One of the BEST survival horror series of all time is Amnesia. This game revolutionized the horror genre with its first release back in 2010, popularizing the concept of running away and hiding from enemies you couldn’t fight back against. Its influence is still felt to this very day.
So to celebrate the recent release of Amnesia: The Bunker, why don’t we take a trip down memory lane and look back at all the games in the series? Here in this article, we are going to be ranking EVERY Amnesia game, going over what we liked, what we disliked, and why you should go and play it if you haven’t already.
Every Amnesia Game, Ranked From Worst to Best
With that introduction done, let’s get right into the article!
Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs
First up we have Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs. This game was actually not made by Fractional Games but by a developer called The Chinese Room. So as you can imagine, the game made a few changes to the Amnesia formula… Several of which fans were not too happy about. This includes the removal of the sanity system, as well as the removal of the inventory, and the ability to refill your lantern with oil, among other things.
Because of all of these changes, Amnesia fans were understandably disappointed with the release of this game. Encountering enemies and crawling through the darkness was not as scary or as impactful as it was in The Dark Descent. And since your lantern had unlimited fuel there was no longer any resource management, which again diminished the survival horror aspect.
However, even with these features removed, I still think that A Machine For Pigs is a solid game. It has a good story, a great atmosphere, and plenty of interesting puzzles to solve. It’s a good horror game, just not the best Amnesia game. It would have been better received if it didn’t have Amnesia in the title and was instead set in its own universe. If you are a big fan of the Amnesia series, you should still give this one a go, just make sure to keep your expectations in check.
Amnesia: Rebirth
Next is Amnesia: Rebirth. I still remember when this game was first announced back in early 2020. It had been 10 years since the release of the original game back in 2010… And to say that I was hyped for this release would be an understatement. We got a glimpse of the game’s story and gameplay through a few trailers, and it looked like a really good game… And it was. It just had a few flaws.
While many of the same gameplay mechanics returned from the first game, it still felt like a different experience. This was mainly due to the fact that the number of scary moments and chase scenes had been reduced noticeably in comparison to The Dark Descent. At many times during a playthrough, it would feel more like you were playing a walking simulator than a survival horror game. Many people also didn’t like the voiced protagonist and the big emphasis on pregnancy as a theme.
But even though the game as a whole could have been better, it still had some really great moments. The scary moments you did encounter were always tense and memorable. And they really felt true to what an Amnesia game should feel like. The story was also really good, in my opinion. And I thought the voiced protagonist and themes of pregnancy worked well. I was attached to the main character(s), and the different endings did a great job of tying everything together.
Amnesia: The Bunker
Amnesia: The Bunker is the latest release in the Amnesia series, and many people agree that it is one of the best ones yet. This game remains a survival horror like all its predecessors, but this time around it injects many elements of an immersive sim into its gameplay. This means that the game is much more systems-driven and open-ended than any other Amnesia game before it. So what’s the verdict? Is this game actually one of the best ones?
Yes! The game manages to stay true to what an Amnesia game is all about, while also managing to feel fresh the new. Players now have much more freedom with how they want to handle encounters with the monster. You now have access to a gun, allowing you to simply shoot it. But you can also create distractions to drive it away, or even traps to outsmart it. The game’s objectives can (usually) be completed in any order, allowing you the choice of where you want to go and when.
The game is really, really good. If you are a fan of survival horrors, immersive sims, or just good games, then Amnesia: The Bunker is a great buy. Of course, even though I do really like this game, it isn’t perfect. While I enjoyed the story a lot, I thought Rebirth and The Dark Descent were better. The different endings also could have been handled better. It’s also on the short side and can be completed in about 5 or so hours (although to be fair, the game is highly replayable).
Amnesia: The Dark Descent
And in the first spot on this list of every Amnesia game ranked, we have Amnesia: The Dark Descent! Was this really a surprise? The Dark Descent was, and still is, one of the best survival horror games ever made. In case you haven’t played the original, allow me to fill you in. You are a man named Daniel, and you have awoken with amnesia inside of an old crumbling castle. You find a note from your past self telling you to kill your old friend, Alexander (who has done terrible, terrible things).
This story is one of many reasons why this game is so good. As you explore the ruins of the castle, you’ll slowly piece together just what happened and why you are stricken with amnesia. Eventually, you’ll learn that the rabbit hole goes much deeper than you initially thought. And in the end, you’ll be forced to make a choice with life-altering consequences. It’s one of the best pieces of Lovecraftian horror out there. So if you love cosmic horror then I give this one a big recommendation.
But if a good story isn’t why you play games, that’s perfectly fine. The gameplay has aged very well, and the atmosphere even more so. The Dark Descent is constantly throwing things at the player to keep them on edge. You’ll need to outrun horrifying monsters while trying to manage your limited resources as well as your own sanity. If you are a newer fan of the Amnesia series who has been neglecting to try the original, this is your sign to drop what you’re doing and go try it out.
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