The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope is a terrifying adventure game that utilizes the atmosphere and setting to deliver the scares. As the player shapes the adventure, the game reacts in unique ways to the choices made. The upgraded UI and improved multiplayer mode show just how far this developer has come in terms of game-making and storytelling. Some endings can feel a bit anticlimactic or rushed, but that’s just all the more reason to play again.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope takes the Supermassive Games formula and improves on the previous outing, Man of Medan, in so many ways. With a more interesting story, a strong set of characters, the masterful building of atmosphere and more, you're going to be left on the edge of your seat while playing through this story. The excellent branching narrative, as well as multiplayer options also increase the gameplay value exponentially. This still isn't perfect, the sloth-like movements of characters can be annoying later on and some QTE's are annoyingly cheap, but this is still a brilliant game, one I would recommend to anybody.

While it doesn’t do anything new and even scales back its pure horror atmosphere, Little Hope greatly impresses in other ways with a more intriguing narrative and incredibly tense – and fun – interactive sequences. If you’re new to Supermassive’s games, this may be the best jumping-in point so far.

The second part of the Dark Pictures Anthology improves upon almost everything from its predecessor. Little Hope presents a captivating story, but the shallow gameplay and underwritten characters are definitely a matter of taste.

Little Hope proves that the Dark Pictures format isn't a fluke and I'm excited for Supermassive to continue honing its craft. On that note, I love how these games tease forthcoming installments with collectible in-game premonitions. Next up, the seemingly Descent-inspired House of Ashes.

However you felt about Man of Medan, Little Hope surpasses it, promising a lot for The Dark Pictures' final act.

The Dark Pictures Anthology still lives in the shadow of Until Dawn, which remains the superior title, but Little Hope is certainly a step forward for Supermassive Games and a guaranteed good time for folks in need of atmospheric Halloween thrills. It may be a familiar cocktail, but the game remixes things well enough that it ends up with a distinctive taste, though your appreciation of the experience will largely depend on what you think of the finale.

Little Hope is a step forward in Supermassive's anthology series, but the bar is still set high from their big hit Until Dawn. It doesn't quite reach that same level but excels in its twisting narrative and interactivity. For a horror game, its scares are few and far between, but it still holds up with its heart-racing monster encounters. Its unique cast of characters is intriguing on the surface, but they're very vaguely explored in the actual story. Little Hope is a quick experience that's still enjoyable with friends, and worth playing for the ending.