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The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes 2021
The Dark Pictures Anthology: House of Ashes is a 2021 interactive drama and survival horror video game developed by Supermassive Games and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. It marks the third entry in The Dark Pictures Anthology. The game uses a multilinear narrative structure where player choices can drastically shift the storyline and affect character dynamics; certain decisions result in permanent character deaths. Set during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the game follows five individuals—four Americans serving in the US Armed Forces and one Iraqi Republican Guard—who must flee an underground Akkadian temple while evading vampiric entities that inhabit the region. Ashley Tisdale portrays CIA operative Rachel King, identified as the primary actress in the marketing campaign. Jason Graves, a frequent collaborator with Supermassive on the series, created the musical score during lockdowns in the United Kingdom in COVID-19.
Returning elements from earlier titles in the anthology include quick time events (QTEs), two single-player and two multiplayer modes, and collectibles that reveal alternate story paths. New additions consist of an enhanced camera system, a portable light source to aid navigation, and three difficulty settings for managing QTEs. The game draws inspiration from films such as Aliens, Predator, and The Descent, along with H. P. Lovecraft’s novella At the Mountains of Madness and the legend of the Curse of Akkad. Creatures were brought to life using motion capture and hand-drawn animation techniques, while the temple's architecture reflects ancient Mesopotamian designs. Experts in military affairs and Arabic language were consulted for historical accuracy during the war depiction.
House of Ashes launched on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on 22 October 2021, receiving mixed reviews. Some critics viewed it as an advancement over the prior two entries in the series, praising its replayability, QTE intensity, visual style, multiplayer features, and the appeal of the Iraqi character. Negative feedback focused on pacing, horror effectiveness, facial animation quality, graphical glitches, and how the Iraq War is portrayed. The fourth installment, The Devil in Me, was announced through a teaser trailer at the conclusion of House of Ashes and launched on 18 November 2022.
Trailer
Plays from YouTube only after you click.
Crew
- Director
- Will Doyle
- Artist
- David Hirst
- Writer
- Khurrum Rahman
- Producer
- Dom Ireland
- Music
- Jason Graves
Details
- Developer
- Supermassive Games
- Publisher
- Bandai Namco Entertainment
- Platforms
- PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Series
- The Dark Pictures Anthology
