and the narrative is too cliché and over the top to be effective.

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 89

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 89

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Critic Reviews for The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes

Critic Reviews

Distribution

89

Reviews

High Score - 90/100

90%

Average Score - 73/100

73%

Low Score - 20/100

20%

7/10

John Cal McCormick (Push Square)

Gameplay-wise, not much has changed since Little Hope. You’ll spend much of your time walking about, inspecting objects, talking to people, making decisions, and taking part in quick-time events. The formula works, and the six or seven hour running time means that the rudimentary controls don’t outstay their welcome.

October 25, 2021 |

Full Review

Knife-edge thrills delivered by a compelling cast for a truly impressive horror.

October 21, 2021 |

Full Review

Recommended

Ian Higton (Eurogamer)

3/5 stars

Rachel Weber (GamesRadar+)

A lackluster military versus monsters soap opera that just about redeems itself with an extravagant final third and unmatched co-op mechanics.

October 21, 2021 |

Full Review

John Cal McCormick (Push Square)

7/10 - (Read Review)

Ian Higton (Eurogamer)

Recommended - (Read Review)

Knife-edge thrills delivered by a compelling cast for a truly impressive horror.

Rachel Weber (GamesRadar+)

3/5 stars - (Read Review)

A lackluster military versus monsters soap opera that just about redeems itself with an extravagant final third and unmatched co-op mechanics.

