There once was a time when the horror genre in games was largely neglected. Even the biggest franchises turned away from their horror roots to focus on more action-oriented gameplay. But then Amnesia: The Dark Descent from Frictional Games hit the scene, and proved that there was still a considerable audience for horror games. But while Amnesia found great success on PC, it didn't come to consoles until six years after the fact.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent made its PS4 debut in 2016, followed by the Xbox One in 2018. But the version of Amnesia that launched for PS4 and Xbox One was more fully-featured than the initial PC release, as it came as part of the Amnesia Collection. So not only did PS4 and Xbox One horror game fans get their hands on the classic Amnesia: The Dark Descent, but they were also able to play the well-received Justine expansion as well as the sequel, A Machine for Pigs.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent was hugely influential for the horror game genre. Instead of having players fight monsters, all they can do is run away and hide. Its use of an insanity meter kept players on their toes, punishing them whenever they happened to witness something strange or disturbing.
But Amnesia: The Dark Descent doesn't just rely on jump scares. It creates an overwhelming, eerie atmosphere that makes it that much more terrifying. Exploring Brennenburg Castle remains one of the scariest experiences in gaming, and so it's no surprise that the game continues to find itself at the top of lists counting down the best horror games.
Instead of focusing purely on scaring players, though, Amnesia: The Dark Descent accomplishes some other things that help to make it a truly classic game. First and foremost, Amnesia: The Dark Descent features involving physics-based puzzles that ensure that it is actually fun to play, and functions as more than just a haunted house simulator. Amnesia also tells a haunting, engrossing story, and it does so without forcing players to sit through lengthy cut-scenes.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent may have come to consoles like the PS4 and Xbox One a little late, but the game is still one of the best horror games available on either console. The game still stands the test of time, and the Amnesia Collection ensures that players get plenty of bang for their buck. And once they're done with the Amnesia Collection, they may want to check out Amnesia's direct sequel, Amnesia: Rebirth, which launched just recently to mostly positive reviews.
Amnesia: The Dark Descent is out now for PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
