The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil In Me Preview – Saw Meets The Shining

I couldn’t be more excited that Supermassive Games has decided to continue their Dark Pictures Anthology with the release of The Devil In Me. Although it’ll miss a Halloween launch, I was able to play through some of the opening scenes to get a better idea about what’s in store for this nightmare. Once again, this developer has brought along all the features from the previous entries while adding new elements, including character-specific abilities and item collecting.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil In Me introduces a group of five characters looking to create a documentary. Minimal context was given about who these people are or why they are even here, but my time with the game gave me a decent understanding of each character’s role in the group. For starters, characters have special items that allow them to solve puzzles or reach secret areas. So it’s not entirely in your face at all times. Most interactable objects are optional, so understanding the characters’ skills and when to utilize their items is essential.

This brings up the fact that some characters may die. This may hurt your playthrough if you require a specific item. Players must navigate the maze-like halls of a replica of serial killer H.H. Holmes’ “Murder Castle.” However, this replica may have been too exact, as the crew’s loyalty and relationship will be tested through a series of killer puzzles.

The opening moments feature a nice blend of psychological horror. These characters are being watched and so much about these scenes depicts that as you inch your way through the halls and wonder if anything is going to jump out at you. In addition, the environment appears to have been influenced by The Shining, which automatically added tension to the group. These people don’t get along, and there are so many tiffs between them. I enjoyed this approach as it made choices more fun since I was necessarily trying to be nice the whole time. Instead, I wanted to create these characters how I viewed them, and it seemed to work.

However, the death puzzles that await players are where a lot of the terror will stem from. Known as the “Killing Rooms,” the characters must work together if they wish to make it out. Now, I don’t think that means choosing responses that make them friends to get a good outcome; sometimes, you’ll want to do the opposite. Regardless, the team has crafted some excellent in-group bickering that you can mend or throw some gasoline on.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil In Me marks a return of the excellent and horrific storytelling that Supermassive Games has perfected over the years. This entry introduces an item management system that requires players to navigate environmental puzzles with added levels of exploration while managing their crew’s relationships. My heart was already racing throughout my hour with the game, and I’m excited to unravel the mystery of this nightmare and hopefully get everyone out alive.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil In Me is coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam on November 18, 2022.