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Read the Reviews (89 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
Areajugones	Claudio Torres	7.8 / 10	10-21-2021	‎House of Ashes is not for everyone, but it is still recommended as a purely narrative experience. It has some shortcomings but also has the ability to hook you to the story from the first moment. Logically, the gameplay is practically nil and, in the end, it is a movie made video game. But a very entertaining film‎.	Read review
BaziCenter	Amin Bala Zadeh	7.5 / 10	11-07-2021	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.	Read review
Bazimag	Mohammadreza Zare Rafee	8 / 10	10-25-2021	The third The Dark Pictures Anthology game manages to up the ante by providing its audience with a whole new world of horrors and frights. If you liked the previous offerings of this series, House of Ashes would make you very happy and if you are a fan of horror stories in general, you must put this on your shopping list right now.	Read review
Cerealkillerz	Manuel Barthes	7 / 10	10-21-2021	After Man of Medan and Little Hope, Supermassive Games doesn't manage to surpass Until Dawn with House of Ashes either. This is not due to the unfamiliar setting, but to the characters in it. Completely overdrawn and clichéd, the player is rather happy at the beginning if he accidentally gets rid of one. To make matters worse is the technical quality, which from the graphics to the control is hardly convincing. Thanks to a strong last third, House of Ashes still manages to turn things around and brings it to a positive conclusion.	Read review
CGMagazine	Joe Findlay	8.5 / 10	10-21-2021	The Dark Pictures: House of Ashes is a perfectly timed release. Put yourself into a Horror movie in time for Halloween and enjoy the thrilling ride.	Read review
Checkpoint Gaming	Charlie Kelly	3 / 10	10-22-2021	Supermassive fans deserve better. The horror genre as a whole deserves better. No recommendation can be provided for this dark plunge.	Read review
Chicas Gamers	Estela Villa	Recommended	10-23-2021	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.	Read review
COGconnected	Jaz Sagoo	78 / 100	10-21-2021	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.	Read review
Cultured Vultures	Nick Meekham	6 / 10	10-21-2021	If you enjoyed the first two games, there is some fun to be had in House of Ashes, but glitches, a predictable story structure and some boring jump scares holds it back from being a truly worthy sequel.	Read review
Daily Mirror	Eugene Sowah	4 / 5 stars	10-25-2021	House of Ashes is definitely the best game in The Dark Pictures Anthology, with major nods to Until Dawn. Although gameplay might have primarily stayed the same, the improved writing and addition of the new camera just show that the series still has room to grow and I'm excited to see what Supermassive Games do next.	Read review
DASHGAMER.com	Dan Rizzo	8 / 10	10-22-2021	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.	Read review
Destructoid	Jordan Devore	6 / 10	10-21-2021	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.	Read review
Digital Chumps	Alex Tudor	7.5 / 10	07-31-2020	House of Ashes doesn't offer a new unique tale that I found with Little Hope or Man of Medan. I did enjoy my time playing through another The Dark Pictures Anthology tale, but it hasn't left an impact on me as a player as Little Hope did. Choices often felt inconsequential, and few and far between. Character development for all of the characters outside of Salim was underwhelming and disappointing, even though the backdrop of the Iraq War in 2003 was ripe for compelling character development.	Read review
Digitally Downloaded	Matt Sainsbury	4 / 5 stars	10-22-2021	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.	Read review
DualShockers	Jo Craig	8 / 10	10-21-2021	Supermassive has an incredible talent for creating gripping narratives of a horror persuasion, and despite some technical bumps in the sand, my retrospective opinion on House of Ashes still remains the same: It’s a bloody good creature feature. I often thought that House of Ashes would make a better film or television series because of its layered narrative, but then I remembered the fun I had weaving my own outcome, navigating the sheer scale of the game, and using parkour mechanics over nearby obstacles.	Read review
Eurogamer	Ian Higton	Recommended	10-21-2021	Knife-edge thrills delivered by a compelling cast for a truly impressive horror.	Read review
Everyeye.it	Giuseppe Arace	7.5 / 10	10-21-2021	Now in its third act, The Dark Pictures Anthology shows the first signs of a perhaps inevitable fatigue. Wisely trying to involve and amaze the player with new stylistic gimmicks, Supermassive Games chooses to adopt a more impactful rhythm, and thus bastes another type of horror where violence takes over restlessness.	Read review
Expansive	Brad Baker	Recommended	10-24-2021	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.	Read review
Explosion Network	Dylan Blight	5.5 / 10	10-22-2021	Unlike the previous two games in The Dark Pictures Anthology, I was pleased with how things played out with the core narrative, but this game had my least favourite cast of characters in all three of the games.	Read review
Flickering Myth	Shaun Munro	6 / 10	10-23-2021	House of Ashes does just enough to deliver the basic goods for horror fans, marking a modest step forward for the underwhelming franchise.	Read review
Game Informer	Marcus Stewart	7.5 / 10	10-21-2021	House of Ashes doesn't always land but it can be an exciting "check your brain at the door" thriller. Its largely toothless scares will disappoint horror fanatics while inviting a broader audience	Read review
