The Dark Pictures Anthology: House Of Ashes PS5 Review

Developed by Supermassive Games

Released by Bandai Namco

Platform: PS5

Supermassive Games' latest entrant into The Dark Pictures Anthology shows they're learning from prior outings and building on the strengths of what has worked, and retooling stuff that hasn't.

Whereas their previous outings started off strong with Man of Medan, but wobbled badly with Little Hope, The Dark Pictures Anthology: House Of Ashes knows what it wants from its horror this time around - and makes a strong argument for why it works.

In this latest, you can control 5 characters who are trapped under an underground Mesopotamian temple during the 2003 Iraq War where they are stalked then hunted by monsters awoken by the chaos. It's basically a variation of Neil Marshall's The Descent - and it works frighteningly well.

Gameplay changes that have been introduced this time around make a huge difference.

From the 360 degree camera movement through to the use of lighting, the game's a lot more immersive than it has been before, and makes the exploration horror a lot more nightmarish - certainly if played late at night.

As ever, the Shared Story and Movie Night elements of the prior games return - and as a result, The Dark Pictures Anthology: House Of Ashes is elevated as a horror title for everyone to enjoy. It helps that the cast this time are a little more rounded and more believable.

It helps that Supermassive Games has managed to subvert expectations of the players in The Dark Pictures Anthology: House Of Ashes and as a result, this offers a strong argument for one of the best entrants into the franchise - one that it needs to be remembered is eight games long.

Here's hoping future entrants of The Dark Pictures Anthology prove to be as strong - and that this franchise doesn't run out of fresh ideas to terrify in the dark.