The Dark Pictures
An anthology of interactive horror where player choices determine survival.
The Dark Pictures is an anthology of interactive drama and survival horror games created by Supermassive Games. Bandai Namco Entertainment handled publishing for the first four titles. Each installment draws from a different horror subgenre and places five main characters in danger, with their fates determined by the player’s decisions. The series launched with *Man of Medan* in 2019, followed by *Little Hope* (2020), *House of Ashes* (2021), and *The Devil in Me* (2022). As of October 2023, no further main entries have been released, and no official release date has been confirmed for any upcoming title.
Although the anthology was originally planned to include eight games split into seasons, Supermassive later abandoned that structure. The team dropped the “season” branding to emphasize that each game works as a standalone experience. A spin-off, *Switchback VR*, arrived for the PlayStation VR2 on 16 March 2023.
*Man of Medan* was announced on 21 August 2018 and released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on 30 August 2019. Enhanced versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S came as a free upgrade on 27 September 2022, alongside an update adding a new chapter, improved UI, and adjustable difficulty and QTE settings. A Nintendo Switch port followed on 4 May 2023. The story takes inspiration from the 1940s ghost ship myth of the *Ourang Medan* and horror films such as *Ghost Ship* (2002), *Triangle* (2009), *Insidious* (2010), and *The Shining* (1980). During World War II, a leaking biochemical weapon called Manchurian Gold causes the ship’s crew to hallucinate ghostly figures, leading to their deaths. In the present, a group of five—Alex, Julia, Brad, Conrad, and Fliss—board the ship after pirates force them aboard, mistaking the cargo for gold. Player choices determine who survives and whether anyone escapes.
*Little Hope* was teased in a post-credits scene in *Man of Medan* and released on 30 October 2020 for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. A free PS5 and Xbox Series X/S upgrade arrived on 27 September 2022, with similar enhancements. The game draws from the 1692 Salem witch trials, as well as films like *The Blair Witch Project* (1999) and *The Omen* (1976), plus the *Silent Hill* series.
*House of Ashes* was revealed via a post-c
- developer
- Supermassive Games
- first_release
- Man of Medan (30 August 2019)
- most_recent_release
- The Devil in Me (2022)
- genre
- Interactive drama, survival horror
- platforms
- PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
- number_of_main_games
- 4 (as of October 2023)
Lore & Background
The Dark Pictures anthology was initially planned to consist of eight games across two seasons, with a new installment releasing every six months. However, Supermassive later dropped the 'season' branding to focus on each game as a standalone title. The studio aimed to highlight that players do not need to play previous entries to understand newer games.
Each game is a standalone narrative linked to the wider series through The Curator (voiced by Pip Torrens, modeled by Tony
Reader's Guide
The Dark Pictures anthology represents Supermassive Games' expansion of the interactive drama format pioneered in Until Dawn, offering a series of standalone horror experiences that emphasize player choice and replayability. The series is significant for its anthology structure, allowing each game to explore a different horror subgenre—from ghost ships and witch trials to alien creatures and serial killers—without requiring knowledge of previous entries. This approach, combined with the recurring Curator character, creates a cohesive yet flexible narrative framework.
The series' legacy includes its co-operative multiplayer support and the butterfly effect system, where every decision can affect the ending. The shift away from a strict eight-game season plan in 2026 reflects the studio's desire to focus on quality and standalone experiences rather than a rigid release schedule. The reuse of face models across games (except for leading actors) became a distinctive production trait. The anthology also continued Supermassive's tradition of using narrators, following Dr Hill in Until Dawn and Eliza in The Quarry. The folk song 'O Death' serves as the series' theme, returning from Until Dawn. Future games beyond Directive 8020 were in early development as of late 2022, with trademarks filed for titles including The Craven Man, Intercession, Winterfold, and O Death.
Did You Know?
- The first four games were published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, while later games were self-published by Supermassive Games.
- The Curator is voiced by Pip Torrens but modeled by Tony Pankhurst.
- A spin-off, Switchback VR, was released for PlayStation VR2 on 16 March 2023.
- The series was initially planned to consist of eight games across two seasons, but this plan was later abandoned.
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