Gameblog	Unknown	8 / 10	10-21-2021	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.	Read review
Gamefa	Mehdi Reazaei	8 / 10	11-05-2021	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.	Read review
GameMAG	Unknown	5 / 10	10-21-2021	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.	Read review
GamePro	Dennis Michel	60 / 100	10-21-2021	The best setting of the series and an improved camera do not hide the sometimes glaring weaknesses of House of Ashes.	Read review
GamesBeat	Dean Takahashi	80 / 100	10-21-2021	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.	Read review
GameSkinny	Mark Delaney	7 / 10	10-20-2021	House of Ashes is, in some ways, the best game in The Dark Pictures Anthology yet, but the series still feels like it has unmet potential.	Read review
GameSpew	Kim Snaith	8 / 10	10-21-2021	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.	Read review
GameSpot	Richard Wakeling	8 / 10	10-22-2021	House of Ashes offers cinematic horror and surprising character moments amidst the conflict of the Iraq War.	Read review
GamesRadar+	Rachel Weber	3 / 5 stars	10-21-2021	A lackluster military versus monsters soap opera that just about redeems itself with an extravagant final third and unmatched co-op mechanics.	Read review
Gaming Nexus	Henry Yu	7.4 / 10	10-21-2021	While House of Ashes takes a minor departure from pure survival horror, it manages to maintain its roots and tells a somewhat compelling narrative with a solid cast of characters. It's ultimately held back by a few technical issues and story loopholes that don't quite make sense.	Read review
GamingBolt	Matt Bianucci	8 / 10	10-21-2021	There’s an immediate familiarity for House of Ashes in the Dark Pictures catalog, but this entry is as thematically complex and consequently engaging as any game in the series so far.	Read review
GamingTrend	David Flynn	90 / 100	10-21-2021	The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes might not be very frightening, but it absolutely nails a tense atmosphere where every choice really does matter. With gorgeous visuals and a satisfying, well paced story, Supermassive has finally found their footing.	Read review
Geek Culture	Jake Su	9 / 10	10-25-2021	Strap in for the best ride in The Dark Pictures Anthology, as House of Ashes delivers the most complete and finest horror story yet.	Read review
Generación Xbox	Juan Jesús	7.8 / 10	10-29-2021	‎The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes will not be the best story told so far, but thanks to its great cinematographic section, scenarios, characters and soundtrack; they make the whole set very worthwhile. In the playable we find improvements, yes, but the best thing is the feeling of being able before the actions of the characters of the plot; where we decide on their fate, like the weaver valkyries of fate. With each installment Supermassive directs its resources to create good films with a somewhat longer duration than normal. ‎	Read review
God is a Geek	Chris Hyde	8.5 / 10	10-21-2021	A tense, action-packed tale that feels completely different from what you've come to expect from The Dark Pictures Anthology so far.	Read review
Hardcore Gamer	Kyle LeClair	3.5 / 5 stars	10-21-2021	The Dark Pictures Anthology still needs to iron out a few things before it can produce a truly classic entry, but thanks to a strong and fun story with a lot of twists, welcome difficulty options and stronger choice-based gameplay, House of Ashes shows the series is still striving to make notable improvements when it comes to crafting scary and entertaining tales.	Read review
Hey Poor Player	Francis DiPersio	4 / 5 stars	10-21-2021	The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is yet another excellent offering from the masters of horror at Supermassive Games. While not every facet of its choose-your-own-adventure style narrative works, its compelling cast of characters and immense replayability will keep you coming back for more. I’ve played through the game twice in the past week, and I’m already dying to return to the underground with four friends to experience Movie Night mode. If that’s not a testament to the game’s lasting power, then I don’t know what is.	Read review
Hobby Consolas	Daniel Quesada	80 / 100	10-21-2021	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.	Read review
IGN	Ricky Frech	8 / 10	10-21-2021	The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is Supermassive's best horror game since Until Dawn made it famous.	Read review
IGN Italy	Biagio Etna	7 / 10	10-21-2021	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.	Read review
IGN Middle East	Zaher Albalbisi	5.8 / 10	10-21-2021	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.	Read review
IGN Spain	Álex Pareja	7 / 10	10-21-2021	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.	Read review
Impulsegamer	Abdul Saad	3.5 / 5 stars	10-25-2021	Overall, House of Ashes, while not perfect, (or even scary truth be told) is a good installment in the series as it provides gorgeous graphics along with its interesting premise.	Read review
JVL	L_sK	6.5 / 10	10-21-2021	With House of Ashes, The Dark Pictures Anthology continues to grow, to improve, but does not allow Supermassive Games to reconnect with the success of Until Dawn. The staging contrasts with the previous episodes and is a success, especially during two passages, but the same defects accompany this new story of the Curator (strange reactions, abrupt transitions, scenes not long enough, lack of naturalness of the characters in terms of modeling and animation, marked choices ...). A nice adventure for an evening, but which will not rise in the essentials of your collection.	Read review
