The Evil Within

 Xbox One
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24
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  1. AusGamers
    Oct 13, 2014
    100
    Where BioShock Infinite aggressively tugged on heartstrings, The Evil Within tears them from your chest and crucifies you. It strangles you with your own tendrils and feeds you your own beating heart, mouth locked shut and tied with entrails, forcing you to chew and swallow. But when the last sliver slides down the back of your throat, you’ll look up and smile a sadistic smile before asking “more, please”.
  2. Gamers' Temple
    Oct 14, 2014
    96
    The Evil Within is easily the best survival horror game I have played in a long time.
  3. GameTrailers
    Oct 14, 2014
    90
    The Evil Within is a survival-horror masterpiece. Anyone concerned this is just another action game soaked in blood needn't worry. Tense pacing, stunning atmosphere, and terrifying enemy encounters come together to create a journey you may never forget.
  5. Game Informer
    Oct 13, 2014
    90
    Horror fans shouldn’t let the disappointing story deter them one bit, however. Few Paranormal Activity fans care how these malevolent demons come back again and again – what truly matters is that the audience’s nerves are frayed until they’re raw.
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  6. IGN
    Oct 14, 2014
    87
    Superb gameplay, a breakneck pace and terrifying enemies makes The Evil Within a wonderful survival horror experience.
  7. MondoXbox
    Oct 14, 2014
    87
    If you love old school survival horrors, The Evil Within won't disappoint you: Mikami delivers us a twisted adventure, highly varied and full of memorable encounters and environments, capable of thrilling us until the very last moments.
  8. ZTGD
    Oct 14, 2014
    85
    Fans of the genre should not miss this. While it is plagued with visual problems, the pacing is almost perfect, and the tension is unmatched.
  9. Post Arcade (National Post)
    Oct 13, 2014
    85
    You will be mauled and eviscerated. You will be blown to tiny bloody bits. You will watch as your head is severed from your body by big men with chainsaws. Or stomped on by nurses with glowing eyes...But, strangely, I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s all part and parcel to the classic survival horror experience.
  10. Hyper Magazine
    Dec 2, 2014
    80
    Old fashioned in all the right ways (and some wrong ones too). [Issue#255, p.60]
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  11. X-ONE Magazine UK
    Dec 2, 2014
    80
    The Evil Within is less genre-defining and is instead more of a spiritual successor - one that relives past glories rather than seeks out new ones. [Issue#118, p.73]
    All this publication's reviews
  12. Game Over Online
    Oct 30, 2014
    80
    For the hardcore gamer who likes a scary challenge, this trip down the rabbit hole will feel like home. For everyone else, it may feel more like a session of electro-shock treatment.
  13. Pure Xbox
    Oct 23, 2014
    80
    The Evil Within feels like an old-school survival game made for the new-school generation. It doesn’t ignore what modern horror games brought to the genre, but it scales it down and puts the focus back on actually surviving.
  14. Eurogamer
    Oct 17, 2014
    80
    Shinji Mikami has yet to make a poor game, and The Evil Within does not blemish his record. But neither does the game enchant and disrupt in the way that Vanquish and the others managed. This is Mikami revisiting his past glories and, as such, it's both a delight and a disappointment.
  15. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Oct 14, 2014
    80
    Evil Within grafts Resident Evil 4's gold standard survival action to a far less forgiving world. That it even comes close to matching Capcom's masterpiece is cause to celebrate. And sweat. And quiver.
  16. Gaming Nexus
    Oct 14, 2014
    80
    It might not be the scariest game out there, but The Evil Within brings the scary and the tension. Unfortunately it trips over its feet in key places.
  17. games(TM)
    Nov 17, 2014
    70
    The Evil Within isn’t a return to the genre’s roots or a reinvention, but an exercise in reliving its greatest hits. It’s disappointing that Mikami has lost the wind behind his sails and there seems to be genuine creative apathy here. Nonetheless, The Evil Within is an enjoyable horror romp. It’s a shame it couldn’t be more.
  18. Worth Playing
    Nov 3, 2014
    70
    The Evil Within has its fair share of problems. The uneven camera, the forced letterboxing, some frustrating one-hit kill scenarios, oddly paced chapters, and sub-par story/character development keep this from being a must-play experience.
  19. Game Revolution
    Oct 19, 2014
    70
    The Evil Within definitely brought back my nostalgia for old-school survival horror games: creepy mansions, terrifying monsters, puzzles, and eerie level design.
  20. Xbox Achievements
    Oct 15, 2014
    70
    A throwback to survival horror's heyday, The Evil Within's story is daft and convoluted, featuring a mad scientist who might as well be Krieger from Archer. Frustrating and entertaining in equal measure, The Evil Within falls short of offering any proper scares.
  21. GamingTrend
    Oct 13, 2014
    70
    There are some genuinely terrifying, nightmare-inducing moments in this game. Unfortunately they are few and far between, which is frustrating because the concept here is solid. A little restraint would go a long way here. Stop throwing hordes of enemies at me and just let the game be scary.
  22. COGconnected
    Oct 14, 2014
    68
    The Evil Within should have been the best next generation horror game we have seen to date. Shinji Mikami has the pedigree, credentials and budget to make it happen. Unfortunately The Evil Within falls short and doesn’t come close to living up to its billing.
  23. EGM
    Oct 24, 2014
    65
    The Evil Within feels like a project shackled by the desire to relive past survival-horror glories instead of pioneering brave new ones. Sometimes, it seems, giving fans what they think they want isn’t really the proper course of action.
  24. Shacknews
    Oct 13, 2014
    60
    Resident Evil fans will have a serious case of déjà vu when playing The Evil Within. It offers much of the thrills and creepy environments that make the series so enticing, along with some of its frustrations.
  25. Toronto Sun
    Oct 30, 2014
    40
    At its best, The Evil Within offers a few scares and decent, if bland and predictable, combat; at its worst, it’s unoriginal, uninspired and plodding.

