House of Ashes is an ambitious horror game that mostly pulls it off

It’s almost Halloween, so it’s a great time for some frights. There are not many things scarier than getting lost in an abandoned temple and being hunted down by all manner of terrifying monsters. House of Ashes The newest addition to the Dark Pictures AnthologyThis unleashes terror with a vengeance. The game unleashes monsters like an Akkadian priest who has been mummified and is running alongside a zombie bug version of his former friend. In its very short time, the game pulls off some incredible horror sets and employs some seriously bold writing.

House of Ashes is political, and not in the tip-toe “not It is really political” kind of way. The game starts in 2003, with the American military setting up shop in former dictator Saddam Hussein’s palace. Eric King is an Air Force lieutenant colonel who has a complex AI scanning program and may have discovered a cache with chemical weapons. It’s a none-too-subtle nod to Erik Prince, former Navy SEAL and founder of Blackwater USA. While playing Eric, I had to make a decision about whether or not white phosphorus should be used as a weapon. This is not subtle writing.

This commentary continues even after the ground crumbles beneath King’s squad’s feet, and the five main cast members find themselves in an ancient temple that once housed Naram-Sin, the God of Akkad. They are not only lost with their friends dead but are also being pursued by the vampire-like creature menace. Even though the cast is well armed, the guns only really work on other human beings — they only slow the vampires down.

In Dark Pictures games, players control five members. Shared Story mode allows my friend to play one of two narrative paths. The character that we control says or does what we want, and we try our best to make sure they are alive in the face of sudden events. The fate of all five characters is up to them. We need quick responses and good decisions.

Image by Supermassive Gaming/Bandai Namco

The cast of this entry is well-defined, with one exception. Salim, a member of the Iraqi Republican Guard and one of King’s ambushers, ends up uniting with the American survivors, who often treat him with suspicion. Due to some choices made by me and a friend during a Shared Stories playthrough Salim was able to have a buddy cop relationship with Jason, an American Marine. It ended in a satisfying, but bittersweet, way. Salim was cheered by his friends and we chanted his name. The legend who used steel to battle vampires and score kills, my group cheered him on.

It’s just infuriating that so much of the narrative is spent on the other four members of the cast, who each treat Salim badly. Many scenes with Salim show Salim being treated as an enemy and aggressor by the opposing party, even when the guy helps them or provides valuable intelligence. All of this occurs even while Salim is the story’s MVP, racking up an enormous vampire kill count, all the while pursuing the heartwarming goal of returning to his son. Although the game’s premise is great, the casting made me frustrated by the way they chose to play petty dicks.

The second act drags a little, and I think it’s because the American characters are a little more one-dimensional, and focusing on them takes up valuable real estate for more ancient cult intrigue or deep character connections. Jason and Nick could be combined to create room for another Iraqi.

The American side of the main cast feels crowded, but there’s some compelling and campy drama to play through. CIA agent Rachel King is forced into close spaces with her estranged husband Eric, but she’s also having a thing with the traumatized but handsome marine Nick. The interpersonal drama unfolds in short bursts that are frequently interrupted by vampires or infected versions their fallen comrades.

Image by Supermassive Gaming/Bandai Namco

The horror theme of the game is also well-suited to the portrayal of American protagonists as naive and flawed. The fall of empires is a major theme here, and developer Supermassive isn’t exactly shy about using this cast to explore those ideas. House of AshesAlthough I was not a fan of many characters, the story offered some interesting thoughts on imperialistic invasions. I also enjoyed watching their deaths in brutal ways. All of this leads to the final act, which is too great to ruin.

Little HopeThe second Dark Pictures Anthology game was “The Railroad”, which led to a limited number of possible endings. House of AshesFlexible and offers a wide range of outcomes for your characters, it is far more versatile. You can also find out more about In Medan ManThe first entry was my pride. It allowed me to bring our Seafaring Party out alive through a Shared Story. You can read the entire article here House of AshesSupermassive can return to branching ends with many satisfying outcomes. It’s absolutely restored my faith in the franchise, and I’m eagerly anticipating the next Dark Picture, which looks to be a SawPsychological thriller of the classic era.

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.

House of Ashes Available on PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 WindowsPC Xbox OneAnd Xbox Series X. Supermassive Games provided a code that allowed the game to be played in Shared Story mode on a PC. Vox Media is an affiliate partner. Although these partnerships do not impact editorial content, Vox Media could earn commissions on products sold via affiliate links. Here are some links to help you find. additional information about Polygon’s ethics policy here