KeenGamer	Smangaliso Simelane	6.5 / 10	10-26-2021	House of Ashes, as this review will show, is the best title in The Dark Pictures Anthology thus far. However, there are a few flaws that prevent it from being perfect. Though it excels in the cinematics department, it struggles to adequately blend gameplay in a way that makes the experience truly immersive.	Read review
LevelUp	Drishnar Abigaíl Labastida	7.8 / 10	10-21-2021	‎Not a bad title. It is a very entertaining movie and you can see the effort behind its development, because despite its weaknesses it manages to be interesting. The close-ups of the faces of the characters and their animations are a sweet to the pupil, the performances are remarkable and it is respectful of the suspension of the disbelief it presents. The particular thing about ‎‎House of Ashes‎‎ is that its strengths are very high but its low points are too noticeable. If anyone is a fan of cinematic experiences this is a game worth trying. The solid parts of his speech, the world in which he takes place and his dialogues are rewarding, however he could have done more to be memorable. As a work, he is just like King Naram-Sim: buried by the weight of his ambition in those Sumerian ruins.‎	Read review
M3	P-A Knutsson	7 / 10	10-30-2021	It's limited, but oh so entertaining. It's a bit sad that the focus on action takes some horror, but at the same time we appreciate that the story and the environments are very different from the previous titles of the anthology.	Read review
Merlin'in Kazanı	Samet Basri Taşlı	75 / 100	10-28-2021	The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is the most action-packed game in the series, at the expense of reducing the horror part. Players who love the genre and those who want to have fun with their friends should not miss this game.	Read review
Metro GameCentral	GameCentral	7 / 10	10-21-2021	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.	Read review
New Game Network	Alex Varankou	65 / 100	10-21-2021	The Dark Pictures: House of Ashes certainly changes things up for the anthology, with a cliché over the top story and a new tone that returning fans may not enjoy. But the strong cast and some interesting choices help prod the adventure along, even as its awkward new camera and dated visuals try to get in the way.	Read review
NoobFeed	Adam Siddiqui	85 / 100	10-23-2021	House of Ashes is a gripping dark monster-filled adventure that you'll want to play over and over again.	Read review
Oyungezer Online	Eser Güven	8 / 10	12-14-2021	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.	Read review
PC Gamer	Fraser Brown	80 / 100	10-21-2021	Great monsters, stunning locations and a quality mystery makes this one of Supermassive's best.	Read review
PC Invasion	Jason Rodriguez	8 / 10	10-21-2021	In many ways, The Dark Pictures: House of Ashes is significantly better than its predecessors. One can even say that it's the most thrilling and action-packed offering from Supermassive Games. Unfortunately, it's also plagued by technical and design issues, as well as a borderline ridiculous twist.	Read review
PlayStation LifeStyle	Louis Edwards	9 / 10	10-21-2021	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.	Read review
PlayStation Universe	Michael Harradence	9 / 10	10-21-2021	The Dark Pictures: House of Ashes is the best entry in the series yet, packed with gripping storytelling, compelling characters, and solid performances. Your choices feel impactful, and seeing your relationships grow or fall apart based on your decisions carries a lot of weight. With tons of collectibles, an improved camera, and solid pacing, House of Ashes will keep you glued to the screen until the credits roll.	Read review
Polygon	Cass Marshall	Recommended	10-27-2021	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 it’s enough to get me back into the deep lore and hidden secrets of the Dark Pictures Anthology.	Read review
Press Start	James Mitchell	8 / 10	10-22-2021	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.	Read review
pressakey.com	Kevin Henschen	Recommended	11-03-2021	With the third spin-off, you are guaranteed a fun gaming evening among friends, which could have been more than it ended up being.	Read review
PSX Brasil	Rui Celso	70 / 100	10-27-2021	The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is a game with a good narrative, but that's the only thing that keeps the title interesting. The gameplay, as well as other mechanics, could have been improved, as they are points that make all the difference in an annual series.	Read review
Push Square	John Cal McCormick	7 / 10	10-25-2021	Gameplay-wise, not much has changed since Little Hope. You'll spend much of your time walking about, inspecting objects, talking to people, making decisions, and taking part in quick-time events. The formula works, and the six or seven hour running time means that the rudimentary controls don't outstay their welcome.	Read review
Rapid Reviews UK	Stephen Brown	4 / 5 stars	12-04-2021	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?	Read review
Rely On Horror	Steve Summers	7.5 / 10	10-21-2021	We take a look at Supermassive Games' new horror thriller, House of Ashes, and see how it stacks up to the previous Dark Pictures games.	Read review
Rock, Paper, Shotgun	Alice Bell	Recommended	10-21-2021	House Of Ashes gets closer to being a silly 00s survival horror than previous Dark Picture Anthology games, but it's still trying to be too serious for its own good, especially with the paper-thin political theming.	Read review
Saudi Gamer	Unknown	7 / 10	10-24-2021	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.	Read review
