The Long Dark

 Switch
The Long Dark Image
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 14 Ratings

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  • Summary: The Long Dark is a thoughtful, exploration-survival experience that challenges solo players to think for themselves as they explore an expansive frozen wilderness. Monitor your Condition, search for life-saving supplies, and master survival skills like fire-building, maintaining your gear,The Long Dark is a thoughtful, exploration-survival experience that challenges solo players to think for themselves as they explore an expansive frozen wilderness. Monitor your Condition, search for life-saving supplies, and master survival skills like fire-building, maintaining your gear, hunting, fishing, and landmark-based navigation. There are no zombies -- only you, the cold, and everything Mother Nature can throw at you. The hit Steam Early Access sandbox becomes the first survival game available on Xbox One!… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. God is a Geek
    Sep 22, 2020
    85
    Despite some graphical concessions, The Long Dark on Nintendo Switch is an excellent port of a very good survival game.
  2. Pure Nintendo
    Oct 16, 2020
    85
    The Long Dark is a title that successfully uses the classic plot device of man vs. nature. With so much detail put into the gameplay, it can be easy to feel as cold as your player in this freezing Canadian wilderness. The endlessly entertaining survival mode lets you explore Great Bear Island to your heart’s desire.
  3. Pocket Tactics
    Sep 25, 2020
    80
    Ultimately, we can easily recommend The Long Dark on Nintendo Switch. It’s one of few survival games like it on Switch, and the port is solid, barring a few visual issues caused by a drop in resolution.
  4. NintendoWorldReport
    Oct 6, 2020
    80
    In the end, The Long Dark won me over through the same war of attrition it demanded of me during playing. What starts as an oppressive wilderness and battle of the elements eventually unfolds into a gratifying progression as I learned how to survive efficiently through trial and error. They say that adversity builds character, and if you can grow some thicker skin, there’s a lot of character in The Long Dark to discover.
  5. Gaming Nexus
    Oct 12, 2020
    70
    There is a very good game in the center of an overall experience that ends up less than the sum of its parts at first glance, but one that if you are willing to put in the struggle and slog through to the other side can reward you with one of the better survival simulations there is.
  6. Starbit
    Nov 6, 2020
    70
    The Long Dark is a survival game that does a very good job at conveying an experience mired in solitude and bitter loneliness, all while keeping a pleasant-looking art style. Even though the visual quality was a bit compromised when the game was ported over to the Nintendo Switch, fans of survival games will find many resources to work with, a healthy variety of game modes, and a plot that's truly immersing.
  7. CGMagazine
    Oct 7, 2020
    60
    The Long Dark is a mostly functional game, but it’s dated survival mechanics make it a mostly forgettable experience.

See all 9 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 8
  3. Negative: 5 out of 8
  1. rob201
    Oct 5, 2020
    9
    First off, do not let reviews tarnish your impression of this game. If you are looking for a realistic survival game Hinterland studios hasFirst off, do not let reviews tarnish your impression of this game. If you are looking for a realistic survival game Hinterland studios has delivered exactly that. Bear in mind that this game does have a steep learning curve, it should not dissuade you from watching game-play footage on YouTube. This is not the genre of game you can expect to mindlessly shoot zombies. If that is the type of game play you are looking for, you can stop reading now.

    Yes, the switch is an under powered console to run this game, however it only seems to have an effect when transitioning areas or sustaining injuries; rendering load times a bit on the lengthy side (20-25 seconds). On the Nintendo switch it tends to be difficult to play while sitting in a brightly lit area, an issue that is not typically experienced on other platforms. Since it's initial release Hinterland studios has consistently released periodic updates which expand on the plot driven single player campaign and adds new mechanics and items to survival mode. As other reviews may have mentioned it can be quite difficult at times on higher difficulties, you can expect to die multiple times while learning the basics. There are four factors that are essential to the survival of your character, warmth, fatigue, thirst, and hunger; all of these mechanics go hand in hand and affect game play based on their values. Game play in any mode has a rifle, revolver and a bow. As you progress your primary skills and secondary skills increase and boost your overall effectiveness. All game zones are static and do not change, while items in survival mode have a random spawn location which further increases difficulty. If harder game settings are not your cup of tea, there is an option to fully customize a survival game which allows you to increase or decrease the spawn rate of all wildlife, resources, and items. There have been a great many games that manage to have a fantastic ambiance, all of which seem to gray in comparison to The long dark's ability to instill a sense of dread when down to your last rifle round, stuck in a secluded shack you are seeking shelter in to escape being hunted, slowly freezing as you hear the wind outside battering the exterior walls. This can be a very difficult game, however it is immensely rewarding once you familiarize yourself with the mechanics.    … Expand
  2. pirluit
    Dec 14, 2020
    9
    I love all about this game. Only have a problem: the long loading time when you enter or exit to the interiors.
  4. TomMonday
    Dec 9, 2021
    6
    If you’re an inventory-management junkie, you’ll love this game. Not fast-paced. Rewards patience and forethought. The visceral thrills ofIf you’re an inventory-management junkie, you’ll love this game. Not fast-paced. Rewards patience and forethought. The visceral thrills of surviving in a harsh winter landscape make this game addictive. Sadly, the most recent episode 4 restricts the player to a stupid on-rails prison story. Where’d the open nature go? Why doesn’t the character just continue on his quest to find his ex-wife? Writing is poor throughout, but playing experience still shines.… Expand
  5. spartan246
    Sep 24, 2020
    3
    Imagine stumbling around in the dark, drunk, trying to find your keys...that is what this game is. Unnecessarily difficult for the sake ofImagine stumbling around in the dark, drunk, trying to find your keys...that is what this game is. Unnecessarily difficult for the sake of being difficult. To the point where you have to look everything up or you die constantly. Mediocre at best...… Expand
  6. hj54
    Aug 23, 2021
    0
    The game has potential, but is ruined by the lazy devs. They haven´t even fullfilled promises made over 6 years ago. Updates are few and farThe game has potential, but is ruined by the lazy devs. They haven´t even fullfilled promises made over 6 years ago. Updates are few and far between, but they sure ramp up their posts in time for a nice steam sale. Just another reminder to not buy early access games.… Expand
  7. iskendersoysal
    Apr 17, 2023
    0
    Overrated boring so-called survival game from a trashy developer called Raphael van Lierop.
  8. der2
    Nov 25, 2022
    0
    These professional reviewers are a bunch shilling tirds. This game sucks. The 1st person controls are horrendous. It's unbearable! I boughtThese professional reviewers are a bunch shilling tirds. This game sucks. The 1st person controls are horrendous. It's unbearable! I bought this game on a super cheat sale & I still got scammed BIGTIME. Shoulda got a bottle a vasoline with this... You can't just. The lack of 3rd person perspective makes it impossible to see what you're doing. The viewing axis is horribly non-intuitive. It's not a challenge to figure out what to do or where to go. It's a challenge just to walk. Any movement or object interaction is unnatural and painfully frustrating!!!… Expand

See all 8 User Reviews

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