Awards & Rankings

27
#27 Best Xbox One Game of 2014
16
#16 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2014
17
#17 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2014

User Reviews

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User Score
8.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1031 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 845 out of 1031
  2. Mixed: 78 out of 1031
  3. Negative: 108 out of 1031
  1. slim1985
    Oct 14, 2014
    10
    Evil Within grafts Resident Evil 4's gold standard survival action to a far less forgiving world. That it even comes close to matchingEvil Within grafts Resident Evil 4's gold standard survival action to a far less forgiving world. That it even comes close to matching Capcom's masterpiece is cause to celebrate. And sweat. And quiver.… Full Review »
  2. DarkWolf1991
    Oct 14, 2014
    8
    This game does prove that survival horror is not dead, The Evil Within is a game that has a nice balance of atmosphere, tension building,This game does prove that survival horror is not dead, The Evil Within is a game that has a nice balance of atmosphere, tension building, combat and running away. The graphics doesn't look anything too special but it the perfect controls for character and camera movement doesn't feel too floaty or too heavy, it actually feels just right.

    Admittedly, The story is rather confusing and doesn't make sense if you're one of those type of gamers who doesn't like collecting journals or collectables since it contains most of the story in the collectables. The protagonist Sebastian is also a rather meh character since he barely has any personality considering some of the craziest stuff he has seen. He barely shows any emotion in any situation he come across and therefore I can't really get a feel for the character especially when the game is a survival horror.

    However I do have one problem with the game and that is the aspect ratio is annoying since it is set in a letter box style (Similar to 16:3 but on a 4:3 TV set) when you're watching an older film on a DVD or Blu-Ray and sadly there isn't an option in game to change it to 16:9. Just that one little feature that is really annoys myself and many HDTV owners.

    Overall, The game is great, good gameplay and rather difficult! Shinji Mikami has proven that survival horror is not dead and I do hope Capcom look up to the Evil Within and their former employee that us gamers want TRUE survival horror experience. Not action, QTE or explosions every 2 minutes.    … Full Review »
  3. Senses
    Oct 14, 2014
    9
    What is it now a days were everyone's expectations are so high? If people don't feel like a game is GOTY they write a bad review...it'sWhat is it now a days were everyone's expectations are so high? If people don't feel like a game is GOTY they write a bad review...it's honestly sad for the gaming community. There is no reason this game deserves below a 9. I got this game midnight release and have played 4.5 hours so far and I have to say it was worth every penny.

    Graphics-10
    Gameplay-8.5
    Characters-8
    Story-8.5
    Thrilling-9.5    … Full Review »
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