“The last remaining memories fade away into darkness. Your mind is a mess and only a feeling of being hunted remains. You must escape.”

Calling Amnesia: The Dark Descent a survival horror game doesn’t do it enough justice. It’s more than that. The Silent Hill and Resident Evil franchises are survival horror games. Doom and F.E.A.R. are other good examples. Alone in the Dark would be a survival horror forefather. Amnesia goes beyond these games, and puts you inside a living nightmare, one that needs to be experienced to be appreciated. Unlike most of its predecessors, your only means of defense here are running away like a scared little girl, finding a dark corner to hide in, or using your wits to achieve understanding or success.

“You stumble through the narrow corridors as the distant cry is heard. It is getting closer.”

Upon booting the game to start your adventure in Amnesia: The Dark Descent, it boasts that it should not be played to win, instead recommending you focus on immersing yourself in the game’s world and story. Some gamers might balk at a game telling you how to play it, but it’s a suggestion that should be wholeheartedly embraced. Turning off the lights while locking yourself in a room and utilizing surround sound during gameplay greatly increases the immersion factor as well. I’d also suggest disabling the hints given after you die, they tend to ruin the experience of figuring out puzzles for yourself. The hints given while alive however are useful and devious. At one part I found myself cautiously walking a hallway, hesitant because a hint had boldly told me that I’ll need to find a hiding place soon.