Supermassive Games did something truly special with Until Dawn. They made a game that encapsulates horror films, and the potential of being inside one.
Until Dawn is the absolute perfect game for anyone who ever yelled at the screen that the characters shouldn’t split up, and they definitely shouldn’t go check out that noise.
Set in a remote cabin on a mountain, Until Dawn features a cast of engaging characters in a horror scenario that feels instantly familiar. Partly, that’s why it succeeds. Night falls, unexplainable Bad things start happening, the cast of teens must make it Until Dawn.
Even for players that don’t particularly care for the nuances of each horror subgenre, Until Dawn has such a broad understanding of the tropes and conventions that it doesn’t matter. Even pop cultural osmosis will be enough to keep up with the game.
Beyond that, the story has enough twists and turns to keep even the most jaded cynic interested till the end.
That’s even before we start talking about the branching paths. Until Dawn is almost an adventure game. Wander round, find clues, investigate the surroundings. When the action sequences start, so do the reaction testing quick time events. Beyond that, make your choices as to where the story goes. Who do you side with? Who has been on your side this whole time and will be an ally when you need them? The game will branch and react to your choices and actions.
Try and make it to the end.
That’s all you have to do. People make mistakes in horror films. They act like idiots and don’t play it smart.
You’re not like them. You would be great at this I’m sure. You could save everyone. Make it until dawn breaks.
If you really want to have fun with it, this is a perfect game for a co-operative sofa experience.
For those not so comfortable with a controller, hiding behind a pillow while someone else performs the actions is a perfectly legitimate way to enjoy the game. Help make choices, call out missed objects, enjoy the experience. Share the scares too.
The best horror films are fun on their own, but when watched with like minded friends? It elevates them to a wholly different form of shared catharsis. Until Dawn is much the same way. Available solely on PS4 from Supermassive Games, the game has been out for a few years, but is truly worth going back for.