Screen Rant	Rob Gordon	3.5 / 5 stars	10-24-2021	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.	Read review
SECTOR.sk	Táňa Matúšová	7.5 / 10	10-21-2021	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.	Read review
Shacknews	Donovan Erskine	8 / 10	10-21-2021	The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is another fun horror romp from Supermassive games. The game improves upon its predecessors by finally removing the fixed camera, and I found several of its characters to be endearing and worth caring for. Though it still falls into some of the same issues as past games in the franchise, The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is worth playing if you’re a fan of the interactive horror/drama genre.	Read review
Sirus Gaming	Adrian Morales	6 / 10	10-21-2021	If you can stick through some wooden voice acting and awkward animation, there is a decent B-movie thriller here that is easy to digest if you’re looking for some video game pulp horror this Halloween season.	Read review
Slant Magazine	Ryan Aston	1 / 5 stars	10-22-2021	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.	Read review
SomHráč.sk	Daniel Palička	75 / 100	11-01-2021	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.	Read review
SpazioGames	Unknown	7.2 / 10	10-21-2021	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.	Read review
The Escapist	Will Cruz	Not Recommended	10-21-2021	Video Review	Read review
The Games Machine	Marco Ravetto	8.1 / 10	10-21-2021	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.	Read review
TheSixthAxis	Tuffcub	8 / 10	10-21-2021	House of Ashes adds little to the Dark Pictures formula, and doesn't seem to progress anthology's overarching plot. That said, it's still a great adventure with some jaw dropping visuals and action-packed set pieces. A solid addition to the franchise.	Read review
TrueGaming	Unknown	7.5 / 10	10-24-2021	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.	Read review
Twinfinite	Ed McGlone	4 / 5 stars	10-26-2021	At the end of the day, if you already liked The Dark Pictures games, you should really enjoy House of Ashes. Its story is unique, complex, interesting, and suspenseful without relying on cheap scares. If you didn’t like Little Hope or Man of Medan, but are still open to enjoying the series, House of Ashes is worth giving a shot.	Read review
VG247	Tom Orry	Not Recommended	10-22-2021	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.	Read review
VGChartz	Issa Maki	7 / 10	11-01-2021	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.	Read review
VideoGamer	Josh Wise	4 / 10	10-21-2021	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.	Read review
Washington Post	Alyse Stanley	Recommended	10-26-2021	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 and criticisms of “Man of Medan” and “Little Hope.” “House of Ashes” comes close to “Until Dawn”-level quality, and for the first time after finishing a game in this series, it has me genuinely excited to see the next entry.	Read review
Wccftech	Unknown	9 / 10	10-21-2021	The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is easily the best of the series so far. There are clear improvements in gameplay, such as difficulty options and complete control over the camera, which help push this forward. The writing also takes strides forward, with an excellent cast of characters, more realistic writing, and a satisfying narrative throughout. Add the already exceptional abilities of Supermassive Games at building atmosphere, and you have a recipe for a great game	Read review
We Got This Covered	Eric Hall	3.5 / 5 stars	10-21-2021	Although it may lack the over-the-top thrills of previous entries, House of Ashes is perhaps the best entry in The Dark Pictures Anthology to date. The cast of characters is strong across the board, and the story boasts a satisfying conclusion previous titles struggled to provide.	Read review
WellPlayed	Zach Jackson	8 / 10	10-22-2021	An intriguing premise backed by refined gameplay and an immersive atmosphere makes House of Ashes the best entry in The Dark Pictures Anthology yet.	Read review
Worth Playing	Chris "Atom" DeAngelus	7 / 10	10-21-2021	That basically sums up The Dark Pictures: Episode 3	Read review
Xbox Achievements	Matt Lorrigan	55 / 100	11-02-2021	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.	Read review
Zoomg	محمدحسین جعفریان	6 / 10	10-21-2021	A selection-driven fictional game series inspired by mean and entertaining horror films has two main tasks: to show the players the impact of their choices on storytelling and to scare them. So when such a product has faced serious weaknesses in presenting horror and even the right use of jump scares, it is simply to be accepted that it failed to achieve artistic success at all.	Read review
ZTGD	Drew Leachman	7.5 / 10	11-10-2021	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.	Read review

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Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

The Dark Pictures Anthology is a series of standalone, cinematic branching horror games where the decisions you make in the game determine the story you receive. House of Ashes is the third game in the series. At the end of the Iraq War, Special Forces hunting for weapons of mass destruction unearth something far deadlier. To survive the night below they must forge a brotherhood with their enemies from the world above. Navigate a subterranean labyrinth and escape the starving creatures that found their new prey to hunt. Play online with a friend or up to 5 friends offline, share your story and cooperate wisely to save your cast.

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